Erect the tombstone now. Here lies Aberdeen’s SPL season 2009-10. R.I.P.
The Dons are dead and buried as far as finishing in the top six is concerned after another lifeless performance.
St Johnstone became the latest side to show the necessary vitality to expose a pitiful Aberdeen outfit which is sliding further into the mire.
Cillian Sheridan pounced in the Dons six-yard area amid a troupe of red-shirted zombies to earn the Saints a deserved winner and edge the Perth men closer to a top-half finish themselves in their first SPL campaign for seven years.
St Johnstone have skipped past the Dons and are leaving them in their wake. It is not difficult to see why. The Saints have found the net in their last 12 SPL matches while Aberdeen have not won in their last eight.
When you add 180 minutes of Scottish Cup misery against Raith Rovers, it is no wonder Dons supporters are at the end of their tether.
A travelling support of 880 may have been regarded as a paltry total in days gone by but these days it is a considerable feat to find so many Red Army masochists.
They were subjected to another appalling display from their side. Manager Mark McGhee made two changes to the side which salvaged a 1-1 draw at Hamilton 10 days ago. There was a recall in defence for Jerel Ifil and midfield youngster Fraser Fyvie at the expense of Derek Young and Sone Aluko, who dropped to the bench.
The Saints started in confident mood after their late 2-1 victory at Falkirk simultaneously eased any relegation fears and improved the chances of a top-six finish.
A byproduct of the win was the Perth club leapfrogged the Dons into seventh spot in the table and right from the start the home side seemed keen to capitalise against Aberdeen, who looked cagey by contrast.
Goalkeeper Jamie Langfield was forced to paw a dipping cross over his own bar and then Ifil did little to ease the jitters when he conceded a needless free kick on the edge of the penalty area.
Saints midfielder Jody Morris could not beat the defensive wall, however, and despite early dominance it was the Dons who could, and should, have gone ahead after 15 minutes.
The opportunity for Michael Paton came out of nowhere. A hopeful punt out of the Dons box found the forward and he skipped past defender Gary Irvine and uncontested into the Saints half. He had just goalkeeper Graeme Smith to best but screwed his effort across the face of goal.
Aberdeen were punished soon after. Ifil did well to beat Kenny Deuchar in the air but then the defender inexplicably conceded a corner kick.
The ball was centred by Liam Craig and although Langfield did well to beat out Grainger’s fierce volley, Sheridan reacted first to bundle into the net from inside the six-yard box.
The lead would have been doubled had it not been for a remarkable save from Langfield, who reached out a glove to deny Dave Mackay who had rose unmarked at Grainger’s corner to head goalward.
Gary McDonald limped off with a hamstring problem but the subsequent reshuffle, with Darren Mackie coming on and Fyvie moving into a central role.
The Saints pressed on and Langfield made a fine block at the back post to deny Kenny Deuchar after Irvine’s low cross evaded the defence.
McGhee introduced Aluko in an attempt to turn the tide and the hosts were dealt a blow when midfielder Kevin Moon was stretchered off after a collision with Mark Kerr. The Dons plodded on but Sheridan could have added a second on 67 minutes when through on goal but he fired straight at Langfield.
The Dons’ fightback manifested itself in a late attempt by Steven MacLean, who tried to redirect Charlie Mulgrew’s drive but was blocked by Smith as the Dons capitulated once more.
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