Highlights - St Johnstone 1-2 Aberdeen

St Johnstone 1-2 Aberdeen

By Brian McLauchlin BBC Scotland

Aberdeen scored their first goals of the season as they secured victory against a lacklustre St Johnstone side at McDiarmid Park.

The Dons took a 16th-minute lead when Isaac Osbourne fired in low past home goalkeeper Alan Mannus.

Jonny Hayes struck shortly after the restart to double the visitors' tally before Nigel Hasselbaink pulled one back with seven minutes remaining.

The defeat leaves Saints at the foot of the table after three games.

Saints made two changes from the side that drew with Motherwell last week.

Callum Davidson and Rowan Vine dropped out with Tam Scobbie making his home debut in defence and Sean Higgins up front alongside Hasselbaink.

Craig Beattie was expected to make his debut but called off late on with a bug.

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown made one enforced change from the side that drew at home to Ross County. The injured Niall McGinn was replaced by Ryan Fraser.

There were some rash tackles flying in from both sides and referee Billy Baxter showed two early yellow cards to Steven Anderson to Scott Vernon.

The visitors deservedly took the lead when Fraser burst down the left and, although his cross was missed by Vernon, Osbourne picked the ball up around 12 yards out to smash the ball low into the bottom corner of the net.

Saints forced a couple of corners on the half hour mark but the closest they came to an equaliser from their spell of pressure was a Frazer Wright header high over the crossbar.

Craig Brown's side came close to doubling their advantage when a Stephen Hughes cross was narrowly missed by Vernon.

Within a minute of the restart Sean Higgins should have equalised for Saints. Craig's free kick into the box fell to Higgins just six yards out but he fluffed his effort into the hands of Langfield.

Dons raced straight up the pitch and doubled their advantage seconds later after a mix-up in the home defence.

Mannus and centre-half Wright got themselves in a tangle and Hayes had a simple task in hammering the ball into the net.

Hayes should have made it three when he was set up by Hughes but his effort came back off the post and Vernon's rebound was cleared for a corner.

With seven minutes left Saints fans were given hope of taking something out of the game when Higgins knocked the ball down for Hasselbaink to score.

Anderson had a chance to equalise but he nodded the ball wide from six yards, allowing Aberdeen to head north with all three points.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (6)

St Johnstone

01 Mannus
02 MacKay
05 Wright
06 Anderson Booked
33 Scobbie (May - 52' )
04 Cregg Booked
07 Millar (Adams - 31' )
08 Davidson (Miller - 46' )
10 Craig
11 Hasselbaink
17 Higgins

Substitutes

15 Tuffey
18 McCracken
19 Miller
26 Caddis
20 Adams
27 May
29 McIntosh

Aberdeen

01 Langfield
04 Anderson (Reynolds - 61' )
06 Considine Booked
17 Naysmith
02 Jack
05 Rae
11 Hayes (Magennis - 84' )
16 Osbourne Booked
18 Hughes
20 Fraser (Megginson - 78' )
09 Vernon Booked

Substitutes

30 Rogers
22 Reynolds
07 Clark
08 Milsom
19 Megginson
21 Magennis
26 Paton

Ref: Beaton

Att: 4,857

Match Stats

Possession 42 58

Shots

9 8

On target

5 4

Corners

1 4

Fouls

16 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:31 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +3:00

Josh Magennis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David MacKay. Direct free kick taken by Alan Mannus.

90:00 +2:24

A cross is delivered by Gary Miller, Steven Anderson has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

89:56

Free kick taken by Stephen Hughes.

89:56 Booking

Booking Patrick Cregg receives a caution.

89:34

Patrick Cregg gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mitchel Megginson.

88:58

Josh Magennis sends in a cross, Scott Vernon takes a shot.

85:18

Nigel Hasselbaink is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Andrew Considine restarts play with the free kick.

83:53 Substitution

Substitution (Aberdeen) makes a substitution, with Josh Magennis coming on for Johnny Hayes.

82:59

The assist for the goal came from Sean Higgins.

82:59 Goal scored

Goal - Nigel Hasselbaink - St J'stone 1 - 2 Aberdeen Nigel Hasselbaink gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. St Johnstone 1-2 Aberdeen.

82:41

The ball is delivered by Patrick Cregg.

81:42

Nigel Hasselbaink fouled by Andrew Considine, the ref awards a free kick. Strike comes in from Patrick Cregg from the free kick.

78:19

Sean Higgins takes a shot. Jamie Langfield makes a save.

77:15

Alan Mannus takes the free kick.

77:15 Substitution

Substitution Mitchel Megginson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Ryan Fraser.