St Johnstone rose into the Scottish Premiership top six with a rare away victory over Aberdeen as Josh Fowler's early penalty proved decisive.

The striker's spot-kick was the visitors' only shot on target but they put on a solid defensive display, especially when put under pressure in the second half.

However, there were moans and groans among the home support due to Aberdeen's lack of creativity and quality in the final third throughout the game.

Shutting up shop is not what Simo Valakari's side have been known for, but there appears to be more nous about them on their return to the top flight after a campaign in the Championship.

The penalty was a harsh one on Aberdeen, the ball striking Jack Milne's bicep from close range, but under current rules there was little doubt a spot-kick would be awarded.

Fowler stepped up and sent goalkeeper Marius Muller the wrong way, becoming the league's outright top scorer on five goals.

There were two decent chances in the first half for Aberdeen, but Toby Steward made fine saves to deny Ayoub Mouloua and Kevin Nisbet in quick succession.

St Johnstone - who had only won one of their previous 10 league visits to Pittodrie - go fifth, just two points behind Dundee, while the Dons are eighth.

Aberdeen fans will have hoped the thumping 4-0 win over Motherwell was a sign of things to come. Instead, it's starting to look like an anomaly.

From Aberdeen's 22 shots, they created an xG that only just edged out St Johnstone - albeit the visitors had a penalty, which boosts that stat significantly.

Steward made two good stops, but in the second half there wasn't a real save of note. Instead, he was put under plenty of high balls he largely dealt with.

The creativity was distinctly lacking, particularly after the first-half loss of Mouloua to injury.

Aberdeen's three centre-backs often had the ball at their feet and eventually resorted to knocking it long but it seemed to be out of hope rather than sticking to an attacking plan.

If you take that Motherwell game out of the equation, Aberdeen have scored just three goals in seven.

They'll need to be far better when they meet Stephen Robinson's old side, St Mirren, on Saturday at Pittodrie.

In Simo Valakari's first spell in the top flight in 2025, fans became used to entertaining, attack-minded football. However, it ultimately ended in relegation as St Johnstone were too open at the back.

It was a harsh introduction to life back in Scotland and the Finn seems to have learned from it.

On the ball, they weren't put under much pressure. But they seemed happier off it, sitting in a deep, compact shape that neutralised any Aberdeen threat.

And that was done without their two first-choice centre-backs as Zach Mitchell has suffered a season-ending injury and Chieck Diabate was suspended.

Despite the makeshift backline, it was a tremendous shift that involved a power of running with no slips in concentration.

The first clean sheet of the season and all three points going back to Perth. The heist had been pulled off to perfection.

Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson: "Disappointed in the result, frustrated with our end product. First half, we moved the ball too slowly, backwards and sideways.

"We rectified that in the second half, got into very good positions. But ultimately didn't have the final decision to win, or get back into, the game.

"It's the hardest bit of the game. You see teams like Rangers and Celtic struggling to break down teams that sit deep. We're no different."

St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari: "We still controlled the game without the ball. Defended very well in our own box, mostly kept them out the dangerous zones. Yes, a lot of crosses and corners but that's normal.

"I'm very pleased with our players. We still want to attack but we can defend as well, it was a very good display."