Graham Carey's blistering free-kick completed a St Mirren comeback to spoil Aberdeen's hopes of celebrating Craig Brown's year in charge with a victory.

The Dons took the lead after only 40 seconds when Scott Vernon fired in off the crossbar and Rory Fallon headed in 16 minutes later.

But Kenny McLean slotted a reply after 34 minutes and Carey fired home the equaliser from 30 yards.

Aberdeen's Fraser Fyvie was sent off in stoppage time for dissent.

But the Dons secured a point that lifts them off the bottom of the table on goal difference ahead of Dunfermline Athletic, whose game was postponed because of fog, and Hibernian.

Influential Iceland midfielder Kari Arnason returned from injury for Aberdeen, replacing Chris Clark, while Ryan Jack was preferred to Rory McArdle in defence.

St Mirren manager Danny Lennon shuffled his pack after last week's defeat by Inverness, with Carey, David van Zanten and David Barron coming in for Nigel Hasselbaink, Illias Haddad and Lee Mair.

But the rearranged side looked all at sea as they went behind before a minute was out.

Arnason's long throw into the box was flicked on by Fallon to Vernon, who chested the ball down before half-volleying into the top corner past helpless goalkeeper Craig Samson for his sixth goal of the season.

The Dons doubled their advantage after 17 minutes when Fyvie was given too much time and space on the edge of the area to pick out Fallon at the back post and the New Zealand forward stooped to head home his first goal in the SPL from only three yards out.

St Mirren looked listless until they pulled a goal back 10 minutes before the break.

The previously ineffectual McLean raced onto a Steven Thompson header and calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jason Brown for his third goal of the season.

Suddenly, the Buddies were a side reborn and young midfielder had a chance to restore parity only minutes later when he was played in by Paul McGowan, but Jack managed to make a vital block.

The Dons had appeals for penaties for challenges on Vernon waved away either side of the break.

St Mirren were back level seven minutes into the second half when Carey's thunderbolt of a free-kick from 30 yards went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Samson parried away a head flick from Vernon as Aberdeen tried to respond, while Thompson should have done better than head wide from another dangerous Carey free-kick.

Thompson was denied a winner after he acted quicker than the Dons defence only to have his effort thwarted by the leg of goalkeeper Brown.

Fyvie was shown a red card for foul and abusive language as St Mirren, who had beaten the Dons in four of their previous five league fixtures, made sure of a disappointing end to Brown's anniversary exactly a year to the day since he took charge at Pittodrie.

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (4)

Aberdeen

  • 32 Brown
  • 03 Foster Booked
  • 05 Mawene Booked
  • 06 Considine
  • 08 Milsom Booked (Pawlett - 87' )
  • 11 Arnason Booked
  • 16 Osbourne
  • 17 Fyvie Dismissed
  • 22 Jack
  • 09 Vernon
  • 14 Fallon (Chalali - 80' )

Substitutes

  • 20 Gonzalez
  • 02 McArdle
  • 07 Clark
  • 15 Pawlett
  • 10 Mackie
  • 18 Chalali
  • 21 Magennis

St Mirren

  • 01 Samson
  • 02 van Zanten
  • 03 Barron Booked
  • 14 McAusland
  • 22 Tesselaar
  • 06 Goodwin (Haddad - 80' )
  • 17 Mclean
  • 21 Teale (Hasselbaink - 69' )
  • 23 Carey
  • 09 Thompson Booked
  • 10 McGowan

Substitutes

  • 12 Smith
  • 24 Haddad
  • 13 McKee
  • 15 Mooy
  • 11 Hasselbaink
  • 19 McShane
Ref: Finnie
Att: 9,452

Match Stats

Shots

8 8

On target

3 4

Corners

2 3

Fouls

15 11

Live Text Commentary

93:05

The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +1:33 Dismissal

Dismissal Fraser Fyvie receives a red card for foul and abusive language.

89:56

The offside flag is raised against Peter Pawlett. Craig Samson takes the free kick.

