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Aberdeen beat St Johnstone after Considine red

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Angus MacDonald's near-post connection beat goalkeeper Remi Matthews

Aberdeen moved to within a point of third place after a one-goal Scottish Premiership win that delivers a blow to 10-man St Johnstone's top-six hopes.

Centre-half Andrew Considine was sent off on his 36th birthday after just six minutes against his former club, before Angus MacDonald's toe poke was then knocked into his own net by goalkeeper Remi Matthews.

And a late red card for Graeme Shinnie could not prevent a victory in Barry Robson's first game since being handed the manager's job until the summer.

While Aberdeen rarely threatened to extend their lead, it was enough for a fourth consecutive win that drops St Johnstone down to ninth.

They are now eight points adrift of sixth-top Hibernian with only three games remaining before the top-flight splits into two for the final round of fixtures.

Callum Davidson, who had made five changes as he looked to end a run of seven homes games without a win, said he viewed this as a "cup final" for his side's hopes of a top-six finish.

The game certainly had a knock-out feel in a whirlwind start as Aberdeen goalkeeper Kelle Roos got down to palm away a strike from Liam Gordon and blocked Considine's effort on the rebound at the front post.

Aberdeen raced up the other end and striker Bojan Miovski was sent sprawling into the penalty box as he was challenged from behind by Considine racing on to a through ball.

There was good and bad news for St Johnstone following a VAR check as referee Colin Steven ruled that the challenge had been outside the penalty box before handing Considine a red card instead of a birthday one.

The 10 men almost took the lead immediately as Roos' foot diverted Zak Rudden's low drive wide and the end-to-end action continued as Aberdeen midfielder Ylber Ramadani's curling drive struck the junction of bar and post.

Aberdeen's extra man began to tell and, after Matthews thwarted a MacDonald header with a superb one-handed save, the defender's toe met a Jonny Hayes corner at the front post and, although the goalkeeper clawed it off the line, his trailing foot knocked it over the line.

It was St Johnstone who had the best chances of the second half and, after Shinnie was sent off for a second yellow card, Gordon came agonisingly close to an equaliser as his header struck the crossbar in the dying seconds.

Player of the match - Kelle Roos (Aberdeen)

Although Aberdeen had a man advantage, it was goalkeeper Kelle Roos' saves that were crucial in their victory.

Positives and negatives for both sides - analysis

Disappointed in his side's recent performances, Davidson was looking for a response and got it against in-form Aberdeen - even after Considine's dismissal.

However, having to play 84 minutes with 10 men was always going to be an improbable task - and so it proved.

There was no argument about the red card as Considine was caught on the wrong side of Miovski, but there was a touch of bad fortune about the goal.

As St Johnstone resign themselves to finishing top of the bottom six, Aberdeen can turn their attention to what is now looking like a head-to-head battle with Hearts for third place.

Ahead of kick-off, Robson sidestepped questions about what might happen at the end of the season, saying he is just concentrating on keeping his players' eye on the matchday ball.

He will be concerned that they never looked like over-running a side down to 10 men for much of the game, a lack of creativity again being an Achilles heel.

However, it was job done in terms of points and it was another step forward for their hopes of qualifying for European football and securing Robson the job full-time.

What they said

St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: "I honestly thought we were magnificent - the shape, the organisation, everything.

"I thought we caused them problems. I thought we had three or four great chances to score. I am extremely proud of them, but it's a sore one to take."

Aberdeen manager Barry Robson: "St Johnstone are an organised, well-drilled team and I don't think the pitch helped matters. I thought we looked a bit rusty at times.

"What I asked the players for at half-time was a clean sheet and we got that and we've won another game on the road, which has been difficult for the club - that's two in a row now. Points over performances are the important thing."

What's next?

St Johnstone host Ross County next Saturday as Aberdeen are at home to Kilmarnock (both 15:00 BST).

Line-ups

St Johnstone

Formation 3-4-1-2

1Matthews

13McGowan6Gordon4Considine

14Wright34Phillips22Hallberg19Montgomery

10Wotherspoon

16Rudden7May

Substitutes

Aberdeen

Formation 3-5-2

24Roos

18Pollock27MacDonald4Scales

2McCrorie16Ramadani20Clarkson6Shinnie17Hayes

9Miovski11de Barros Lopes

Substitutes

Referee:Colin Steven

Attendance:6,001

Live Text

  1. Match ends, St. Johnstone 0, Aberdeen 1.

  2. Second Half ends, St. Johnstone 0, Aberdeen 1.

  3. Attempt saved. Liam Gordon (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.

  4. Attempt saved. Liam Gordon (St. Johnstone) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Graham Carey with a cross.

  5. Attempt blocked. Jamie Murphy (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

  6. Attempt blocked. Adam Montgomery (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  7. Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Liam Scales.

  8. Foul by Marley Watkins (Aberdeen).

  9. Graham Carey (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Second yellow card to Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) for a bad foul.

  11. Foul by Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen).

  12. Drey Wright (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Substitution, Aberdeen. Marley Watkins replaces Bojan Miovski.

  14. Substitution, St. Johnstone. Theo Bair replaces Daniel Phillips.

  15. Attempt missed. Leighton Clarkson (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

  16. Attempt blocked. Melker Hallberg (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie Murphy.

  17. Leighton Clarkson (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  18. Foul by Leighton Clarkson (Aberdeen).

  19. Ryan McGowan (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  20. Substitution, Aberdeen. Patrik Myslovic replaces Duk.

Player of the match

MacDonaldAngus MacDonald

with an average of 8.41

St Johnstone

  1. Squad number23Player nameCarey

  2. Squad number29Player nameMurphy

  3. Squad number4Player nameConsidine

  4. Squad number7Player nameMay

  5. Squad number6Player nameGordon

  6. Squad number14Player nameWright

  7. Squad number13Player nameMcGowan

  8. Squad number17Player nameBair

  9. Squad number34Player namePhillips

  10. Squad number19Player nameMontgomery

  11. Squad number1Player nameMatthews

  12. Squad number16Player nameRudden

  13. Squad number10Player nameWotherspoon

  14. Squad number22Player nameHallberg

Aberdeen

  1. Squad number27Player nameMacDonald

  2. Squad number9Player nameMiovski

  3. Squad number16Player nameRamadani

  4. Squad number11Player nameDuk

  5. Squad number18Player namePollock

  6. Squad number20Player nameClarkson

  7. Squad number2Player nameMcCrorie

  8. Squad number6Player nameShinnie

  9. Squad number4Player nameScales

  10. Squad number24Player nameRoos

  11. Squad number23Player nameDuncan

  12. Squad number14Player nameMyslovic

  13. Squad number17Player nameHayes

  14. Squad number15Player nameWatkins

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