IT almost felt like lap-of-honour time for St Mirren after 90 punishing minutes during which they were nearly pummelled into submission.

Two defensive lapses, which angered Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes, gave the Paisley outfit goals they could not have expected as well as their first point in seven matches, since December 22.

READ MORE: No excuses from Steven Gerrard as Rangers grind to stalemate

If Oran Kearney, their manager, was euphoric at seeing his team take the lead with a 19th-minute penalty conversion courtesy of Duckens Nazon, then pulling into the lead again on the hour through Kyle McAllister,

he kept it well hidden.

The Herald:

He, too, was unhappy at losing two sloppy goals, and the Northern Irishman was disappointed their advantage could not be retained.

In truth, though, his team suffered a constant onslaught from the fired-up hosts.

“We were caught ball watching,” Kearney said. “I hoped we would hang on because were in a good position, so it’s a bit double edged.

“Still, if you’d offered us a point coming up here we would have taken it. Other results [fellow strugglers Hamilton lost while Dundee picked up full points at Livingston] – and I know this is from the big textbook of cliches – don’t really come into it because we have 36 points to play for and it’s in our own hands.

“Until it’s no longer in our own hands, you can’t be coming in and saying ‘how did so and so get on?’

“There is no big panic from that point of view, we have enough games and if we don’t do it then we deserve what we get.”

If the result was bad for the home side, McInnes insisted the late first-half injury to Tommie Hoban, recently returned from a long-term injury, was almost as bad as the result.

The Herald:

The player, on-loan from Watford, was stretchered off with a knee problem as his studs appeared to stick in the Pittodrie turf as he slid into a challenge. He will not play again this season.

The one piece of good news for the Dons manager, however, was that Lewis Ferguson, who headed-in one of his side’s goals, has agreed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2024.

The new was made public by his father, the former Rangers and Hearts player Derek, on BBC Radio Scotland, where he is a pundit.

“Ferguson’s contract is not signed,” McInnes said. "But it’s agreed. There’s no harm done, we will announce it next week, although it won’t be a surprise now.

The Herald:

“It’s no more than he deserves for the way he’s played and the way he’s improved. Time and again he’s been a key player for me and without doubt he deserves a new contract. It’s a reflection of how pleased we are with him.”

Hoban’s injury comes after having missed four month of the season already – from August – and he is likely to return to Watford promptly.

“We don’t know the extent of the injury yet,” McInnes said. “We just have to hope it’s not as serious and if there is any justice for him that will be the case given the injuries he’s had.

“The result today was disappointing but equal to that was losing Tommie.”

Sam Cosgrove’s rescue goal, clipped-in on 77 minutes, did not do justice to the pressure he and his team-mates imposed on their opponents, set-up in an expedient 5-4-1 formation.

The Herald:

But it was Derby County loanee McAllister’s finish following a perfectly-weighted pass from Brad Lyons, that was the pick of the goals and one that pleased his manager.

“Kyle’s goal was fantastic,” Kearney said. “He has a load of quality and has played more football in the weeks since he’s been with us than he has in the last year so I have been ultra-conscious about over playing him.

“I didn’t plan for him to play the ninety but circumstances sometimes mean you have to change.”

Aberdeen are unbeaten in their past 16 top-flight games against St Mirren, but without a win in their past four Premiership outings at home; not good enough to bother leaders Celtic.

But the Buddies, given their lowly league placing and having experienced a miserable season, will be feeling just a little better today.