By Aberdeen secured a 2-1 victory against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in their first Premiership match under new manager Jimmy Thelin. Nicky Devlin opened the scoring for Aberdeen with a header in the first half, followed by Jamie McGrath doubling the lead. An own goal by Gavin Molloy gave St Johnstone a glimmer of hope, but they couldn’t find an equalizer.
The match was significant as it marked the farewell of St Johnstone’s former owner, Geoff Brown, with a pre-match ceremony attended by over 9,000 fans. Despite a strong start and early threats from Lewis Neilson, St Johnstone struggled to capitalize on their chances. Aberdeen’s Ester Sokler had a goal disallowed for offside, and Josh Rae made several crucial saves to keep the scoreline in check.
Aberdeen’s dominance continued with Miovski hitting the bar and Devlin scoring from a McGrath corner. McGrath later extended the lead with a clinical finish. St Johnstone’s efforts were largely limited to long-range shots, with Dimitar Mitov making key saves. A late own goal by Molloy and a strong finish by St Johnstone couldn’t change the outcome.
Thelin expressed his happiness with the team’s performance and the support from fans, emphasizing the importance of team spirit and defensive efforts. St Johnstone’s manager, Craig Levein, acknowledged the team’s good performance but highlighted the need for better defense and adaptation to new players. Despite the loss, he remained optimistic about the team’s future improvements.
