A second-half Robbie Winters goal was enough to prevent 10-man St Johnstone from taking all three points at Aberdeen.

Mohammed Sylla gave the visitors the lead with a superb goal after 65 minutes but that was cancelled out by Winters almost immediately.

Even so, the Dons could not take advantage of Jim Weir's sending off for a challenge on Winters just minutes into the re-start as they failed to find the form that almost provided a cup shock against Rangers mid-week.

In a bid to create an atmosphere Aberdeen had handed out red and white cards to Dons supporters to wave as the team ran onto the pitch.

But it was St Johnstone who had the ball in the net after just two minutes although Keigan Parker's effort was disallowed for offside.

The home side flirted with the possibility of creating chances on a few occasions in the opening stages, with Winters being the main tormenter in chief.

The presence of the former Dundee United man obviously rattled Saints and Paul Kane found himself to be the first name to be added to referee Tom Brown's book for a challenge on Winters after nine minutes.

But he was undeterred and, just two minutes later, was involved in a lovely move by the Dons. Darren Mackie touched on to Winters, who pin-pointed Cato Guntveit in the area but goalkeeper Alan Main intervened before Guntveit could pull the trigger.

A clash of heads between Mackie and Saints' Gary Bollan caused concern on both camps as each player had to receive treatment. But the incident proved to be less serious than first thought and both quickly returned to the action.

Graeme Jones became the second Saints player to be cautioned when he pulled down promising Dons youngster Kevin McNaughton.

But Aberdeen were threatening the visitors' goal again after 22 minutes. Winters was hauled down just outside the 18-yard box and stepped up to take the set piece.

Guntveit connected and look like grabbing the opener but sent shot just past the far post.

Chances afterwards proved to be few and far between as the both teams struggled to create chances and the game barely moved out of second gear.

Despite both teams sitting so close in the middle of the league table, they were finding it hard to take the initiative and give themselves the advantage.

This mood was summed up by yet another young Don, Darren Young, whose 25-yard drive 10 minutes before the break smacked of desperation as it fell weakly into the arms of Main.

The busiest person on the park on the first half proved to referee Tom Brown and, right on the half-time whistle, he was called into action again.

This time Nick Dasovic was the culprit when he was yellow-carded for a foul on Guntveit.

If the first half was dull, the re-start proved to be explosive when Weir was red-carded after just four minutes for a challenge on Winters, who was the last man for Dons as be broke through on goal.

Aberdeen's first booking came just two minutes later when Phil McGuire was shown the yellow card for pulling back Parker.

And after 57 minutes the Dons looked like grabbing the opening goal when Winter's cross picked out Paul Bernard at the far post but his header was just wide.

Saints' first real chance of the game came from substitute Darren Dods who had a header at goal on the hour mark but nodded right into the hands of goalkeeper Ryan Esson.

But the breakthrough finally came after 65 minutes when Sylla picked up a clearance totally unmarked on the edge of the box and rammed home the opener.

Aberdeen replied almost immediately when Winters eventually found the net.

Chris Clark sent a cross in from the near post and, as Main came out to clear, Winters rounded the keeper to knock home the leveller after 73 minutes.

Number two almost came courtesy of substitute Rachid Belabed six minutes later when his 20-yard drive forced main into a terrific one-handed save, as he just managed to tip the ball over the cross bar.