St Mirren 0-1 Aberdeen

Aug 31 2008 Rob Fairburn At Love Street

DYNAMITE Darren Mackie sank the only chance he had in 90 minutes to give the Dons a smash-and-grab win.

Aberdeen were gifted the only goal of the game against the run of play and then held on to secure all three points.

Billy Mehmet, who grabbed a midweek hat-trick for the Buddies in their seven-goal demolition of Dumbarton, missed two glorious chances to open the scoring and how costly they proved.

Stoppers Will Haining and John Potter blundered to hand Mackie his winner on a plate three minutes before the break.

Haining miscontrolled a long punt up the park and Mackie sprinted past him before sending in a cross to strike partner Lee Miller whose shot was blocked by Potter.

The central defender tried to head the ball back to Mark Howard only for it to fall kindly for Mackie who drilled a low shot past the stranded keeper from 10 yards.

He said: "We struggled on the road last season so it is great to come away from here with a victory.

"I just hit the ball as hard as I could and I was delighted to see it hit the net."

Mackie also defended Miller who was booked for diving in the box in 72 minutes in a bid to win a penalty.

Miller appeared to throw himself to the ground after rounding Potter and getting goalside of him.

Potter was also booked for taking his protests about the incident too far.

But Mackie said: "It was harsh. I was over the other side but I heard the touch and thought it was a stonewall penalty."

The Buddies should have been in the lead in 13 minutes when Franco Miranda's long-range drive was spilled by Jamie Langfield straight to Mehmet.

The striker took a touch before unleashing a shot that was smothered by the keeper.

In 30 minutes the Paisley side had another glorious chance when Jack Ross' cross was met with a Miranda header across the face of the six-yard box.

Andy Dorman rose to nod the ball in to the path of Mehmet who blasted it over from close range.

Aberdeen's opener just before the break was a sickener for the Buddies. But they continued to create chances after the interval, with Dorman bursting clear down the right and clipping the ball over Langfield only for Lee Mair to head it off the line.

Craig Dargo was lucky just to receive a booking for kicking out in frustration at outstanding Dons defender Andy Considine.

Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood said: "Last season we lost 14 out of 18 away games but that is our third 1-0 away win on the trot which breeds confidence.

"We always knew to expect a tough game here and so it proved.

"We started the game really well but then lost our way.

"Billy missed an easy chance for him and then we got a lucky goal at an important moment just before the break. In the second half we had so many chances but just could not get a second goal to make us safe."

Caldo backed Miller over his booking for diving.

The Pittodrie gaffer said: "I honestly did not see it but as Lee said after why would he go down.

"He was adamant it was a penalty but until I see it again on the tape it is difficult to say."

Despite the victory Calderwood hinted at two new signings before the transfer window closes tomorrow.