Aberdeen 2 - 1 St Johnstone: Grainger cries foul over Dons' 'dodgy' penalty as Aluko's guile ignites Aberdeen

Published on Saturday 7 November 2009 20:29

Aluko 15; Miller 83 (pen) Craig 76

THIS time last week Aberdeen were counting the cost of two red cards and several controversial refereeing decisions that sparked a furious tirade from the Granite City outfit at the SFA over officials.

This morning, however, there will be less of an outcry as Aberdeen savour the win that was confirmed with a late penalty award by referee Euan Norris.

At 1-0, thanks to Sone Aluko's comeback strike, Aberdeen were cruising until Norris took centre stage by ignoring pleas that Jamie Langfield had been impeded by Kenny Deuchar in the build-up to Liam Craig's leveller.

However, as if to square things up, Norris then pointed to the penalty spot after Lee Miller was felled inside the box by Danny Grainger with the Dons striker converting for a 2-1 win.

"It wasn't a penalty, end of," said Grainger. "I've watched it again on video and I'm even more convinced. I'm not going to sit here slagging referees because they all make mistakes but it has cost us dearly.

"Lee was very clever. He pulled the inside of my shirt away from the view of the referee and the assistant referee and went down to make it look like a penalty, but it shouldn't have been given.

"I have spoken to the referee and asked him to look at the video again and I'm sure the next time he sees me he'll have an apology for me.

"That's now three dodgy penalties we've had against us – one at St Mirren, one at Dundee United and one here."

However, Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee defended his striker, insisting any award was justified given his belief that St Johnstone's leveller should never have stood. "It would have been a shame if we hadn't won because of their equaliser because I didn't think it was a goal.

"It was free-kick because Langfield had been fouled by Deuchar but we went on to win a penalty – and Lee assures me he was fouled – to win it."

McGhee is 100 per cent right with one thing – his team just deserved to edge this one.

With youngsters Aluko and Peter Pawlett running the show their attacking flair was a joy to watch at times.

Aluko hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with McGhee, following a bust-up over international football earlier this term, but there is little doubting his talent. His roving runs were a constant source of nuisance to the Saints yesterday and he could well have gifted the home side the lead on two minutes.

Aluko controlled Gary McDonald's long pass before firing into the side-netting from ten yards. However, he netted on 14 minutes as Dons gave a master class in counter-attack football to take the lead.

Langfield made a superb save to beat away Craig's curling free-kick and within seconds, Andrew Considine had launched a long through-ball for Pawlett to race on to, who in turn curled the ball into the path of Aluko. He jigged his way past two visiting defenders before picking his spot in the bottom left corner of the net from ten yards.

Michael Paton then had a shot blocked on the line by Kevin Rutkiewicz and Pawlett had a powerful 15 yard drive parried by Graeme Smith as they turned the screw.

Saints were relieved to see the injured Aluko subbed by Darren Mackie at the break but the replacement nearly carved out goal number two for the hosts on 55 minutes. His cross was met by Jerel Ifil and only a superb stop from Smith to turn over denied the Englishman with his powerful 18 yard strike.

Ifil's heroics at the other end then prevented a Saints leveller as sub Deuchar's header evaded Langfield only to be booted off the line by the Dons defender.

Ifil then cleared off the line a second time to deny Rutkiewicz before the Dons defence went to sleep, allowing Craig to toe-poke home an equaliser.

Aberdeen, however, were to have the last laugh a Miller was fouled in the box by Grainger and the Scotland striker blasted home the penalty.

MAN OF THE MATCH

The skilful Sone Aluko would have won this hands down had he stayed on at the break but Peter Pawlett's a young boy with a big future and he deserves the award.

QUICK FACT

Hull-born Pawlett is undoubtedly a star in the making and he has followed Celtic teenager Islam Feruz's lead in becoming the second player to take advantage of the new Home Nations eligibility ruling with a call-up to the Scotland under-19s squad.

TALKING POINT

Do referees have an agenda against Aberdeen? If they do then no one told Euan Norris who appeared to square up an earlier dubious call with his late penalty award.