Lowly Aberdeen ended a run of six games without victory by winning at ten-man St Johnstone this evening.

Goals from Scott Vernon and Ryan Jack went unanswered to give veteran manager Craig Brown a welcome three points.

The hosts made the brighter start but were behind after a quarter of an hour when Peter Enckelman could only parry a Jack shot straight into the path of Vernon who stroked home.

Soon after the interval Murray Davidson wasted St Johnstone's best chance of levelling by looping his effort wide of Jason Brown's goal.

Jack doubled the Dons lead 11 minutes from time by collecting Enckelman's weak clearance and shooting into an empty net from just inside the opposition's half.

Andy Considine saw red for the home side four minutes later after picking up a second booking before Canadian striker Marcus Haber scored a consolation for the Saints in injury time with a header.

Aberdeen move up a place to ninth with the win while Steve Lomas's St Johnstone remain fourth.