St Mirren 2 Aberdeen 1 as Buddies end Dons' unbeaten league run with late winner

Aberdeen's unbeaten start in the Scottish Premiership came to an end at the hands of St Mirren as Richard Taylor's late header stunned the Dons.

Despite Storm Bert doing its best to see the game called off, a superb effort at SMiSA Stadium ensured the fixture would go ahead, albeit an hour later than planned.

Toyosi Olusanya gave Stephen Robinson's side a surprise early lead before VAR drama saw Alex Gogić spared his blushes after his red card was downgraded to yellow for a heavy challenge on Shayden Morris.

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Jimmy Thelin's subs soon worked their magic however, as Duk and Kevin Nisbet teed up Jamie McGrath's equaliser, but a late Taylor header would hand the Aberdeen manager his first league defeat since March.

A full house in Paisley who braved the elements to attend the fixture were treated to a thrilling opening 15 minutes, with Dimitar Mitov looking nervy in the opening phases.

St Mirren took control, with Olusanya and Scott Tanser both charging at the Reds defence, with the latter firing a volleyed effort just wide of Mitov's goal.

This season has been all Aberdeen who have dominated their games, but they were feeling the heat from the Buddies attack despite the chilly temperatures.

A well-worked Dons corner dropped to Ester Sokler but Ellery Balcombe raced to the ball with the Saints keeper gathering the shot from the striker.

Then came the breakthrough for the hosts, as Balcombe's ball over the top landed with Olusanya who split Slobodan Rubezic and Gavin Molloy and calmly slotted beyond Mitov.

VAR saw nothing wrong with the strike, and suddenly Aberdeen were in unfamiliar territory having gone behind under Thelin.

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It is a ground where they have won just once in their last 10 trips, but they thought they had gained a man advantage and a timely boost when Gogić was shown a straight red card by referee John Beaton.

The Cypriot clattered into Morris with a sliding challenge, but VAR once again intervened and Gogić was deemed to have won enough of the ball to swap the red card for a yellow.

St Mirren were breathing a sigh of relief before immediately gunning for a second goal to grab a commanding lead, with Tanser once again charging at the Dons.

The hosts didn't have a grip on possession, but the counter-attacking play was hampering Aberdeen who struggled to make more than a few passes meet in the first-half.

Leighton Clarkson's efforts came closest for the visitors in the opening 45, with his strike on the approach to half-time drifting high and wide of the mark.

The Buddies were ahead at the break, and while Aberdeen have become a second-half team this season they were going to need to churn out another almighty effort to keep their unbeaten Premiership run intact.

Nisbet and Duk were sent on after the break for Clarkson and Sokler as Thelin looked to make more impactful substitutions - something he has benefitted from this season.

Immediately the Dons kicked into gear, with MacKenzie cutting inside and taking aim, forcing Balcombe into an early save in the second-half.

Whatever Thelin said at the break was working, and soon it reaped its rewards when Jamie McGrath pulled the Reds level against his former side.

Once again the subs came up with the goods, with Duk's cross finding Nisbet, and although the former Hibs striker scuffed his effort, McGrath was on hand to slot the ball beyond Balcombe.

Duk continued to cause problems for the hosts, leaving the defence behind and searching for the vital second goal only for the ball to be scrambled clear by Taylor.

With 60 minutes gone Aberdeen had well and truly taken ownership of the game after a poor first-half, and McGrath came close to a second but his low drive missed the target.

The Buddies fought back through Conor McMenamin, who forced Mitov into a vital save to keep the score level with the clock ticking towards 70.

Thelin's next changes saw Topi Keskinen and Ante Palaversa were dispatched for Morris and Sivert Heltne Nilsen, with the latter leaving the pitch having taken a sore one attempting to head a corner.

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But after losing grip of the game, things unravelled for Aberdeen as Taylor nodded home beyond Mitov to put the Buddies ahead with just five minutes to go plus injury time.

Mark O'Hara's corner kick saw Taylor rise highest, and Thelin threw on Vicente Besuijen in the hope the Dutchman could salvage a point for the Dons as McGrath made way.

An ambitious backheel effort from Duk rattled the post and was cleared off the line as St Mirren hung on, but despite a late rally, former Dons loan midfielder Killian Phillips won a late corner that did enough to ensure the points would stay in Paisley.

It's a first league defeat for Thelin at a ground where Aberdeen have not won in the Premiership since 2018, and it continues to be unhappy hunting ground.

Aberdeen have a trip to Edinburgh up next as they take on Hibs at Easter Road in their rearranged Premiership clash on Tuesday night - their first meeting of the season with David Gray's men.