Match ends, Aberdeen 2, St. Johnstone 0.
AberdeenAberdeen2St JohnstoneSt Johnstone0
- Aberdeen win to move top of Scottish Premiership
- Goodwillie and Smith on target
- Sixth straight league win for the Dons
- First defeat in six for St Johnstone
Aberdeen moved top of the Scottish Premiership with a deserved victory over St Johnstone.
David Goodwillie gave the Dons the lead with an overhead kick following Niall McGinn's pass and Aberdeen were strong throughout the first half.
Cammy Smith sealed the three points for the hosts with a late strike.
With Celtic's evening match against Partick Thistle called off due to a waterlogged pitch, Aberdeen move a point above the reigning champions.
The Dons also remain three points clear of Dundee United, who beat Dundee 6-2 earlier on Saturday. St Johnstone stay fifth but are now only two points ahead of Kilmarnock.
Expectant Aberdeen fans did not have long to wait for the opening goal as Goodwillie controlled McGinn's chipped cross on his chest and then sent an acrobatic effort from 10 yards past Alan Mannus. It was Goodwillie's first goal since early October.
Derek McInnes's side continued to press and Peter Pawlett's header then McGinn's shot were blocked by Mannus.
Goodwillie flashed a header wide before Jonny Hayes' long-range drive stung the palms of Mannus.
Aberdeen had the ball in the net again but Pawlett was denied a goal due to Goodwillie's handball earlier in the move.
Dons keeper Scott Brown had little to do in the first half but was alert to Steven Anderson's shot after the Saints defender tried to emulate Goodwillie's acrobatics at a corner.
Goodwillie and Pawlett linked well at the start of the second period, leading to a curling shot from the former that Mannus did well to keep out.
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright sent on James McFadden and Gary McDonald in place of Steven MacLean and Lee Croft and the substitutes combined to good effect with one of the visitors' best chances.
McFadden crossed for McDonald to glance a header wide of target.
A 25-yard free-kick drew another save from Mannus but any nerves among the home fans were extinguished when Smith turned in Adam Rooney's cross from the right in stoppage time.
Line-ups
Aberdeen
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 20Brown
- 2Logan
- 5Taylor
- 6Reynolds
- 3Considine
- 10McGinnSubstituted forMonakanaat 80'minutes
- 16PawlettSubstituted forSmithat 76'minutes
- 22Jack
- 11Hayes
- 17GoodwillieSubstituted forShanklandat 76'minutes
- 9Rooney
Substitutes
- 1Langfield
- 7Monakana
- 14Smith
- 25Shankland
- 27Murray
- 32Gibbons
- 39Wright
St Johnstone
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Mannus
- 2Mackay
- 6Anderson
- 5Wright
- 19Miller
- 22CroftSubstituted forMcDonaldat 57'minutes
- 7MillarBooked at 19minsSubstituted forDavidsonat 70'minutes
- 4Lappin
- 29O'Halloran
- 10WotherspoonBooked at 69mins
- 9MacLeanSubstituted forMcFaddenat 58'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Scobbie
- 8McDonald
- 15Banks
- 16Caddis
- 17McFadden
- 18Davidson
- 20Brown
- Referee:
- Craig Thomson
- Attendance:
- 15,263
Match Stats
Home TeamAberdeenAway TeamSt Johnstone
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aberdeen 2, St. Johnstone 0.
Goal!
Goal! Aberdeen 2, St. Johnstone 0. Cameron Smith (Aberdeen) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adam Rooney.
Post update
Foul by Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen).
Post update
Gary McDonald (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Michael O'Halloran (St. Johnstone).
Post update
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Alan Mannus.
Post update
Lawrence Shankland (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone).
Post update
Attempt saved. James McFadden (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Considine (Aberdeen).
Post update
James McFadden (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Jack (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Foul by Jeffrey Monakana (Aberdeen).
Post update
Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Jeffrey Monakana replaces Niall McGinn.
Post update
Attempt missed. David Mackay (St. Johnstone) header from the centre of the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Lawrence Shankland replaces David Goodwillie.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Cameron Smith replaces Peter Pawlett.