89:41

The ball is swung over by Fraser Fyvie.

89:01

Free kick awarded for a foul by Isaac Osbourne on Nigel Hasselbaink. Free kick taken by Graham Carey.

88:12

Foul by Jeroen Tesselaar on Fraser Fyvie, free kick awarded. Fraser Fyvie delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right by-line, Marc McAusland makes a clearance.

86:14

Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.

86:14 Substitution

Substitution Peter Pawlett joins the action as a substitute, replacing Robert Milsom.

86:14

The assistant referee signals for offside against Scott Vernon.

86:08

The ball is delivered by Richard Foster.

85:37

The official flags Nigel Hasselbaink offside. Free kick taken by Jason Brown.

84:47

Richard Foster gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul McGowan. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Samson.

84:47 Booking

Booking Richard Foster goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

83:31

David Barron takes a shot. Corner taken by Graham Carey from the left by-line, Youl Mawene manages to make a clearance. Save by Jason Brown.

82:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nigel Hasselbaink by Isaac Osbourne. Free kick taken by Graham Carey.

79:56 Substitution

Substitution Illias Haddad comes on in place of Jim Goodwin.

79:56 Substitution

Substitution Rory Fallon goes off and Mohamed Chalali comes on.

78:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jim Goodwin on Scott Vernon. Free kick crossed left-footed by Robert Milsom from right channel.

78:34

The ball is swung over by Robert Milsom, Jim Goodwin manages to make a clearance.

78:01

Corner taken left-footed by Robert Milsom, save by Craig Samson.

77:50

The ball is crossed by Fraser Fyvie, blocked by Jim Goodwin.

76:53

Kenny McLean produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.

76:33

Scott Vernon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jim Goodwin. Jim Goodwin restarts play with the free kick.

76:03

Robert Milsom delivers the ball, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Rory Fallon misses to the left of the goal.

75:36

Ryan Jack produces a cross, clearance by Jim Goodwin.

74:22

Graham Carey has an effort direct from the free kick, save made by Jason Brown.

74:22 Booking

Booking Robert Milsom is cautioned.

73:59

Robert Milsom challenges Graham Carey unfairly and gives away a free kick.

72:05

Steven Thompson concedes a free kick for a foul on Andrew Considine. Jason Brown restarts play with the free kick.

71:47

Scott Vernon concedes a free kick for a foul on Jim Goodwin. David Barron takes the indirect free kick.

70:20

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Fraser Fyvie, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Rory Fallon misses to the right of the target.

70:14

Centre by Robert Milsom, blocked by Marc McAusland.

68:16

Indirect free kick taken by Andrew Considine.

68:16 Substitution

Substitution Gary Teale leaves the field to be replaced by Nigel Hasselbaink.

68:16

The assistant referee flags for offside against Gary Teale.

65:30

The ball is swung over by Richard Foster, save by Craig Samson.

64:08

A cross is delivered by Robert Milsom, Paul McGowan manages to make a clearance.

63:08

Youl Mawene challenges Paul McGowan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Gary Teale.

60:28

Inswinging corner taken by Graham Carey from the right by-line played to the near post, Paul McGowan produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

59:10

Graham Carey has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.

59:10 Booking

Booking Caution for Youl Mawene.

59:05

Unfair challenge on Steven Thompson by Youl Mawene results in a free kick.

57:52

Centre by Richard Foster, Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson.

54:31

Effort from outside the penalty box by Robert Milsom goes wide left of the target.

52:56

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Robert Milsom by David van Zanten. Direct free kick taken by Fraser Fyvie.

51:37 Goal scored

Goal - Graham Carey - Aberdeen 2 - 2 St Mirren Graham Carey grabs a goal direct from the free kick from long range to the top right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 2-2 St Mirren.

50:44

Free kick awarded for a foul by Isaac Osbourne on Steven Thompson.

50:06

The ball is sent over by Fraser Fyvie, clearance made by Marc McAusland.

49:18

Foul by Kari Arnason on Graham Carey, free kick awarded. Marc McAusland takes the free kick.

