Saints made it back-to-back wins thanks to a fine display against Aberdeen to ensure there was no happy return to Paisley for former boss Stephen Robinson.
Liam Donnelly could have had a first-half hat-trick from Declan John deliveries but it was Jonah Ayunga's goal which had Saints in front at the break, the forward executing a smart turn before firing a low shot past visiting goalie Per Kristian Bratveit.
The Dons improved after the break but, aside from former Saint Toyosi Olusanya heading over, had little to show for their efforts and the Buddies added a second 10 minutes from the end thanks to a tremendous Alex Gogic header from Scott Tanser's perfect corner.
Tanser had had to make do with a place on the bench as John took his slot on the left, interim Saints boss Craig McLeish also changing the strikeforce that started against Falkirk a fortnight ago by starting Ayunga and Mikael Mandron instead of Jake Young and Dan Nlundulu. The visitors also made three changes from their last game, Bratveit replacing Dimitar Mitov in goals and Graeme Shinnie and Topi Keskinen starting at the expense of Ante Palaversa and Dennis Geiger. Former Saints Olusanya and Elvis Bwomono were on the bench.
Donnelly twice went close to bagging his second goal in as many games in the early stages, seeing one header from a corner tipped over by Bratveit and his second one clip the bar. It was Miguel Freckleton who was next to threaten from one of John's corners, the defender meeting it perfectly but his header flew just wide. It took until midway through the half for Aberdeen to pose their first real threat, Kenan Bilalovic bursting forward before curling a shot inches past the post. Shinnie then got the better of Gogic to drill in a dangerous ball that Shamal George did well to turn away.
Donnelly had a third chance to open the scoring for Saints from a well worked free-kick, the Irishman getting on the end of another great John cross but he headed wide when he should at least have hit the target. As half-time neared, the hosts finally got the goal their play deserved. Mark O'Hara's free-kick wasn't properly cleared and Ayunga gathered up the ball, spun and then drilled a fantastic low shot from 20 yards out beyond the grasp of Bratveit to the delight of the majority of the sell-out crowd.
Jonah Ayunga scores the opener (Image: Allan Picken)
The Dons changed their strike force at the break, Olusanya and Kevin Nisbet replacing the booked pairing of Bilalovic and Lazetic with Stuart Armstrong also coming on for Keskinen. The change in personnel and approach certainly made a difference as the visitors were more of a threat without creating much, shouts of handball at a corner leading to nothing following a VAR review before Nisbet blasted a free-kick into the wall, VAR again deciding there'd been no handball despite the appeals from the striker. Another free-kick gave Olusanya a sight of goal when Miguel Freckleton was unable to head the ball clear but the former Buddies favourite sent his own header harmlessly over the bar.
Saints had barely threatened since the interval but Nlundulu nearly added a second as the game entered the final 10 minutes, the sub exchanging passes with Mandron before curling an effort towards he bottom corner that Bratveit turned behind. However, crosses had been Aberdeen's weakness all afternoon and so it proved again from the corner, a pinpoint cross from Scott Tanser being met with a thumping header from Alex Gogic that flew into the net to double Saints' advantage and wrap up all three points.
Alex Gogic celebrates his goal (Image: Allan Picken)
Full-Time: St Mirren 2-0 Aberdeen
St Mirren: George, Donnelly, Gogic, Freckleton, O'Hara (c), Phillips (Nlundulu 59), Devaney, Campbell, John (Tanser 59), Mandron, Ayunga (Richardson 69)
Subs: Mullen, King, McMenamin, Idowu, Etete, Young
Aberdeen: Bratveit, Jensen (Lobban 79), Milne, Morrison, Molloy, Gyamfi, Shinnie (c) (Cameron 65), Aremu, Bilalovic (Olusanya 46), Keskinen (Armstrong 46), Lazetic (Nisbet 46)
Subs: Mitov, Bwomono, Palaversa, Kjartansson
Referee: Nick Walsh
AR1: Frank Connor
AR2: Daniel McFarlane
Fourth Official: Euan Anderson
VAR: Grant Irvine
Attendance: 7,653
