Leighton Clarkson’s beautiful second half free-kick stung St Johnstone and despatched Aberdeen house with three factors.
The midfielder, on mortgage from Liverpool, curled a great thing about a strike past goalkeeper Remi Matthews within the 56th minute of the match.
It proved to be the one objective of a recreation the place Saints once more struggled to carve out the required quantity of clear-cut alternatives throughout the afternoon.
Kick-off had been delayed quarter-hour as a consequence of a medical emergency within the Most important Stand.
Saints entered the sphere of play with two adjustments from the Rangers defeat final week. Cammy MacPherson’s thigh damage saved him sidelined and that paved the best way for Daniel Phillips - spectacular at Ibrox - to make his beginning debut.
The nod was additionally given to James Brown within the left wing-back place, changing Adam Montgomery who missed out utterly.
Down that aspect was the place the Dons obtained early pleasure and shortly a harmful supply was heading into the field. Vicente Besuijen went for the acrobatic end however wasn’t capable of finding the goal.
Striker Bojan Miovski did handle to search out the again of the web on 10 minutes with a header from a Jonny Hayes cross. However he was adjudged to be offside.
Saints did, for a brief spell, start to look a contact extra threatening. First Phillips examined goalkeeper Kelle Roos with a low left-footed drive.
After which, moments later, a pleasant go from Graham Carey despatched Jamie Murphy deep into the field. His cut-back was for Theo Bair however he couldn’t join from a promising place.
Because the break approached Carey once more dusted down his left boot and whipped in a strong cross from the proper flank. It evaded all aside from Roos, who was compelled to the touch behind for a nook.
Perth goalkeeper Remi Matthews wasn’t required to make a significant cease within the first half however did should be alert early within the second half.
He saved tabs on a low Clarkson effort from the sting of the field which dribbled marginally broad.
On 56 minutes, he was once more conserving tabs as Clarkson lined-up a 25-yard free-kick. Matthews threw himself to his proper however was unable to cease the ball from discovering the highest nook of the web.
Supervisor Callum Davidson, not lengthy after, made a triple change with Phillips, Carey and Bair all departing. Murray Davidson, Max Kucheriavyi and Stevie Might had been on.
However nonetheless Aberdeen had been those with the attacking risk and Miovski virtually doubled the benefit, prevented from doing so by a wise Matthews cease.
There was a half-chance for these kitted in blue when Davidson clipped into the field for Kucheriavyi however his header was all the time going broad.
Murphy tried to salvage some extent late on with a terrific solo run and strike, however Roos produced a intelligent response save.
Up the opposite finish, in damage time, Shayden Morris broke clear however Matthews stood tall to cease Aberdeen including one other.
Saints drop to tenth within the desk forward of Dundee United and Kilmarnock.