48:34

Centre by Robert Milsom, Scott Vernon has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

48:14

Foul by Jeroen Tesselaar on Fraser Fyvie, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Jack.

47:36

Fraser Fyvie is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Craig Samson takes the free kick.

46:53

Free kick taken by Jason Brown.

46:53 Booking

Booking Steven Thompson is booked.

46:39

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Foster by Steven Thompson.

45:37

The referee blows for offside against Paul McGowan. Andrew Considine takes the indirect free kick.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +0:30

The first half comes to an end.

44:48

Unfair challenge on Robert Milsom by Paul McGowan results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Andrew Considine.

41:35

Robert Milsom restarts play with the free kick.

41:35 Booking

Booking David Barron is cautioned.

41:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rory Fallon by Marc McAusland.

39:13

Corner taken by Graham Carey from the right by-line to the near post, Andrew Considine makes a clearance.

39:08

David van Zanten delivers the ball, blocked by Andrew Considine.

37:33 Booking

Booking The referee shows Kari Arnason a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

37:13

Kenny McLean takes a shot. Andrew Considine gets a block in.

33:48

Assist by Jeroen Tesselaar.

33:48 Goal scored

Goal - Kenny McLean - Aberdeen 2 - 1 St Mirren Kenny McLean finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 2-1 St Mirren.

33:48

The ball is swung over by Jeroen Tesselaar,

33:24

The ball is delivered by David van Zanten, clearance by Richard Foster.

32:55

David van Zanten sends in a cross, clearance made by Andrew Considine.

29:48

Graham Carey fouled by Robert Milsom, the ref awards a free kick. Graham Carey crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.

29:09

The ball is sent over by Fraser Fyvie, Marc McAusland makes a clearance.

27:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul McGowan by Andrew Considine. David Barron takes the direct free kick.

23:42

Shot from just outside the area by Jim Goodwin goes over the bar.

20:59

Robert Milsom crosses the ball, Jim Goodwin manages to make a clearance.

20:25

The ball is crossed by David van Zanten, save by Jason Brown.

19:43

Free kick awarded for a foul by Isaac Osbourne on Graham Carey. David Barron restarts play with the free kick.

18:08

Richard Foster has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

17:53

Robert Milsom takes a shot. Blocked by David van Zanten.

16:06

Fraser Fyvie provided the assist for the goal.

16:06 Goal scored

Goal - Rory Fallon - Aberdeen 2 - 0 St Mirren Rory Fallon finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Aberdeen 2-0 St Mirren.

16:06

The ball is delivered by Fraser Fyvie,

15:58

Richard Foster crosses the ball, clearance by Jim Goodwin.

15:02

Free kick awarded for a foul by Isaac Osbourne on Graham Carey. David Barron restarts play with the free kick.

14:24

Free kick awarded for a foul by Marc McAusland on Rory Fallon. Andrew Considine takes the direct free kick.

13:14

The ball is sent over by Jeroen Tesselaar, Richard Foster manages to make a clearance.

12:46

The ball is swung over by Ryan Jack, blocked by David Barron.

11:51

The ball is delivered by Steven Thompson, clearance by Andrew Considine.

11:14

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rory Fallon by Jim Goodwin. Richard Foster takes the direct free kick.

9:38

The ball is crossed by Fraser Fyvie, Craig Samson makes a save.

9:13

Robert Milsom crosses the ball.

8:24

Kari Arnason challenges Paul McGowan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Marc McAusland takes the free kick.

6:37

Robert Milsom is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Craig Samson.

2:23

Scott Vernon is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by David Barron.

1:59

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrew Considine by Paul McGowan. Jason Brown takes the free kick.

0:39

Assist by Rory Fallon.

0:39 Goal scored

Goal - Scott Vernon - Aberdeen 1 - 0 St Mirren Scott Vernon fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box to the top right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 1-0 St Mirren.

0:16

The ball is swung over by Richard Foster, Marc McAusland makes a clearance.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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