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Adam Rooney's 80th-minute penalty won Aberdeen all three points in a largely uninspiring Scottish Premiership contest against St Mirren in Paisley.

The striker's composed finish came after Eric Djemba-Djemba felled Peter Pawlett just inside the box.

A dreadful first-half was bettered slightly after the break and Steven Thompson shot just wide for the hosts.

Darren McGregor had a goal disallowed and Jamie Langfield denied Gregg Wylde as Saints chased an equaliser.

But Rooney's third goal in four games proved to be enough to give Aberdeen three wins in a row, which moves them four points clear of Motherwell ahead of the Fir Park side's match with Partick Thistle.

Rooney actually could have doubled his tally on the break as St Mirren pressed for a deserved leveller, but Marian Kello saved the Irishman's effort.

Stalemate was an understatement for the first-half of this sunny lunchtime encounter.

The Buddies had failed to beat Aberdeen in nine previous league meetings and Danny Lennon's men lacked the menace which would suggest they could make it tenth-time-lucky.

On the other hand, Derek McInnes's side struggled to replicate the swashbuckling level of performance that had seen them sweep aside St Johnstone and surprise Celtic in League Cup and Scottish Cup ties respectively.

Kello found several unconventional ways of dealing with a string of Aberdeen corners, but the Slovak's flapping brought the visitors no nearer to a goal.

Willo Flood offered his own version of unorthodox football when his wacky and wayward back-pass presented Saints with a set-piece that they, too, frustratingly squandered.

Thankfully, St Mirren gave the match the injection of action it so badly needed right after the break.

A clever one-two on the right-hand side allowed Kenny McLean to sweep a low cross for Thompson, who was able to beat Russell Anderson to the ball but only turn it agonisingly wide of the post.

Aberdeen responded with their best chance of the match as Andrew Considine, scorer of two goals with his head this season, almost got himself a third from Nicky Low's corner.

Pawlett had already scored at St Mirren Park this season and it was his surge into the box which drew the sliding challenge from Djemba-Djemba that referee Calum Murray deemed a foul.

Rooney stepped up to continue his fine scoring form since signing from Oldham in January, but Saints did come close to pulling level.

McGregor finished neatly but was clearly offside from the through-ball which found him, while Dons goalkeeper Langfield saved well from former Aberdeen midfielder Wylde's low shot.