Saints 1-1 Aberdeen

Saints battled to pick up a hard fought point after finishing their Ladbrokes Premiership clash against Aberdeen with nine men.

Sam Cosgrove gave the visitors a 0-1 lead in the first half before Matty Kennedy hit back for Saints, then the drama unfolded with Murray Davidson and Callum Hendry both seeing red for Tommy Wright's men.

A strong defensive showing in the final 15 minutes including some great goalkeeping from Zander Clark meant that Saints secured a vital point at McDiarmid Park.

Saints went into this afternoon's clash with Aberdeen at the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership table following St Mirren's victory over Ross County yesterday.

Manager Tommy Wright made one change with David Wotherspoon making way for Jason Holt in the Saints starting XI.

The home side started the game brightly and forced a couple of early corners which ultimately came to nothing.

The first big chance of the match fell to the visitors on 10 minutes when Shay Logan fired towards goal from inside the box only to be thwarted by the feet of Zander Clark.

Up the other end and Anthony Ralston did well on the right hand side before sending in a teasing cross which Murray Davidson came inches away from connecting with.

Five minutes later though and Saints would once again concede the first goal in a Ladbrokes Premiership match.

Sam Cosgrove was given ample time about 25-yars-out and the big striker executed his shot perfectly to beat Zander Clark and put the Dons ahead.

It was almost 0-2 just moments later when Curtis Main's header at the back post fell to Niall McGinn but the Northern Irishman fluffed his lines when he looked certain to score.

Saints began to get a foothold in the game and had a good period of possession without forcing Joe Lewis into much action.

Shay Logan picked up the first booking of the match for a challenge on Kennedy with 10 minutes of the half remaining, before Jason Holt became the first Saints player to be cautioned for his tackle on Lewis Ferguson to close out the opening 45.

Neither side made any changes at the break but just five minutes into the second half Derek McInnes made his first sub - Craig Bryson replacing Curtis Main.

Sam Cosgrove came close to grabbing his second of the afternoon on 56 minutes but he nodded wide from six-yards-out.

On the hour mark, Tommy Wright made his first change of the match with Chris Kane coming on for Jason Holt.

Aberdeen came close again a few minutes later after good play by Niall McGinn set up Ryan Hedges but he blazed his effort over the crossbar.

That was his last action of the match as Hedges was replaced by Gallagher while Stevie May departed the action with Callum Hendry coming on in a like-for-like switch.

And, just a minute later, Saints were level.

A smart one-two by Matty Kennedy gave the winger space as he drove into the box and slotted the ball home past Joe Lewis with great composure.

It gave Saints a big lift and straight away they put the Dons under pressure forcing a corner kick after Kennedy's deflected effort had Lewis back peddling to tip the ball over his crossbar.

Just moments later the game would turn once again when Murray Davidson was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Craig Bryson. Although there was no intent, the Saints midfielder was late and referee Kevin Clancy had no hesitation when reaching for the red card.

Tempers began to flare thereafter with Bryson booked for the Dons before Saints would be reduced to nine men on 77 minutes.

Callum Hendry's late tackle on Lewis Ferguson saw Clancy reaching for his red card again although Saints players protested that Shay Logan had fouled Matty Kennedy seconds before.

Wotherspoon replaced Kennedy after that as Saints showed great character to keep the scoreline level with Zander Clark called into action on three occasions in the final ten minutes.

The Saints number one and his defence held firm and managed to come away with a very good point. The result means Tommy Wright's men remain 12th but Saints are now one of four sides on the same points with the Ladbrokes Premiership remaining extremely tight.

SAINTS: Clark, Ralston, Tanser, Duffy, Kerr (c), McCann, Holt (Kane 59), Davidson, Wright, Kennedy (Wotherspoon 80), May (Hendry 68)

UNUSED SUBS: Parish, Vihmann, Booth, O'Halloran

GOALSCORER: Kennedy (71)

RED CARDS: Davidson (73), Hendry (77)

ABERDEEN: Lewis, Logan, Devlin, McKenna, Considine, Leigh (Anderson 76), Ferguson, Hedges (Gallagher 67), McGinn, Main (Bryson 52), Cosgrove

UNUSED SUBS: Cerny, Taylor, Campbell, McLennan

GOALSCORER: Cosgrove (21)