Aberdeen 0-0 Saints

Saints started the match strongly and created the first chance of the match in the first minute as Luke Jephcott got on the end of a Dara Costelloe knockdown however, the Welshman couldn’t direct his effort on target.

Saints went on to be the better side for much of the first half as Graham Carey and Matt Smith both had chances to give the Perth side the lead. Then just before half time Carey got another chance however, he volleyed wide of the mark.

Aberdeen thought they had taken the lead in added on time at the end of the first half thanks to an own goal from Andy Considine however, the goal was ruled out following a VAR review as Luis Lopes was deemed to have been offside and interfering with play.

Aberdeen upped their game in the second half and Bojan Miovski had a great chance to give the home side the lead on 72 minutes as he was played in by Connor Barron however, the forward fired over the bar. Miovski got another great chance to snatch all 3 points in added on time for the Dons however, the Macedonian saw his header from a Jonny Hayes free kick drift wide of the post as Saints held out to earn themselves a deserved point.

Next up for Saints is a home game against Motherwell in a fortnight, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints headed to the Granite City this afternoon for a cinch Premiership match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Ten-man Saints had to settle for a point at home to Livingston last weekend and Steven MacLean made one change to his starting eleven for this afternoon’s match as Matt Smith came in to replace Dan Phillips who missed out completely. There was also a space on the bench for Diallang Jaiyesimi, who joined at the end of the summer transfer window on-loan from Charlton Athletic. Bojan Miovski scored with 11 minutes remaining to earn Aberdeen a point in their UEFA Europa Conference League Group G match against HJK Helsinki on Thursday evening at Pittodrie and manager Barry Robson made two changes to his starting eleven this afternoon. Jack MacKenzie and Leighton Clarkson both dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Connor Barron and Jonny Hayes.

It was a wet afternoon in the North East as Max Kucheriavyi got the match underway for Saints and it was the Perth side who created the first chance of the match in the first minute. Kucheriavyi’s long ball forward was headed down by Dara Costelloe into the path of Luke Jephcott however, his right footed shot from just outside the box didn’t trouble Kelle Roos in the home goal.  

Saints made a good start to the match as they caused Aberdeen all sorts of problems however, the hosts were awarded a free kick in a promising position on 9 minutes after Graeme Shinnie had been fouled by Sven Sprangler. Both Bojan Miovski and Luis Lopes stood over the free kick and it was taken by the latter as the forward lifted the ball over the wall and his effort was gathered at the second attempt by Dimitar Mitov.

The Dons went on the attack again 2 minutes later as Jamie McGrath sent over an inviting ball from the right which was brilliantly cut out by Liam Gordon before Lopes could get on the end of it.

PHOTO: Max Kucheriavyi is tripped by Connor Barron

On 25 minutes a good move by Saints saw Drey Wright play the ball to Matt Smith on the edge of the box and the midfielder then slipped the ball to Graham Carey whose shot on the turn went wide of the target. Carey got another sight of goal 2 minutes later as he got on the end of a Costelloe ball into the box however, his strike from a difficult angle went high into the Richard Donald Stand.

With 11 minutes of the first half remaining Carey played in Smith and the midfielder unleashed a curling effort which went narrowly wide.

On 38 minutes the Dons were awarded a free kick out wide on the left following a foul on Lopes by Gordon. The free kick was taken by Barron and he whipped a deep curling ball into the box however, Stefan Gartenmann couldn’t make a connection with it at the back post as the ball went out for a goal kick.

PHOTO: Dara Costelloe and Richard Jensen

Saints were the better team during the first half and with 2 minutes of the half remaining Carey slipped the ball into the path of Jephcott and the forward saw his effort turned behind for a corner by Richard Jensen. Kucheriavyi took the corner from the right and his floated delivery was met by Carey on the edge of the area however, he couldn’t direct his volley on target.

There was 2 minutes added on at the end of the first half and in the first minute Aberdeen thought they had broken the deadlock. Barron whipped over a dangerous ball into the box and both Lopes and Andy Considine went for the ball with the Saints defender getting to the ball first as he unintentionally headed the ball past Mitov and into the net. However, following a lengthy VAR review in which referee David Munro was called to the monitor by VAR official Kevin Clancy, the goal was ruled out as Lopes was in an offside position when Barron crossed the ball into the box.  

3 minutes into the second half a long throw by Gartenmann was cleared only as far as McGrath who unleashed a right-footed strike from the edge of the area which went well over.

Aberdeen were awarded a free kick on 52 minutes following a foul on Lopes by Gordon. Hayes took the free kick as he played it short to Barron who sent over a good cross into the box which Jensen got on the end of however, his effort lacked power as Mitov comfortably gathered.

PHOTO: Dara Costelloe tries to get away from Nicky Devlin

Saints made their first change of the game on 65 minutes as Chris Kane came on to replace Luke Jephcott.

Saints were continuing to put pressure on the Aberdeen goal however, it was the hosts who almost took the lead on 72 minutes as Barron played in Bojan Miovski with a defence splitting pass and the Macedonian forward took a couple of touches to create space for himself before blasting over.

Steven MacLean then made his second change of the game as Max Kucheriavyi was replaced by Cammy MacPherson. That was followed by another change shortly after as Drey Wright made way for Stevie May.

PHOTO: Dimitar Mitov in action

The hosts were claiming for a penalty with 8 minutes remaining as it looked like that Carey had used his upper arm to put the ball out for a corner however, following a VAR review the appeals were dismissed.

Aberdeen finished the match the stronger of the two sides and on 89 minutes Miovski saw his overhead kick saved by Mitov as the Saints keeper turned the ball over for a corner. Then deep into the 5 minutes of added on time Hayes won the hosts a free kick after he was fouled by Kane. Hayes took the free kick himself as he sent over a delightful ball into the box which Miovski got on the end of however, the forward saw his header go wide of the target as Saints saw the game out to earn a deserved point.  

PHOTO: Sven Sprangler and Chris Kane applaud the fans at full time

Aberdeen: Roos, Devlin (Sokler 80’), Shinnie (Clarkson 56’), Jensen, Gartenmann, McGrath (Polvara 56’), Barron, Miovski, Lopes, Hayes, Rubežić

Unused Substitutes: Doohan (GK), MacKenzie, Guèye, Besuijen, Duncan, MacDonald  

Booked: None

Saints: Mitov, Wright (May 78’), Gordon, Considine, Robinson, Carey, Smith, Sprangler, Kucheriavyi (MacPherson 73’), Jephcott (Kane 65’), Costelloe

Unused Substitutes: Richards (GK), Gallacher, Clark, Jaiyesimi, McClelland, Turner-Cooke

Booked: Wright, Robinson

Referee: David Munro

VAR: Kevin Clancy

Attendance: 16,816

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Sven Sprangler and Graeme Shinnie