CONNOR Ronan’s third strike in as many matches against gave his side the win in a largely uneventful 90 minutes at the SMiSA Stadium.
The 23-year-old Irishman curled in a wonderful second-half effort, lifting his side above Livingston and into eighth in the cinch Premiership in a 1-0 victory.
"It was a brilliant goal," said St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin. "I said to the players at half-time that in the first half of the season we always seem to find ourselves on the wrong end of those tight games. Tonight it was important that that didn't happen.
"I did think it was going to take a bit of magic to win it."
Both sides made changes from their weekend Scottish Cup victories, with Jim Goodwin bringing in Eamonn Brophy, Jamie McGrath and Alan Power for Kristian Dennis, Ethan Erhahon and Kyle McAllister. Stephen Glass brought Dean Cambell in at left-back with Jonny Hayes missing out altogether.
The first half was a drab affair, despite both sides going into this on decent form and a lively start from the home side. Greg Kiltie, on form at the moment, saw his hopeful effort blocked in the opening minute and Marcus Fraser later headed just wide from a corner. Kiltie later had a second first-half opportunity he skewed wide.
Aberdeen settled into the match with around 10 minutes on the clock, showing some of the neat passing play. However, they had to contend with their opponents holding their shape and biting into tackles and forcing them to play in their own half at times. Despite their neat play the visitors lacked the ability to carve out opportunities and it wasn’t until just before half-time that Saints keeper Jak Alnwick was forced into a save, pushing Calvin Ramsay’s cross-cum-shot.
Before that the closest the Dons came was a terrific effort from Lewis Ferguson, following a surging run in the 26th minute, which swerved narrowly away from the goal after alluding the keeper.
The second half was livlier and within moments of the break Aberdeen’s Scott Brown saw an edge-of-the-box strike dip just over the bar before minutes later watching as Scott Tanser cleared his goal-bound effort off the line. The ball had broken to the Dons captain after Alnwick had come through a pack of players for a Ryan Hedges cross and missed it completely.
When St Mirren took the lead on the hour it came slightly against the run of play. As they had many a time in the first half, St Mirren sprung after retrieving possession, aiming a ball down the channel for Kiltie. His cutback was initially missed by everyone before being collected by Connor Ronan, who curled an excellent strike beyond Joe Lewis.
It was the Wolves loanee’s third strike against the Dons after his double in this fixture earlier in the season. Just as they had against Dundee United, a patient approach while taking an opportunity at the other end had paid off for Goodwin.
Glass responded by sending on Jay Emmanuel-Thomas for Hedges, although it may have been influenced by the Welshmen taking a knock during a previous passage of play.
Connor McLennan and Matty Kennedy were also introduced but between them they failed to give Aberdeen the spark they needed to break down a stubborn St Mirren with something to defend. If anything it was the Buddies who looked more likely to score with Kiltie failing to pick out Alex Gerive – the new signing from New Zealand making his home debut – in the dying minutes.
It means Aberdeen have failed to win away to St Mirren in the league since December 2018.
“It was a disappointing performance,” said Glass. “One moment of quality in the game wins it for St Mirren. I think it’s disappointing given the amount of possession we had that one of our players didn’t do it.
“We gave up quite a cheap goal, a brilliant finish from their player but a cheap goal from our point of view.
“We didn’t do enough to threaten their goal. As a result, you get what you get.”
St Mirren (4-2-3-1): Alnwick; Fraser, Shaughnessy, Dunne, Tanser; Ronan, Power, Henderson, Kiltie, McGrath; Brophy.
Aberdeen (4-3-3): Lewis; Ramsay, McCrorie, Bates, Campbell; Ferguson, Jenks, Brown; Hedges, Ramirez, Ojo.
Attendance: 4,829
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here