Darren Mackie sprang off the bench to ensure Aberdeen built on their opening-day win over Hamilton with a 1-0 win over St Johnstone.
A match of few goal-scoring opportunities appeared to be heading for a disappointing stalemate until Mackie's goal five minutes from time to give the Dons back-to-back victories after their headline-grabbing 4-0 hammering of Hamilton last weekend.
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Andrew Considine had the ball in the net in the first-half for the hosts, only for referee Steven McLean to rule his header out for a foul, and St Johnstone were left to rue Kevin Rutkiewicz's costly first-half miss when Mackie struck late on.
With the game slowly sparking to life, Saints should have taken the lead in the 17th minute. Aberdeen goalkeeper Mark Howard failed to hold a high ball in a crowded goalmouth and, when the ball was shuttled back into the danger area, Rutkiewicz screwed his shot wide when the ball fell kindly to him barely six yards out.
Aberdeen finally put pressure on new Saints goalkeeper Peter Enckelman in the 33rd minute but could not find the breakthrough the game needed. Chris Maguire turned Liam Craig on the flank but saw Michael Duberry clear his low cross from almost under his own crossbar and then Enckelman grabbed the Dons striker's tame left-foot shot.
The visitors had the ball in the net as Considine headed in Paul Hartley's whipped free-kick delivery but referee McLean controversially ruled the strike out for a foul in a busy penalty box.
In a low-key opening to the second period it was Daniel Grainger's ability to send in long throw-ins that again carved out an opportunity for St Johnstone in the 52nd minute. The former Dundee United full-back's delivery reached the middle of the area but the soaring Murray Davidson could not direct his header on target.
Both sides made double substitutions in forward areas, with Mackie and Scott Vernon being introduced for Aberdeen and Collin Samuel and Scott Dobie coming on for St Johnstone and it proved an inspired move for Dons boss Mark McGhee as Mackie earned his side three points.
Sone Aluko drove over from 25 yards with five minutes remaining before setting up the winner seconds later.
The winger blocked Alan Maybury's clearance and kept the ball in play on the left touchline before finding Mackie in the box and the replacement's first-time shot appeared to take a deflection on its way into Enckelman's bottom left-hand corner.
Source: DSG
