Aberdeen vs St. Johnstone. Scottish Premiership.
PittodrieAttendance16,816.
Match report as Aberdeen are held to a goalless draw by St Johnstone in the cinch Premiership
Sunday 8 October 2023 19:40, UK
Aberdeen were held to a goalless draw by bottom-of-the-table St Johnstone in a Premiership contest which will not live long in the memory.
The Dons were chasing a third straight league win, which would have propelled them into the top half of the standings for the first time this season.
But they did not trouble Dimitar Mitov enough to merit maximum points as winless Saints picked up a deserved point at a wet, miserable Pittodrie.
Aberdeen made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 with HJK Helsinki in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night, Connor Barron and Jonny Hayes coming in for Leighton Clarkson and Jack MacKenzie.
St Johnstone were able to select skipper Liam Gordon after his red card against Livingston last weekend was downgraded to a yellow on appeal.
But Gordon and his fellow defenders did not have much to do in an uninspiring first half, which produced next to nothing in the way of chances.
Other than a Luis 'Duk' Lopes free-kick from distance, which Mitov fumbled before gathering at the second attempt, there was not an effort on target at either end,
However, Aberdeen thought they had taken the lead on the stroke of half-time when their former stalwart Andrew Considine headed into his own net when trying to deal with Barron's cross.
But with Duk marginally offside and deemed to be interfering with play, the goal was chalked off following a VAR review - much to the annoyance of the home support.
An inventive free-kick almost paid off for the Dons early in the second half as Hayes fed Barron to create a better crossing angle, but his delivery just evaded Richard Jensen.
Reds boss Barry Robson made a double switch in the 56th minute in a bid to energise his midfield, with captain Graeme Shinnie and Jamie McGrath making way for Clarkson and Dante Polvara.
The visitors were still comfortable, although Luke Robinson nearly put his team in trouble with a stray pass in a dangerous area, which Aberdeen should have made more of.
Down the other end, Gordon unleashed a powerful 25-yard shot, which deflected narrowly wide for a corner as Saints sensed they could break their winless duck at the eighth attempt.
It was the hosts who looked likeliest, though, as they upped the pressure in the closing stages.
Bojan Miovski spurned their best opportunity in the 71st minute when he collected Barron's pass and cut across the box to work a shooting chance onto his favoured left foot, only to blaze his shot harmlessly over from 12 yards.
The North Macedonia international then flashed a stoppage-time header wide from a Hayes free-kick as the match ended in stalemate.
Aberdeen manager Barry Robson said: "In the first half we did not perform. I thought we were sluggish and looked a bit lethargic.
"I don't think St Johnstone brought anything either in the first half.
"I thought it was quite poor but we had a word with the players at half-time and I thought we came out a different team and in the end we could have come away with two or three goals."
St Jonhstone manager Steven MacLean said: "It is a good point and in the first half we were the better side.
"In the second half, we had to dig in and defend our box because Aberdeen are a big old side, who put set-plays and long throws in the box.
"We had to defend manfully and I thought we did that."
Aberdeen are at home to Dundee when the Scottish Premiership returns from the international break on October 21, while St Johnstone host Motherwell on the same day.
Both games kick-off at 3pm.
