St Johnstone 0 Aberdeen 1: Supersub Jenks’ late winner sinks Saints
ABERDEEN enjoyed a Teddy bear’s picnic in Perth to leave Saints rock bottom.
The Dons were chasing a third successive league win for the first time since last September.
Supersub Teddy Jenks grabbed the dramatic winner in 83 minutes to give the Dons three huge points.
Saints felt the goal should have been ruled out for handball but ref Greg Aitken was having none of it.
This was a huge win for Aberdeen, who are now hitting some form going into the festive period.
THE VERDICT
St Johnstone: Clark 7, Rooney 6, Gordon 7, McCart 7, Brown 6, Bryson 7, Craig 7, Booth 7, Crawford 6, Middleton 6, Kane 6
Subs: Vertainen (Middleton 62) 4, Soloman-Otobar (Crawford 87), 1 O'Halloran (Rooney 87) 1
Aberdeen: Lewis 7, Ojo 7, McCrorie 7, Bates 7, Hayes 8, Brown 7, Ferguson 7, Emmanuel-Thomas 7, Hedges 7, Watkins 7, Ramirez 7
Subs: Teddy Jenks (Emmanuel-Thomas 65) 6, Connor McLennan (Watkins 80) 3
MAN OF THE MATCH
JONNY HAYES is 34 now but you would never have known that by this energetic display on the left flank. The little Irishman was always willing to support Aberdeen's attacks and some of his crosses deserved a finish. Ryan Hedges was also bright for the Dons. Saints keeper Zander Clark made a big first-half save but was helpless as Teddy Jenks grabbed the winner.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
GREG AITKEN left Saints seething when he failed to penalise Teddy Jenks for handball before the goal. Callum Davidson and his players were adamant it should have been ruled out and replays backed them up. Saints' men Liam Craig and Shaun Rooney were booked, while Aberdeen duo Marley Watkins and David Bates also got yellows amid several flashpoints between the two sets of players.
MEN IN THE DUGOUT
CALLUM DAVIDSON was at the centre of Preston speculation in midweek but his full focus was on Saints. They gave everything but lack that cutting edge in attack. January additions can't come quick enough. Dons boss Stephen Glass was looking for a third successive league for the first time since arriving at Pittodrie and his players delivered for him.
But Saints are heading towards a crisis. They can’t buy a win or a goal these days.
With Ross County winning, Callum Davidson’s side went bottom of the table on goal difference.
Last season’s double-cup winners will fall under the ‘too good to go down’ category right now.
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But Davidson’s side badly need wins and find themselves deeper in relegation trouble after this loss.
Once again, they drew a blank in front of goal and have now scored just nine times in 16 games.
Saints were left frustrated after last weekend’s clash with Ross County was rained off.
But the pitch had recovered from the downpour as Davidson’s side looked to move away from the danger zone.
The Saints boss was without Murray Davidson and Cammy MacPherson, but was able to recall Craig Bryson, Liam Craig and Glenn Middleton.
Aberdeen were unchanged after last week’s 4-1 win over St Mirren - with Glass going for all-out attack again.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Ryan Hedges and Marley Watkins all played in behind striker Christian Ramirez.
The Welsh forward scored twice against the Buddies and was dangerous early on.
He collected Lewis Ferguson’s diagonal pass with a brilliant touch but Shaun Rooney got back to clear.
Chris Kane had a shot blocked by Ross McCrorie up the other end as Saints created a half chance.
Aberdeen were passing it about well, with Scott Brown trying to dictate the play.
But Saints had another effort in 15 minutes - when Craig Bryson met a clearance at the edge of the box.
The midfielder tried to keep his volley down but it flew over the bar instead.
Aberdeen started to up it midway during the half - with Jonny Hayes in the thick of things.
The left-back is now 34 but was making James Brown and Shaun Rooney work hard.
Hayes got up to support and fired over a brilliant cross that was begging for a finish.
Saints defender Jamie McCart got to it first and was relieved as his sliced clearance flew over the bar.
Hayes looked Aberdeen’s best bet and he again delivered a terrific cross from the left.
This time Emmanuel-Thomas managed to get on the end of it with a downwards header.
The ball looked to be bouncing towards the corner but Scotland squad man Zander Clark made a top save.
Saints had some decent openings before the break, with Bryson again threatening.
