Aberdeen 1 - 0 St. Johnstone

There was an air of inevitability about the result of this one. With the Pittodrie bandwagon rolling ever onward, there was never any doubt about the outcome against bottom dogs St. Johnstone. Less than classic fare, but a thoroughly deserved win and yet another indication that the Dons could now win games at a canter.

Aberdeen made a whirlwind start with both Winters and Thornley threatening inside the opening minute. The Dons continued to hold the upper hand, but the composure in front of goal was missing as the Dons probed for the vital opening. Aberdeen went close in the 7th minute when Mackie showed good pace down the left. Winters collected on the right and ghosted past a couple of defenders before setting up Zerouali. The Moroccan got his foot to the ball, but steered it wide of the target.

St. Johnstone almost took the lead with their first attack of the match in the 11th minute. After good work on the left, Russell had a free shot at goal from six yards, but drove his effort over the bar. McLune replaced Kemble in the 14th minute after the defender failed to recover from an earlier knock. A minute later Miller had to scramble the ball clear from a dangerous Thornley cross. The visitors went close again in the 17th minute when they won a free kick 20 yards out. Hartley curled the ball round the wall and it crashed off Kjaer?s cross bar.

Aberdeen took the lead in the 23rd minute and what a wonderful finish it was. McNaughton played a long ball down the left to Mackie. His cross found Winters who controlled the ball and hit a sweet shot over the advancing Miller. Connolly went close in the 29th minute from a position that looked suspiciously off side. He delayed slightly and failed to test Kjaer with a weak effort from 12 yards. Winters was having a fine match and set up Zerouali in the 32nd minute, but the ball wouldn?t sit down for the striker and the danger was cleared. A minute later Mackie hit an effort inches wide from 25yards. Bisconti went close in the 36th minute when he burst into the box and hit a fierce drive beyond the keeper?s right hand post.

Fergus Tiernan replaced Guntveit at half time. Aberdeen created the first chance of the second half when Miller was forced to punch clear a Zerouali shot in the 47th minute. Seconds later Thornley hit an effort inches wide and two minutes later he did exactly the same with a fine shot from 18 yards as the Dons tried to press home the advantage. Mackie was next to test Miller in the 52nd minute when he went on a run and unleashed a shot from 12 yards, which the keeper held easily.

Anderson had a speculative shot on the hour mark, but it did little to test the keeper. The Dons went close again in the 64th minute when Thornley ran from the half way line and forced Miller into a fine fingertip save which produced the first corner kick of the match. A great cross by McNaughton in the 67th minute saw Mackie denied by a last minute Murray tackle. The Dons were well on top at this stage, but couldn?t find the killer second goal. Connolly almost levelled for the visitors in the 71st minute when he burst through the middle and shot wide.

Derek Young replaced Thornley in the 73rd minute and two minutes later the woodwork saved the visitors. McNaughton unleashed a fierce shot, which came crashing off the upright. Bisconti went close again in the 76th minute when his effort was deflected wide with Miller scurrying across his goal. The Dons went close again in the 81st minute when a Winters shot was parried by Miller. The keeper recovered before Zerouali could pounce on the loose ball.

Mackie should have done better in the 85th minute after playing a clever one-two with Zerouali his control let him down and the chance went a begging. There were a couple of nervous moments at the death as McAllister and Young made telling blocks to secure a deserved win.