St Johnstone 1-1 Aberdeen
- Published
Highlights: St Johnstone 1-1 Aberdeen
Aberdeen rescued a point against St Johnstone after Niall McGinn swept a free-kick into the top corner.
The well-executed set-piece was reward for Aberdeen's impressive second-half display.
Derek McInnes' side needed to regroup at the interval, after being outplayed in the opening period.
St Johnstone took a deserved lead through David McMillan's header, but the Perth side could not hold on to the advantage.
Both sides had opportunities to win, with Andrew Considine heading wide for the visitors, and Blair Alston seeing his effort blocked by the face of Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis.
Aberdeen claimed loudly for a penalty in the closing stages, when Gary Mackay-Steven went down just inside the area, but referee Willie Collum was unmoved.
The draw leaves St Johnstone in the top half of the Premiership on eight points, with Aberdeen two points behind.
Saints resistance eventually overcome
St Johnstone are a different proposition after a disappointing campaign last season by their own high standards and a summer of transition.
They now have great pace on the flanks through Drey Wright and Matty Kennedy and a goal threat in the shape of Tony Watt and McMillan.
The Irishman made it two goals in two games as he timed his run perfectly to head Liam Craig's whipped corner past Lewis.
They pose a greater menace, particularly on the counter-attack, but look defensively sound, and they needed to be as Aberdeen pushed hard for an equaliser.
Saints were resolute in the face of a second-half maelstrom - Jason Kerr heading a Mackay-Steven thunderbolt off the line and Zander Clark providing a defiant last line of defence as he produced brilliant saves from Mackay-Steven, McGinn and Sam Cosgrove.
But even he could do nothing to keep out McGinn's beautifully executed free-kick, which curled away from the keeper and into the top corner for a deserved equaliser.
Aberdeen's Niall McGinn equalised with a well-executed free kick
Point apiece a fair result - analysis
BBC Scotland's Alasdair Lamont at McDiarmid Park
This was a match both managers might feel they should have won.
St Johnstone had the better of the first half, but a much-improved Aberdeen were on top after the break and created enough opportunities to turn the game round.
Oddly, though, there were few clear chances after the equaliser went in.
At a time when referees are in the spotlight, Collum's every decision was greeted with fury from the stands.
Both sides had claims for penalties. Saints felt Ross Callachan was brought down by Lewis - Collum disagreed. And he judged David Wotherspoon had played the ball and not Mackay-Steven as the winger burst into the box in injury time.
Ultimately this was a fiercely-contested match, which could have gone either way and a point apiece was probably just about right.
Managers accept share of the spoils - reaction
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "Disappointed at how we played at times, we gave the ball away and were countered on too easily. They had more possession and more shots, but it was a fair enough result.
"We sat off a bit and we've got to try to be braver. There are aspects of the game that we need to improve on.
"We want to be hard to beat. We will be more open when we play with two wingers and that brings its problems defensively, but we'll deal with that. We've added pace, mobility and quality at the top end of the pitch."
Wright and McInnes felt a point apiece was a fair result
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: "The reaction from the players in the second half was terrific.
"We lost a poor goal at a set play and St Johnstone were the better team in the first half, they were a bit more aggressive in the final third. We brought on Sam [Cosgrove], who was very effective for us, and the draw was no more than we deserved.
"It's always a better point when you come from behind but if the game lasts a bit longer we maybe just find enough to get that second goal.
"Gary Mackay-Steven had a really good run at the end. It's debatable whether it's a penalty or not, at the time I thought that it was. Scott McKenna got better as the game went on and in the second half he was very influential for us at the back."