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St Mirren Triumphs Over Struggling Aberdeen in Scottish Premiership Clash
Aberdeen’s woes in the Scottish Premiership continued as they faced a 3-0 defeat against a proficient St Mirren team, marking their ninth loss in 13 league matches.
Despite showing some promise throughout the match, Aberdeen’s defensive frailties, particularly from Slobodan Rubezic, allowed St Mirren to capitalize with two first-half goals, courtesy of Toyosi Olusanya and Mikael Mandron. Mandron later sealed the victory with a third goal late in the second half.
The Dons, buoyed by a recent Scottish Cup win against Elgin City, made five changes to their lineup in an attempt to turn their fortunes around.
St Mirren, coming off a four-game losing streak in the league, introduced Callum Penman for his first starting appearance, making two changes from the squad that defeated Queen of the South.
It took just seven minutes for St Mirren to take the lead. After a long ball from Richard Taylor, Aberdeen’s Rubezic misjudged a header, allowing Olusanya to pounce on the loose ball and score from close range.
Aberdeen quickly responded with renewed attack, as Pape Habib Gueye, returning after a four-month injury hiatus, came close to leveling the score but was thwarted by St Mirren’s goalkeeper, Zach Hemming. Okkels then took a shot that was also denied by Hemming, followed by a potential penalty shout when Topi Keskinen’s attempt was blocked by Taylor’s hand, which VAR reviewed but ultimately did not award.
As the match progressed, Penman exited early due to injury, just before Rubezic faltered again, allowing Olusanya to create an opportunity for Mandron, who netted his first goal of the match from six yards out.
Rubezic’s struggles prompted a swift substitution, bringing on Tottenham loanee Alfie Dorrington to shore up the defense.
After halftime, Aberdeen introduced Ante Palaversa, who nearly made an impact with a shot that narrowly missed its target. Okkels’ timely crosses provided opportunities for Gueye, whose header went wide.
Hemming continued to keep St Mirren in the game, saving a powerful free-kick from substitute Kevin Nisbet, while the Dons pressed for a breakthrough with a follow-up effort that went just wide. However, any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Mandron scored again, finding the back of the net with a stunning shot from outside the box after receiving a long pass from Alex Gogic.
Manager Reactions
Jimmy Thelin, Aberdeen’s manager, reflected on the difficulties faced by his team, saying, “We have been improving in training, but the results are not coming. I take responsibility and need to find a balance to avoid being exposed defensively.”
Stephen Robinson, managing St Mirren, expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, particularly in defense: “We’ve seen good displays recently, but our set-piece defending was notably strong today. Zach’s dominance in goal provided a solid foundation, and our strikers were able to create real challenges for Aberdeen.”
Looking Ahead in the Scottish Premiership
As the league continues, both teams will seek to build on their respective performances, with St Mirren aiming to capitalize on their recent success while Aberdeen must regroup to break free from their troubling run of form.
Source
www.skysports.com