Match report: Saints 0-0 Aberdeen

Saints best chance of the first half came on 10 minutes when former Saints keeper Dimitar Mitov produced a vital save to deny Makenzie Kirk.

Shayden Morris did well to get in behind the Saints defence 5 minutes into the second half however, Barry Douglas got back to make a brilliant block to keep the score level.

Victor Griffith flicked a header narrowly wide of the target just after the hour mark, whilst up the other end Douglas made another important block on 79 minutes, getting back to deny Topi Keskinen, as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.  

Saints are back in action in a fortnight when they travel to Edinburgh to take on Hibs, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

It was back to league business this afternoon for Saints as they welcomed Aberdeen to McDiarmid Park. There was one change to the Saints starting eleven which defeated Livingston 1-0 on Monday evening to progress to the semi-finals of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup as Drey Wright came into replace Jonathan Svedberg who dropped to the bench. Aberdeen also progressed to the last four of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup last weekend as they defeated Championship side Queen’s Park 4-1 at Pittodrie. There was one change to the Dons starting eleven this afternoon as Leighton Clarkson dropped to the bench and he was replaced by Jack MacKenzie.

It was a sunny spring afternoon in Perth as Graeme Shinnie got the match underway for the visitors.

The opening exchanges were end-to-end and on 10 minutes Saints got a great chance to take the lead as Jason Holt played in Makenzie Kirk however, Dimitar Mitov produced a strong right-handed save to turn the ball behind for a corner. Then shortly after Drey Wright saw his effort saved by the former Saits keeper.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh and Mats Knoester

On 19 minutes Shayden Morris played in Kevin Nesbit however, his volley was straight at Andy Fisher. Then shortly after Topi Keskinen went on a surging run through the middle before sending the ball out to left to Nisbet and the on-loan Millwall saw his curling effort saved by Fisher.

Saints would go on to finish the half strongly as on 41 minutes Sam Curtis sent over an inviting delivery into the Aberdeen box which broke to Wright at the back post however, he couldn’t make a clean connection with the ball as the Dons comfortably cleared the danger. Then 2 minutes later Adama Sidibeh saw his right footed effort on the turn blocked by Mats Knoester.

PHOTO: Makenzie Kirk and Jack MacKenzie

Aberdeen created the first chance of the second half on 49 minutes as Keskinen crossed the ball into the box from the right and his delivery was met by Oday Dabbagh who sent a looping header narrowly wide of the far post. Then a minute later Keskinen was involved in the thick of the action again as the Finnish winger played in Morris who did well to get in behind the Saints rearguard as the winger burst into the Saints box however, Douglas got back to make a brilliant block to turn the ball behind for a corner. Ante Palaversa took the corner from the left and his delivery was met by Knoester however, the Dutch defender put his header wide of the target.

Saints made their first change of the game on 56 minutes as Victor Griffith came on to replace Adama Sidibeh.

PHOTO: Sven Sprangler is tackled by Ante Palaversa

On 61 minutes a good passing move by Saints saw Stephen Duke-McKenna send over an inviting cross into the Aberdeen which Griffith got up well to meet however, he couldn’t direct his header from 10 yards on target.

A quick counter-attack by Dons substitute Leighton Clarkson on 64 minutes saw the midfielder burst through the middle before playing in Keskinen but his strike went wide of the target.

Aberdeen were awarded a free kick on the left wing on 67 minutes after Dabbagh was fouled by Duke-McKenna. Palaversa took the free kick and his ball into the box picked out Knoester but again the defender put his header wide of the target.

PHOTO: Drey Wright goes by Alexander Jensen

Saints then made a double change as Stephen Duke-McKenna and Makenzie Kirk were replaced by Graham Carey and Benji Kimpioka.

Carey was quickly involved in the action as on 73 minutes the Irishman won Saints a free kick in an inviting position after he had been fouled by Palaversa. Carey took the free kick himself as he curled his effort over the crossbar.

With 11 minutes remaining Douglas again made another important block as he got back to deny Keskinen after the winger had been played in by Shinnie. From the resulting corner Clarkson whipped over a dangerous ball into the Saints box from the left which Knoester got on the end of however, his header went wide of the far post.

PHOTO: Graham Carey's free kick goes wide

A brilliant cross field ball by Carey on 82 minutes played in Wright down the left and he cut inside before unleashing a curling effort which was straight at Mitov who comfortably gathered the ball.

Saints made their final change of the game on 87 minutes as Taylor Steven came on to replace Barry Douglas however, neither team could break the deadlock and had to settle for a share of the points.

Saints: Fisher, Balodis, Mitchell, Holt, Wright, Sidibeh (Griffith 56’), Duke-McKenna (Carey 71’), Sprangler, Kirk (Kimpioka 72’), Douglas (Steven 87’), Curtis

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Svedberg, Clark, McPake, Watt      

Booked: None

Aberdeen: Mitov, MacKenzie (Okkels 63’), Shinnie, Knoester, Nisbet, Dabbagh (Guèye 68’), Palaversa, Morris (Clarkson 62’), Dorrington, Jensen, Keskinen (Sokler 82’)

Unused Substitutes: Doohan (GK), Devlin, Polvara, Milne, Boyd  

Booked: None

Referee: Chris Graham  

VAR: Andrew Dallas             

Attendance: 7,733

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Victor Griffith and Ante Palaversa