This time, his header was on target but McCrorie was in the right place at the right time to block.
Aberdeen then had the final chance of the first half, with Lewis Ferguson meeting a corner.
His glancing header looked destined for the bottom corner but Saints managed to scramble it away.
The Dons tried to get at Saints from the restart and Watkins found some space 18 yards out.
But the forward failed to keep his shot down and it sailed over Clark’s bar.
Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis hadn’t been called into action at all as Saints toiled to create.
Yet Shaun Rooney took matters into his own hands with a stunning 30-yard strike.
It was heading for the top corner but Lewis made a great save from the Saints man.
Emmanuel-Thomas, who switched to the left flank, tried his luck from a similar distance.
But the big Englishman dragged his shot and Clark was again untroubled.
Emmanuel-Thomas was more involved and slipped a terrific pass to Watkins in 60 minutes.
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But the Dons forward couldn’t get any power on his shot and Saints escaped.
Davidson threw on Finnish striker Eetu Vertainen for Middleton in a bid to add firepower.
Yet it was Kane who almost put the home side ahead after great work from Ali Crawford.
The midfielder’s floated cross was perfect but the Saints striker looked on in agony as his header hit the post.
The game got really scrappy going into the closing stages as yellows were flashed by ref Greg Aitken.
Liam Craig, Shaun Rooney, Marley Watkins and David Bates were all booked after some spats.
But Aberdeen stayed cool to grab that crucial winner with just seven minutes left.
The ball fell to Jenks 18 yards out and the midfielder didn’t mess about with a stunning finish.
Clark had no chance as the ball fizzed into the bottom corner in front of the jubilant away support.
WHAT THEY SAID
STEPHEN GLASS admits Aberdeen got a helping hand with their winner.
But the Dons boss also hailed Teddy Jenks' quality finish against St Johnstone.
Glass conceded Saints' handball protests were valid - but was thrilled with the sub's strike.
He said: "I’ve not seen it back, but you can take a lot from the reactions of players.
"From the way their players reacted, there is a high probability it was a handball.
"I don’t know if the ref has seen it or decided it is not a handball.
"The moment of quality from Teddy is the bit that I am seeing. I saw the finish and it was fantastic.
"We knew what Teddy could offer us. It was something different.
"We felt Teddy would give us a different threat in behind and we are delighted for him. It was a great goal.
"First half, we were good and moved it around well on a difficult pitch.
"In the second half, it really became a game.
"St Johnstone had a lot of opportunities, not a lot of them clear-cut, but there was a threat.
"I think the game was crying out for a bit of quality and Teddy gave it."
Aberdeen have won three successive league games for the first time in Glass' reign.
He said: "It is something that we needed. Any time you win games, you jump the table pretty quickly.
"I am happy. I am delighted for the reward the players have got as well.
"It is easy to come here and not be at it and get beat. St Johnstone are a good team.
‘They are in a difficult spell at the minute, but you know it is tough here."
CALLUM DAVIDSON insists VAR is needed urgently in the Scottish game.
The St Johnstone boss insists Teddy Jenks handled the ball before grabbing the winner.
Davidson reckons ref Greg Aitken's view was blocked and believes officials need help from technology.
He said: “The table is really tight and it is really important that those decisions are right.
“All four officials have to make the right decision, or they have to get help from something like VAR.
“If he is standing in the right place he obviously has a blocked view as the header comes down.
“That is why they need help. They can’t have their eyes everywhere.
“It was a crucial time of the game.
“From behind the goal it is obvious. He has brought it down just in his palm to go and hit it.
“Whether he means to do it or not I don’t know.
"We haven’t had any of those decisions go for us this season, they have all gone against us.
“Three or four handballs have led to goals and it has cost us the points."
Saints are now bottom of the league on goal difference - but Davidson isn't panicking.
He said: “I think that performance there shows that they are capable of beating anybody.
"I asked for a response from them and they gave me that. We need to keep that going.
"The togetherness we have, if we stick together and play like that we will be fine.
“Hopefully we add a couple of new faces in January but I believe in the group and what we are doing here."
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Meanwhile, Jacob Butterfield could make his debut at Rangers after Davidson snapped up the free agent midfielder.
He said: "Hopefully we will get clearance by Monday or Tuesday and he will be involved on Wednesday."
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page