Aberdeen recorded a welcome 2-1 win over an unlucky St Johnstone in an entertaining tussle at Pittodrie.

Sone Aluko gave Aberdeen the lead with a superb solo effort in the first half before Liam Craig equalised with 14 minutes to go after Jamie Langfield had spilled a Dave Mackay cross.

However, an 83rd-minute penalty from Lee Miller gave the Dons their first win since the middle of September.

The home side started brightly and could have opened the scoring within two minutes when Aluko pounced on a searching pass from Charlie Mulgrew but the Nigerian international shot into the side-netting from an acute angle.

Aberdeen took the lead after 15 minutes with a fine counter-attacking move expertly finished by Aluko. Peter Pawlett showed excellent pace and strength to shrug off Danny Grainger before finding Aluko who dribbled past two defenders before slotting the ball past Graeme Smith.

Langfield pulled off a superb near-post save to deny Collin Samuel after 42 minutes to ensure the Dons went into half-time a goal in front.

Jerel Ifil almost doubled Aberdeen's side lead with a neat shot on the turn that was excellently tipped over the bar by Smith after 54 minutes.

The former Swindon defender was then the hero at the other end just before the hour mark when he cleared a Deuchar header that had beaten Langfield off the line.

However, St Johnstone's mounting pressure paid off when they got back on level terms with only 14 minutes to go. Langfield dropped a hanging cross from Mackay under pressure from Kenny Deuchar and Liam Craig pounced on the loose ball to roll the ball into the unguarded net.

The Dons had an opportunity to regain the lead when Miller was bundled over in the box by Grainger after 83 minutes and the Dons striker kept his composure to drill the spot-kick home himself.