Aberdeen 1 - 1 St. Johnstone

Derek McInnes was forced to make a number of changes with Conisidine and Shaughnessy both out with injuries. Clark Robertson came in at left back with Reynolds and Anderson in the middle and Logan at right back. Flood and Jack were the holding midfielders with McGinn on the right, Hayes on the left and Pawlett played just off Rooney. Barry Robson dropped to the bench.

After 5 minutes the first real action. A Hayes shot was deflected and could have landed anywhere. The ball very nearly landed at the feet of Rooney but Wright managed to get a foot in. Then Flood's cross very nearly picked out Rooney.

Aberdeen were to gift the visitors the lead. On 6 half and hour minutes Clark Robertson made a bad error when he tried a pass back but did not look up and only played it to straight to Stevie May. The St Johnstone striker could not believe his luck as he slid it low into the net past Langfield.

Not the ideal start.

On 9 minutes a great through ball by Pawlett picked out Rooney. The striker looked to be in but the ball just went on and it gave Mannus the chance to get out and narrow the angle and he made the block. The Dons then forced a number of corners but the ball was cleared.

On 12 minutes Flood almost, and Jack did give the ball away. This was a sloppy start from the Dons. Then a minute later Logan was disposed by Hasselbaink in a dangerous area but thankfully Anderson was able to come over and cover. The visitors were working very hard to close down Aberdeen, as they had done in the semi-final.

On 20 minutes Aberdeen won a corner after Jack's shot was deflected. After last week it was good to see players trying some shots. The corner was not cleared and the ball eventually landed at the feet of Anderson who had time in the box and he fired in a shot which Mannus failed to deal with. The ball came back out to the Dons skipper who then won the Dons a free kick on the edge of the area. Hayes took it but the ball hit the top of the wall and went behind for a corner which Mannus flapped at but a free kick was given.

On 26 minutes better passing from the Dons. They moved the ball from one end to the other and Logan did well down the right but his cross was deflected into the arms of Mannus. Then two minutes later another after a nice move, with a lovely dummy from McGinn, saw Logan again pick the ball up on the right. He played the ball infield to Niall who cut inside but his left footed shot was always sailing over.

Then on the half hour mark St Johnstone returned the favour when they gifted Aberdeen an equaliser. Chris Miller tried a pass back to his keeper. He had not seen Rooney who nipped in ahead of Mannus before walking the ball into the empty net. Not the greatest goal Adam will score - but who cares!

On 33 minutes Aberdeen were awarded a very soft free kick over on the right. From an almost impossible angle Hayes tried to put it into top left corner and he very nearly managed it! It looked like Mannus got a touch. If he did it was a fantastic save. Referee Muir thought he did and from corner number five Robertson met Hayes' ball in but Mannus made a comfortable save. Just before the break two free kicks in promising areas. Reynolds in the box knocked the ball down for Robertson but unfortunately the ball hit Clark and the chance was gone. Then at the other end Wotherspoon put the ball over from a free kick about 30 yards out.

HT

The start of the second half was even less inspiring than the first. The game had become a real ugly scrap. On 57 minutes the first change, Barry Robson replaced Clark Robertson. After the initial mistake Clark actually recovered well and did ok. Tactically Logan went to left back, Ryan jack went to right back and Robson went into midfield alongside Flood.

Just before the hour mark Hayes produced a great run down the left. He beat two or three players and put over a good ball which was well intercepted by Anderson. On 61 Miller had time on the edge of the area to fire in a shot but it was straight at Langfield. On 64 minutes Lee Croft replaced Hasselbaink. A minute later Cregg was booked for a late tackle on Robson whose feet were just too quick for him. Robson then curled in a free kick which Hayes met at the back post but he was stretching and was only able to loop the ball onto the roof of the net.

With just over 20 minutes to go Cammy Smith replaced Pawlett.

Barry Robson was trying his best to influence the game. He played in a good ball but Mannus did well to claim as he was under pressure from both McGinn and Rooney. Robson then tried a shot from 25 yards out but never caught it properly. You felt with 15 to go St Johnstone were happy with a point. Aberdeen were trying to pick up the pace but the game was still extremely ragged.

The always impressive Steve MacLean came on for the final 10. St Johnstone all of a sudden looked threatening again.

On 80 minutes May won a free kick. The ball was played in and went all the way through. Steve MacLean was falling to the floor but still very nearly managed to poke it past Langfield who was waiting for the ball to come into his arms. St Johnstone then won another dangerous free kick when when Anderson fouled Wotherspoon right on the edge of the area. The captain was also booked. Surprisingly Dave Mackay took it, he just went for power but blasted the ball into the wall.

With five minutes to go Calvin Zola replaced Niall McGinn.

Aberdeen were creating nothing and on 87 minutes the Dons very nearly gave St Johnstone another gift. Aberdeen had a free kick but were forced back, as they had been for most of the afternoon, and Anderson played it back to Langfield. With Steve MacLean closing him down the keeper elected to kick the ball first time, the ball took a horrible bobble and went over his foot. Thankfully for the Dons it trundled inches past the post. It could easily have been a goal. What was even worse from an Aberdeen point of view was that from the resulting corner they were failed to regroup and Steven Anderson had a free header which he just put past the post. The defender knew he had missed the best, and probably only chance of the half.

On 88 minutes the Dons had one last opportunity. Logan swung the ball in from the left. Jonny Hayes knocked it up in the air and then tried a spectacular overhead kick but Mannus read it and was able to make the block.

And that was that. Europe not quite yet.