Diamond put Aberdeen ahead against St Mirren at Pittodrie
Goals from Zander Diamond and Sone Aluko ensured that St Mirren did not deliver a black eye to another under-pressure manager.
Diamond reacted first after his header was blocked by the goalkeeper to hammer home after 37 minutes.
Aluko's close-range 55th-minute second put the Dons in control, but Steven Robb fired a reply after 80 minutes.
Steven MacLean was sent off, but the 10-man Dons held on to end their 11-match winless run.
Dons manager Mark McGhee had preferred MacLean to Darren Mackie in attack, while Italian defender Davide Grassi stepped in to replace the injured Jim Paterson.
St Mirren arrived at the Granite City in buoyant mood after their emphatic 4-0 midweek win over Celtic, but Gus MacPherson tweaked his line-up, with Michael Higdon replacing fellow striker Billy Mehmet.
The hosts made a lively start, with Aluko darting down the right before crossing for Stuart Duff, but the midfielder's shot was easily blocked by former Don Lee Mair.
Aberdeen enjoyed a large amount of possession in the early stages and MacLean carved out an opening for Derek Young after 12 minutes, but he fired wide from the edge of the area.
The visitors almost broke the deadlock when Higdon's header from Steven Thomson's cross was cleared off the line by Charlie Mulgrew.
Richard Foster had a chance to test Paul Gallacher following a superb run past three players, but his left-footed effort hit MacLean and trickled harmlessly into the path of the St Mirren goalkeeper.
McGhee was forced to make a change after 27 minutes, with the injured Young replaced with Fraser Fyvie, who was celebrating his 17th birthday.
Craig Dargo volleyed over the bar after Diamond had failed to deal with Jack Ross's searching ball into the area as the Buddies enjoyed a rare period of sustained pressure.
But it was Aberdeen who opened the scoring when Gallacher pulled off a smart save to deny Diamond's bullet header, but the Dons defender reacted quickest to smash the rebound high into the roof of the net.
The home support were appealing for a penalty within two minutes of the restart when Michael Paton fell under pressure from John Potter in the area, but referee Brian Winter waved play on.
Aberdeen pressed for a second against a jaded-looking St Mirren with Aluko flashing two efforts just wide.
The home side's second eventually came in bizarre circumstances after 56 minutes.
Fyvie centred the ball for Aluko, whose low shot took a wicked deflection off Ross before trickling into the goal despite the best efforts of Gallacher and Potter.
Robb fired home to give the Buddies some late hope and a foul on the midfielder led to a second yellow card that saw MacLean sent off eight minutes later.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Scottish Premier
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Aberdeen
2-1
St Mirren
FT
(HT 1-0)
Diamond 37
Aluko 56
Robb 80
Aberdeen
01 Langfield
02 Mulgrew
03 Foster
05 Diamond
18 Grassi
08 Kerr
11 Aluko
14 Young (Fyvie 26)
16 Duff
09 MacLean yellow card, red card
24 Paton (Mackie 82)
Substitutes
21 Nelson,
22 Ifil,
20 Marshall,
26 Jack,
34 Fyvie,
10 Mackie,
52 Grimmer
St Mirren
01 Gallacher
05 Mair
06 Potter
02 Ross
07 Murray
08 Dorman (Carey 62 yellow card)
10 Thomson (Loy 76)
14 Brady (Mehmet 57)
15 Robb
11 Higdon
18 Dargo
Substitutes
20 Howard,
03 Carey,
12 O'Donnell,
26 McLennan,
09 Mehmet,
17 Loy
Ref: WinterAtt: 8,764
ABERDEEN
ST MIRREN
Possession
Aberdeen50%
St Mirren50%
Attempts on target
Aberdeen9
St Mirren7
Attempts off target
Aberdeen6
St Mirren3
Corners
Aberdeen5
St Mirren2
Fouls
Aberdeen12
St Mirren12
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:19 The match has reached full-time.
90:00+2:19 Michael Higdon takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Langfield.
90:00+1:25 Foul by Fraser Fyvie on Hugh Murray, free kick awarded. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+0:35 Hugh Murray challenges Stuart Duff unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
88:54 Inswinging corner taken by Graham Carey from the right by-line, Zander Diamond makes a clearance.
88:27 Rory Loy takes a shot. Save by Jamie Langfield.
87:11 Billy Mehmet has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
86:36 The ball is sent over by Graham Carey.
85:33 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rory Loy by Davide Grassi. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
84:48 John Potter concedes a free kick for a foul on Darren Mackie. Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick.
84:21 The official flags Darren Mackie offside. Paul Gallacher takes the free kick.
82:58 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steven MacLean on Steven Robb. Direct free kick taken by Paul Gallacher.
82:28 Sent off Steven MacLean is sent off.
81:38 Graham Carey challenges Richard Foster unfairly and gives away a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, Lee Mair manages to make a clearance.
81:28 Booking Graham Carey goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
81:06 Substitution Darren Mackie comes on in place of Michael Paton.
79:39 The assist for the goal came from Billy Mehmet.
79:39 GOAL - Steven Robb:Aberdeen 2 - 1 St Mirren Steven Robb finds the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Aberdeen 2-1 St Mirren.
79:29 Billy Mehmet delivers the ball,
78:12 Foul by Steven Robb on Fraser Fyvie, free kick awarded. Charlie Mulgrew produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Paul Gallacher.
