Aberdeen 2-0 Saints

Duk thought he had given the hosts the lead on 22 minutes as he slotted home following a Leighton Clarkson free kick. However, the goal was ruled out following a VAR review as the Cape Verde forward had been in an offside position.

Stevie May had a chance to give Saints the lead on 53 minutes however, his header from a Cammy MacPherson corner went narrowly over.

Aberdeen took the lead with 16 minutes remaining as Vicente Besuijen played in Duk who slotted the ball beyond Remi Matthews. Duk then sealed the points for the hosts 10 minutes later as he headed home a Jonny Hayes corner for his and Aberdeen’s second of the afternoon.

Saints remain in seventh position in the cinch Premiership following today’s result, with 24 points.

Next up for Saints is a home game against Livingston next weekend, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were back on the road today as they headed to the north-east to take on Aberdeen at Pittodrie for their first away game of 2023. A late second half goal from Tony Watt saw Saints slip to a 1-0 defeat at home to Dundee United on Monday afternoon and there were three changes to the Saints starting eleven this afternoon. Daniel Phillips, James Brown and Nicky Clark all dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Andy Considine, Tony Gallacher and Cammy MacPherson. Aberdeen battled out a goalless draw with Ross County at Pittodrie on Monday and manager Jim Goodwin made one change as Christian Ramírez dropped to the bench and he was replaced by Graeme Shinnie who re-joined The Dons on Thursday on-loan from Wigan Athletic until the end of the season.  

Jamie Murphy got the match underway for Saints and it was the hosts who created the first chance of the match after 4 minutes. Leighton Clarkson played in Bojan Miovski who did well to get in behind Liam Gordon but Remi Matthews was out quick to deny the forward. Luís ‘Duk’ Lopes then reacted quickest to the loose ball but Matthews made another good block as Alex Mitchell cleared the danger.  

The Dons started brightly and they were awarded a free kick on 11 minutes after Duk had been fouled by Ryan McGowan. Former Saints player Matty Kennedy took the free kick from 30 yards but his right footed effort went narrowly wide of Matthews’ right-hand post.

On 18 minutes Saints created a good chance to break the deadlock as Graham Carey cut the ball back to Drey Wright who sent over an inviting ball into the box which was met by Stevie May but his powerful header went the wrong side of Kelle Roos’ left-hand post.

PHOTO: Cammy MacPherson is fouled by Matty Kennedy

The first booking of the game came on 21 minutes as Graham Carey entered the book for a foul on Graeme Shinnie. Clarkson took the free kick and he played the ball in behind the Saints defence which Duk did well to latch onto before slotting the ball beyond Matthews to give the hosts the lead. However, following a VAR review the goal was ruled out as Duk had been offside when the move began.

Aberdeen created another chance on 32 minutes as Ross McCrorie picked out Clarkson with his cross from the right however the strike from the on-loan Liverpool midfielder lacked power as it was comfortably gathered by Matthews. The Dons continued to look dangerous going forward and with 6 minutes of the first half remaining Miovski got the better of Gordon as he broke into the box and the Macedonian forward looked to lift the ball over the advancing Matthews but the Saints number one was able to get a touch on the ball to take the sting out of it before racing back to his goal line to gather.

Saints were looking shaky at the back and with 4 minutes of the first half remaining the ball skimmed off Gordon’s head as he tried to head it back to Matthews and Miovski latched onto the ball and raced in on goal but Matthews was alert to the danger as he made another good save, turning the ball behind for a corner.

PHOTO: Liam Gordon's back header falls into the path of Bojan Miovski whose shot is saved by Remi Matthews

Saints made a good start to the second half and on 51 minutes May played the ball into Wright whose ball into the box was latched onto by Jamie Murphy who turned and unleashed an effort at goal which went over. However, play was pulled back as Murphy had been in an offside position. Then a minute later Saints were awarded a free kick out wide on the right following a foul on Carey by Hayden Coulson. Cammy MacPherson took the free kick as he delivered a good ball into the box which was turned behind for a corner by Liam Scales. MacPherson took the corner from the left and his delivery was met by May at the near post who headed inches over.

On 58 minutes May tried his luck from distance however, Roos was alert to the danger as he gathered the ball.

Callum Davison made his first change of the game on 66 minutes as David Wotherspoon came on to replace Jamie Murphy.

PHOTO: David Wotherspoon is closed down by Jonny Hayes

Saints were putting in an improved performance in the second half however, with 16 minutes remaining Aberdeen found the breakthrough as they took the lead. Roos sent a long ball forward from a goal kick which Gordon couldn’t deal with and Dons substitute Vicente Besuijen latched onto the ball before setting up Duk who slammed the ball beyond Matthews.

That goal sparked another change by Saints as Nicky Clark came on to replace Liam Gordon. That was shortly followed by a double change as Theo Bair and Ali Crawford were also introduced into the action, replacing Stevie May and Cammy MacPherson.

However, they couldn’t make an impact as Duk scored his and Aberdeen’s second with 6 minutes remaining. Besuijen’s shot was deflected behind for a corner by Andy Considine and dons substitute Jonny Hayes took the corner from the right. His delivery into the box was perfect for Duk who got on the end of it to glance his header into the bottom corner of the net to seal the points for the hosts.

PHOTO: Luís 'Duk' Lopes makes it 2-0 to Aberdeen

Saints had a chance to half the deficit with 3 minutes remaining as Drey Wright’s long throw into the box was met by Clark however, he blazed his effort over the bar from close range as Aberdeen comfortably saw out the final minutes of the match.

Aberdeen: Roos, McCrorie, Scales, Stewart, Shinnie (Barron 90+1), Miovski (Besuijen 61), Duk (Duncan 88), Ramadani, Clarkson (Ramírez 87), Coulson, Kennedy (Hayes 61)

Unused Substitutes: Lewis (GK), Morris, Watkins, Richardson

Booked: None

Scorers: Duk (74, 84)

Saints: Matthews, Mitchell, Gordon (Clark 76), Considine, Gallacher, McGowan, MacPherson (Crawford 82), Wright, Carey, Murphy (Wotherspoon 66), May (Bair 81)

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), Brown, Phillips, Kucheriavyi, O’Halloran

Booked: Carey, MacPherson, Mitchell

Referee: Euan Anderson

VAR: Graham Grainger

Attendance: 14,202

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Jamie Murphy and Ross McCrorie battle for possession