Aberdeen 3 - 0 St. Johnstone

New manager, Ally MacLeod's, Aberdeen team needed the points to avoid relegation - in fact, the Dons were to escape the drop only on goal difference! - and St.Johnstone were already doomed. The new striking partnership of Billy Pirie and Ian Fleming, newly signed from Kilmarnock, looked promising and Fleming had an excellent home debut. Less than 6000 saw the game.

Aberdeen began as if they really meant business, Twice in the opening minutes Billy Williamson had the chance to score but on both occasions he sent the ball straight to Robertson. In the first quarter of an hour Cramond was the only player in the Perth side to try for goal but Bobby Clark was untroubled. The Dons maintained their aggresive attitude and both Billy Pirie and Ian Fleming, combining well together, had shots at goal. When the Perth side realised that Aberdeen's pressure had yielded no goals they seemed to sense that they were in with a chance and they might have had two goals within the space of six minutes. On both occasions Muir was left to provide the finishing touch. From an O'Rourke pass he forced Clark to make a good save and then he headed a corner kick over the bar.
It was Aberdeen who broke the ice in 25 minutes when Pirie dived to head a goal in off the post from a left wing cross. Despite an obvious advantage in midfield Aberdeen were not really making much progress but there was no doubt that, in Pirie and Fleming, they had the best striking force of the season, with Fleming proving very enterprising, particularly in the air. Twice Fleming came close to scoring as the Dons looked for the second, elusive goal. The home defence was not under much pressure and even Willie Miller found time to dash upfield and threaten the St Johnstone goal. One goal in the first period was scant reward for all the Dons' pressure.

Jocky Scott replaced John McMaster and the newcomer had two chances in the first ten minutes to put the match beyond St Johnstone's reach. On each occasion he was sent through by Fleming. Firstly he shot against the keeper but he was successful in his second attempt. From the left corner of the penalty area he gave the keeper no chance with an angular drive into the far corner of the net. In a Perth breakaway Sandy Smith was frustrated by a good tackle by Willie Garner. Cramond was working industriously and he and Fleming were starring for their respective sides. An accurate cross from Fleming resulted in Pirie's shot being well saved. With an hour gone Thomson replaced Lambie In the middle of the second half there were few incidents of note but, as the game entered its last quarter, the home side began to increase the pressure. Fleming sent Williamson clear and his cross was diverted for a corner. From the flag kick Pirie headed the ball down and over the line in 75 minutes for Aberdeen's third goal.
The crowd received a shock when the two goal hero was replaced by Bobby Street but Manager MacLeod obviously thought the game was won and wanted to see what Street could do. O'Rourke almost netted but Clark saved his free kick and, in the last few minutes, the Dons almost added to their score. Several dangerous crosses frcm Williamson caused havoc and Fleming, urged on by the crowd, headed just over the bar.

Source: Match Programme, 28th August 1993