Saturday 23 April 2016 08:33, UK
Aberdeen's faint Scottish Premiership title hopes are all but over after they lost 3-0 at St Johnstone on Friday night.
David Wotherspoon scored the Saints' opener on 14 minutes when he found the bottom corner with a free-kick before Steven MacLean doubled their advantage seven minutes before the break.
Liam Craig then fired home a left-footed shot on 55 to secure victory for Tommy Wright's side.
Defeat leaves the Dons eight points behind leaders Celtic, who face Ross County on Sunday.
Wotherspoon made his presence felt early in the game with Saints defender Joe Shaughnessy heading his corner from the left against the crossbar in the sixth minute.
Debutant Rose was then penalised for a challenge on Graham Cummins 25 yards from goal and Wotherspoon curled the resulting free-kick over the defensive wall and in at keeper Scott Brown's right-hand post.
Aberdeen continued to look nervous in defence but escaped further punishment, with Saints skipper Chris Millar missing the target with a drive after being sent through by midfielder Murray Davidson.
Steven Anderson then bundled in a Wotherspoon corner but referee Craig Thomson ruled that keeper Brown had been impeded in the packed six-yard box.
The home side did not have long to wait for their second goal, though, as MacLean pounced before the break.
The striker got the slightest of touches after Tam Scobbie's deep free-kick was headed into the six-yard box by Anderson to turn the ball home.
Barry Robson replaced Rose at the start of the second period but the visitors found themselves three down when, after defender Mark Reynolds was dispossessed by Millar, Cummins laid the ball on for the unmarked Craig to fire past Brown.
Saints goalkeeper Zander Clark saved a well-struck Robson free-kick but Aberdeen's response was muted and their once promising season appears to be limping to a disappointing end.
