Dons on the up
Aberdeen moved level on points with the Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders after an impressive 4-1 victory over hosts St Mirren.
The Dons showed their clinical side as they punished the home side on the counter-attack and three points takes them alongside Celtic and Hibernian, though both play on Sunday.
Johnny Hayes fired a low shot beyond Craig Samson to open the scoring after 10 minutes and the in-form Niall McGinn doubled the visitors' lead on the stroke of half-time, ending a lightning-fast counter by slamming the ball high into the net.
Chris Clark drilled a low shot past Samson with four minutes remaining to put the game beyond Saints before late strikes from Mark Reynolds and Steven Thompson rounded out the scoring.
It was the home side that enjoyed the brighter start, Gary Teale taking on Andrew Considine before swinging over a dangerous cross that Sam Parkin headed over.
Aberdeen broke the deadlock after 10 minutes with their first opportunity of the match.
Hayes' cross was blocked by David van Zanten but he reacted brilliantly when the ball rebounded back to him to fire home.
The hosts responded when Thompson connected with Teale's pinpoint free-kick, only to be denied by a wonderful stop by Jamie Langfield, who pushed the ball onto the crossbar.
Teale was causing Considine plenty of problems and he again beat the Dons defender before flighting over a good delivery that Thompson headed just wide of the post after 20 minutes.
The home side continued to search for a way back into the match and despite forcing a number of corners in quick succession, they were unable to profit.
Aberdeen responded at the other end when Josh Magennis' fizzing effort was parried round the post by Samson.
Moments before half-time Aberdeen doubled their lead with an excellent counter-attack.
Ryan Fraser raced through on goal before laying off to McGinn, who lashed the ball past Samson from a tight angle.
St Mirren continued to look for a way back into the game as the second half began and Thompson should have done better after linking with Kenny McLean at the edge of the penalty area.
The visitors remained a constant threat on the counter and Hayes drove a shot just wide before Samson brilliantly saved from Fraser after Marc McAusland carelessly conceded possession on the edge of his own penalty box.
McAusland brought out a wonderful save from Langfield after 83 minutes, but the home side were still finding chances at a premium.
Aberdeen wrapped up the game with four minutes remaining when Scott Vernon rolled the ball to Clark, who blasted the ball low beyond Samson from close range.
Things got even worse for the hosts one minute later as Reynolds burst out of defence to fire a shot into the top corner.
Thompson ended a flurry of three goals in two minutes when he grabbed a late consolation, but it did little to ease the pain for Saints, who have now lost five successive matches in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
Source: DSG
