Aberdeen 2 - 1 St Johnstone: Net gain for Aberdeen after web of intrigue surrounds penalty award

Published on Sunday 8 November 2009 21:32

WHO says two wrongs don't make a right? Certainly not Aberdeen's phantom blogger who was spared the need to post another conspiracy theory rant on the club's website thanks to a match-winning penalty even the direct recipient, Lee Miller, thought dubious.

The previous week's unattributed accusation that the Dons were victims of biased refereeing by Steven Nicholls in defeat at Easter Road is the subject of an SFA investigation.

Despite that there was a feeling the anonymous culprit was hunched over the keyboard ready to go again until Euan Norris intervened to leave St Johnstone aggrieved instead.

The referee had infuriated Aberdeen by allowing Liam Craig's controversial equaliser in 76 minutes to stand, even though Kenny Deuchar seemed to dislodge the ball from Jamie Langfield's grasp by colliding with the goalkeeper.

Football people often say the breaks even themselves out over a season but there was a feeling the referee condensed the process considerably in awarding Aberdeen a penalty seven minutes later.

Miller is no stranger to controversy in such circumstances but even he was pleasantly surprised that an innocuous off-the-ball joust with Danny Grainger brought a spot kick he converted with aplomb. He said: "It was a jostle between the two of us if anything. He has kind of grabbed me and I have grabbed him as we ran forward. I didn't even claim it. Maybe St Johnstone can feel hard done by, but we are delighted to have the three points. We got luck today and we will take it."

Grainger, who was booked after the incident, demanded an apology from Norris once the referee has reviewed the pictures and St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes made his feelings known to the official directly during a visit to the referee's dressing-room after the final whistle. The newly-promoted team have now picked up just nine points from a complete sequence of games against the other 11 SPL teams.

McInnes said: "We are only 11 games into this season and we have had three penalty decisions given against us when not one of them was a penalty. I'm fed up getting let down with poor decisions. Today's was never a penalty and I feel really hard done to. The best team lost the game today."

In truth, Aberdeen should have secured the win before the interval such was their superiority against a side who try to be too entertaining for their own good at times.

Saints over-committed men forward in the opening period, giving Aberdeen the time, space and pace to pull an exposed defence all over the place.

The loss of centre-back Graham Gartland with a shoulder injury early on didn't help but it was the home side's lack of conviction in front of goal that kept the contest close.

Sone Aluko, made his first start since mid-September and the Nigeria international was at his mercurial best in 15 minutes with a dash past two defenders, including a nutmeg, before guiding the ball home.

Peter Pawlett's pace and persistence created the opening on a swift counterattack, showing why Scotland Under-21 coach Billy Stark personally persuaded the Hull-born youngster to take advantage of the new qualification rules and switch to the Dark Blue.

Aberdeen moved on to the same points tally as they had after the same number of games last season under Jimmy Calderwood.

Current manager Mark McGhee believes that was just as the breaks evened themselves out but maybe Euan Norris will inspire someone at St Johnstone to start blogging.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Peter Pawlett (Aberdeen)

Looks a real talent in the making as he has pace, aggression and a good touch on the ball, as he showed when creating the opening for Sone Aluko's goal and earning a yellow card for an over robust tackle in the second-half.