St Mirren survived the sending-off of David Barron to secure a spirited 1-1 draw at Aberdeen, denting the hosts' hopes of a top-six SPL finish.The visitors broke the deadlock in the 10th minute at Pittodrie on Saturday when Andy Dorman confidently flicked the ball over Lee Mair prior to coolly firing a volley past Derek Soutar in the Aberdeen goal.

The Dons equaliser arrived when Mair headed in from Barry Nicholson's corner just before the half-hour mark and although St Mirren were reduced to 10 men with 13 minutes remaining after Barron received two cautions in quick succession, Aberdeen never looked like finding a winning goal.

Aberdeen were looking to build on their superb Scottish Cup victory at Celtic during the week, but inconsistency has been a trademark of the Dons' season to date

Therefore, perhaps it was no surprise that having defended so resolutely at in recording a clean sheet Parkhead during the week, Aberdeen conceded an early goal to St Mirren.

It was a piece of wonderful individual skill from Dorman that broke the deadlock at Pittodrie, as the midfielder controlled a flick on by Jim Hamilton to deceive Mair and score with aplomb.

Aberdeen's immediate response to the concession of that goal was fairly mooted, with Lee Miller failing to successfully control a cross from Alan Maybury when located in a promising attacking position.

Chris Maguire then gave visiting goalkeeper Chris Smith his first serious test of the afternoon courtesy of a low 25-yard-drive which was well saved.

Smith was soon called into action again, this time to stop a powerful shot from distance by Scott Severin, as Aberdeen struggled to get in behind St Mirren's stubborn backline.

Nevertheless, an equaliser arrived in the 29th minute and it came in the simplest of circumstances.

Nicholson delivered a pinpoint corner into the St Mirren penalty area and Mair met the ball with a firm header to find the back of the net with the minimum of fuss.

St Mirren were forced into making a substitution not long before the half-time interval when Billy Mehmet, who suffered a leg injury during a tackle with Scott Severin, had to be replaced by Stewart Kean.

The substitute had a chance to make his mark not long following the restart, but sliced carelessly wide having been set-up by a neat pass from Dorman.

Despite lacking inspiration Aberdeen were certainly attempting to press forward and for the first time in the game Nicholson had a good sight of goal, only to shoot harmlessly over from 18-yards-out.

Maybury then took the lead with a surging run towards St Mirren's penalty area, but the former Hearts player saw a deflection take the sting out of his drive and Smith made an easy catch.

The Buddies hopes of taking something from the match were hampered when Barron received two cautions in the space of three minutes, the first for a foul on Miller, the second following a touchline skirmish with Severin.

However, even with their numerical disadvantage, St Mirren came close to scoring as Kean connected with a cross from Franco Miranda to draw a great save from Soutar.

Aberdeen piled on the pressure late on, but Smith was quick off his line to deny Nicholson, while any hopes of victory for the hosts disappeared when Josh Walker's cross bounced off the chest of Severin and into the grateful arms of the St Mirren goalkeeper.

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