Five talking points from St Johnstone’s win at Pittodrie.
Pressure building on Robinson.
After a few decent results before the break, many Aberdeen fans would have thought that the Dons would kick on and build on much improved results; however, that did not prove to be the case. Throughout the match, the home supporters let their feelings be known by voicing their frustration, particularly at half time and following the full-time whistle. One supporter, by the username of Jim_B_71, took to social media after the game and said, “As poor a home performance as any of the games that got Robson, Glass, Goodwin, and Thelin the sack. Limp, lame, lethargic, and totally lacking in quality. Going to be a long, turgid season under Robinson.” It is safe to say that he is not alone in being frustrated with the man in the dugout. Aberdeen currently sit in 8th position, on 8 points, after 8 games—winning 2, drawing 2, and losing 4. In continuation, with a home match against his former club, St Mirren on the horizon, should they fail to pick up maximum points, it could easily spell the end for Robinson with discontent growing.
Fowler in form.
Josh Fowler has started this Premiership campaign on fire and continued his fine form on Sunday afternoon by calmly slotting the ball past the masked Muller from the penalty spot, which ended up being the winner. The 24-year-old remains the Premiership’s top scorer, sitting on an impressive 5 goals from 7 matches. Fowler’s rise to success was far from straightforward. Fowler ended up playing his football in Dubai, where he spent two years at Gulf United following unsuccessful trials at Kilmarnock and Motherwell. Fowler also spent a few months in Australia with St Albans before making the move to Queen’s Park. Since making the move to Lesser Hampden, besides the second half of last season at St Johnstone, which has been clinical in front of goal, scoring 19 and providing 2 assists during the first half of last season at Queen’s Park, to now, after 8 matches, leading the way in terms of goals scored in the Premiership.
Lack of quality in the final third.
Throughout the match, Aberdeen players found themselves in promising crossing and shooting positions but failed to make them count. A lot of corners failed to beat the first man, and promising build-up play led to nothing due to overhit crosses, and when it came to putting the ball in the net, they showed no conviction, for instance, Nisbet’s effort when he was played through on goal and Yogane’s chance on the edge of the area, where he opted to take extra touches rather than pull the trigger, much to the frustration of the Aberdeen fans.
Saints show defensive resilience.
St Johnstone went into Sunday’s match without their two main central defenders. Zach Mitchell picked up a knee injury in St Johnstone’s 1-1 against Falkirk, which will keep him out for the remainder of the campaign, and Cheick Diabate picked up two bookings in St Johnstone’s last match before the break so missed the match through suspension. Despite missing two key players in defense, Simo Valakari’s side did not let that affect them. Matty Foulds, Daniel Finlayson, and Liam Smith all stepped up, in particular Foulds, who was awarded the Player of the Match award. Furthermore, Steward also made some crucial saves throughout the match to keep the Perth outfit in the lead and to help give St Johnstone their first clean sheet of the campaign.
St Johnstone continue impressive start to life back in the top flight.
As a result of their impressive defensive display and win at Pittodrie, Simo Valakari’s side move up to 11 points and into 5th position, level on points with Dundee United, who they sit above on goal difference, and who they face next. The Saints sit 2 points behind Dundee, who sit in 4th place. Every match that St Johnstone have been involved in has been decided by a single goal or ended in a draw, and with that, they give themselves every chance to win any match they are involved in, like Sunday afternoon, where they weren’t at their best from an offensive perspective but were excellent defensively.
