Scottish Premier League - Saturday, 27th March 2010
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Aberdeen today ended their winless streak that had seen them fail to win a match in two months. Diamond put Aberdeen ahead in the 37th minute, and when Aluko added a second in the 56th minute it looked as though it was game over. However, in typical Aberdeen fashion, what should have been a comfortable three points turned into a backs to the wall job. Robb pulled a goal back for St Mirren against the run of play with 10 minutes to go. And three minutes later the Dons were down to 10 men; MacLean received his second controversial yellow of the game and was given his marching orders. The Buddies then woke up and laid siege to the Aberdeen goal, and were only denied an equaliser by two outstanding saves from Langfield. The Dons though held on for a deserved win for the first time in 11 games.
St Mirren kicked off in the north-east sunshine, but it was Aberdeen who took control of the game immediately. Aluko breaking down the right and putting in a low cross, which was cleared after a scramble. Paton got his head onto a MacLean cross a minute later but was unable to generate any power. Controversy arose in the 7th minute when MacLean was booked for dissent after a discussion between referee Winter and his assistant. Young went close five minutes later before St Mirren had their first real chance of the game. Grassi was caught dithering at the back and St Mirren won a corner, Mulgrew was then forced into a goal line clearance as Higdon’s header had Langfield beaten. Aluko was brought down in the 18th minute but Mulgrew sent his free kick well over from 25 yards. In the 21st minute Aluko released Foster down the right, who cut inside and beat two players, but his shot was deflected off MacLean and went straight to the keeper.
MacLean was unable to finish off a neat passing move in the 23rd minute as the home team continued to dominate. Young had to be taken off three minutes later after picking up a knock; Fyvie was brought on on his 17th birthday in his place. St Mirren won a free kick in a dangerous area on the half hour mark, but the shot was blocked by the Aberdeen wall. The visitors were having their best spell of the half at this point but it was Aberdeen who took the lead in the 37th minute. Fyvie’s cross found Diamond, whose header proved too hot to handle as the keeper could only parry the effort back out into the crowded box. Diamond was first to react and the big defender hammered the ball high into the net. Aberdeen finished the half well and could have been further ahead. Aluko tried to beat the St Mirren defence himself when he should have played in MacLean in the 40th minute. MacLean also flicked on a Fyvie header to Aluko, but the Nigerian international scuffed his shot from the edge of the penalty area as the first half drew to a close.
Aberdeen picked up in the second half where they left off in the first. There were strong shouts for a penalty from the home fans when Paton was pulled down in the box by Ross, but the referee waved play on. In the 49th minute Aluko, who was having a great game, fired a low shot just wide of goal. A deserved second goal for the Dons came in the 56th minute. Fyvie got his second assist of the game as the 17 year old’s cut back found Aluko whose shot was deflected but somehow found its way into the net. In the 62nd minute, the referee, not for the first time in the game, angered the home crowd by turning down what looked another clear penalty, as Diamond was pushed to the ground.
The 63rd minute saw Langfield, who had been idle for most of the match, completely miss a routine low cross. The Aberdeen support held their breath as the ball agonisingly trickled across goal, but thankfully it went behind for a goal kick before a St Mirren player could reach it. Three minutes later a St Mirren free kick just outside the box, was sent crashing into the wall, and the rebound was fired high over the bar. Fyvie came very close a capping a fine performance with a birthday goal, but his low header was palmed wide by keeper Gallacher. Completely against the run of play, St Mirren then snatched a goal back. Mehmet’s low cross missed everyone in the box and ran through to the unmarked Robb whose shot went through Langfield and earned the Buddies a life line.
With seven minutes remaining, MacLean was given a harsh second yellow for a challenge on Carey. The boos rang round Pittodrie as the Aberdeen faithful made clear their feelings about the referee. Mehmet nearly grabbed an equaliser, a fantastic shot from the edge of the box flashing within inches of the post as Langfield looked beaten. Everyone was back desperately defending for Aberdeen at this stage. An unbelievable save from Langfield kept St Mirren out in the 89th minute, when Loy attempted an audacious chip. And it was Langfield to the rescue again in the final minute of stoppage time. The Dons number one pulled off a match winning save, blocking a shot from Higdon who had broken through the Aberdeen defence.
Aberdeen held on to claim a massive and well deserved three points. With three games to go before the split, a top six finish still looks unlikely but is not out of the question. The Dons will now go into next Sunday’s clash with Kilmarnock with more confidence having got the considerable burden of an 11 game winless streak, off their back.
Ronaldanho
Danny McKay won RedTV's Junior Reporter competition
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