77:37 Sone Aluko takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Jack Ross manages to make a clearance.
77:11 The ball is crossed by Steven MacLean, Fraser Fyvie takes a shot. Brilliant save by Paul Gallacher.
75:31 Substitution Rory Loy comes on in place of Steven Thomson.
75:31 Steven MacLean gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jack Ross. Direct free kick taken by Paul Gallacher.
74:51 Jack Ross sends in a cross, Craig Dargo takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Langfield.
73:08 Fraser Fyvie takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by John Potter.
72:51 Fraser Fyvie takes a shot. Lee Mair gets a block in.
72:21 Fraser Fyvie delivers the ball.
70:45 Michael Paton crosses the ball.
69:37 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven MacLean by Hugh Murray. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
69:28 The ball is swung over by Graham Carey, Davide Grassi makes a clearance.
67:50 Close range shot by Steven MacLean clears the bar.
66:44 Effort on goal by Hugh Murray from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
65:45 Free kick awarded for a foul by Charlie Mulgrew on Michael Higdon. Graham Carey has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, blocked by Steven MacLean.
65:17 Davide Grassi challenges Billy Mehmet unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Gallacher takes the direct free kick.
63:34 The ball is crossed by Steven MacLean, blocked by John Potter.
62:44 The official flags Michael Higdon offside. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.
61:21 Substitution Graham Carey joins the action as a substitute, replacing Andy Dorman.
60:36 Corner taken right-footed by Fraser Fyvie from the left by-line, Jack Ross makes a clearance.
56:30 Substitution Billy Mehmet replaces Garry Brady.
55:23 The assist for the goal came from Fraser Fyvie.
55:23 GOAL - Sone Aluko:Aberdeen 2 - 0 St Mirren Sone Aluko finds the net with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 2-0 St Mirren.
52:13 John Potter challenges Steven MacLean unfairly and gives away a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew crosses the ball in from the free kick, Michael Higdon manages to make a clearance.
51:47 Michael Paton takes a shot. Save made by Paul Gallacher.
48:39 Effort from the edge of the box by Sone Aluko goes wide of the right-hand upright.
47:48 Sone Aluko has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.
46:41 The ball is delivered by Davide Grassi, Jack Ross makes a clearance.
46:08 Centre by Davide Grassi, Andy Dorman manages to make a clearance.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:25 The match has reached half-time.
45:00+2:13 The ball is crossed by Andy Dorman, clearance made by Charlie Mulgrew.
45:00+1:47 Jack Ross sends in a cross, clearance made by Zander Diamond.
45:00+0:13 Steven Robb fouled by Fraser Fyvie, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Gallacher.
45:00+0:03 Michael Paton delivers the ball, Lee Mair makes a clearance.
44:18 A cross is delivered by Jack Ross, clearance by Charlie Mulgrew.
43:32 Centre by Jack Ross, Richard Foster manages to make a clearance.
43:23 The ball is swung over by Jack Ross, Zander Diamond manages to make a clearance.
43:03 Sone Aluko takes a shot. Save made by Paul Gallacher.
42:25 Jack Ross challenges Sone Aluko unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
40:49 Free kick awarded for a foul by Sone Aluko on Jack Ross. Jack Ross takes the direct free kick.
38:33 Andy Dorman concedes a free kick for a foul on Sone Aluko. Charlie Mulgrew restarts play with the free kick.
36:24 GOAL - Zander Diamond:Aberdeen 1 - 0 St Mirren Zander Diamond fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box to the top left corner of the goal. Aberdeen 1-0 St Mirren.
35:58 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Fraser Fyvie,
35:51 Mark Kerr crosses the ball, Jack Ross makes a clearance.
33:38 Steven Thomson crosses the ball, clearance made by Zander Diamond.
31:50 Close range shot by Craig Dargo clears the bar.
29:51 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jack Ross by Mark Kerr. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Andy Dorman, blocked by Mark Kerr.
28:04 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stuart Duff by Michael Higdon. Stuart Duff restarts play with the free kick.
25:59 Substitution Fraser Fyvie comes on in place of Derek Young.
24:50 Stuart Duff concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Dorman. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Andy Dorman from left wing.
23:15 Steven MacLean challenges Lee Mair unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Gallacher.
22:52 Michael Paton produces a cross, clearance made by John Potter.
21:28 Michael Higdon is ruled offside. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.
20:46 Richard Foster takes a shot. Save by Paul Gallacher.
19:55 Unfair challenge on Garry Brady by Derek Young results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Jack Ross, Zander Diamond makes a clearance.
17:44 Unfair challenge on Sone Aluko by Lee Mair results in a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
16:56 Shot by Mark Kerr from just outside the area goes over the net.
16:27 Corner from the right by-line taken by Sone Aluko, John Potter manages to make a clearance.
16:23 The ball is crossed by Stuart Duff, Hugh Murray manages to make a clearance.
14:33 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Kerr by Hugh Murray. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.
13:27 The ball is crossed by Steven Thomson, Michael Higdon takes a shot. Charlie Mulgrew makes a clearance.
12:46 Andy Dorman takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Michael Paton.
11:16 Derek Young produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
6:32 Booking Steven MacLean is booked.
4:17 Michael Higdon challenges Charlie Mulgrew unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.
2:14 Michael Paton takes a shot. Save by Paul Gallacher.
1:00 Sone Aluko produces a cross, clearance made by Hugh Murray.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
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