Live Commentary

Diamond a doubt for Dons Zander Diamond is doubtful for Aberdeen's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Mirren at Pittodrie. The Dons defender came off during the 2-0 defeat by St Johnstone with a hip injury and is struggling. Aberdeen boss Craig Brown will consider giving a start to Fraser Fyvie who came off the bench against Saints after recovering from after a cruciate ligament injury. Assistant boss Archie Knox admits the imminent exodus of players from Pittodrie contributed to Saturday's home defeat to St Johnstone. Derek Young, David McNamee and Mark Howard will leave the club at the end of the season as loanees Steven Smith, Nikola Vujadinovic and Nick Blackman return to their parent clubs. Zander Diamond's contract is up at the end of the season and is expected to go to Hearts. Aberdeen manager Craig Brown is also expecting Sone Aluko to return to English football in the summer while Chris Maguire and Jamie Langfield have to make decisions on the contracts that have been offered. Dons were disappointing in their 2-0 defeat by Saints and asked by RedTV if the uncertainty affected the players, Knox replied: "I think it must do. You are always going on to players that every time they take to the football field they have to perform. "Knowing full well that a few of them might be out next season, it is difficult for them to motivate themselves. "That's no excuse on their part but invariably that's what happens, especially in the position we are in. "We can note the injuries and certainly we have an injury list which is crippling but you are always looking for the right application and St Johnstone were better at that than us." Jim Goodwin is "very doubtful" for the clash, according to St Mirren manager Danny Lennon. Goodwin limped off with a calf strain 40 minutes into the Paisley side's 1-0 defeat by Inverness on Saturday. Hugh Murray (knee) is out for the season but Jure Travner is available following suspension. Lennon hopes that facing their fears in a group discussion will allow his players to brush off the tension and secure their Clydesdale Bank Premier League status. Saints looked safe when they followed up victory over relegations rivals Hamilton last month with a convincing win over Aberdeen to move 12 points away from the bottom. But Hamilton's revival has seen them reduce the deficit to three points with two matches remaining. Lennon felt his team were hindered by fear when they lost 1-0 at Inverness on Saturday. So he encouraged them to talk through their anxiety in a bid to ease the pressure ahead of their trip to face Aberdeen tomorrow night. Only three first-team players are contracted to the club for next season, with Lennon awaiting confirmation of their league status before shaping his squad. But he has told them he will take responsibility for their final two games against the Dons and St Johnstone. "We had a very good meeting yesterday with the players," Lennon told Press Association Sport. "We are all disappointed with the last two results: the coaches, the players, the directors and fans, none more so than myself. "We were on the back of a good run of performances but now we are at the business end of the season, so many players are out of contract soon and worried about their futures. Saints will secure their SPL safety at Pittodrie if they better Hamilton's result against St Johnstone, and victory in one of their remaining two games would almost certainly seal their survival given their eight-goal advantage over Accies.