Brad Lyons gave the hosts the lead in spectacular fashion after just two minutes, but the Buddies went on to dominate the first half and levelled through Eseosa Sule.

A much-improved second-half display saw strikes from Kevin Nisbet and Ayoub Mouloua earn the Dons three points.

Lyons opened the scoring when he drove forward from Conor Ronan’s pass and unleashed a spectacular 22-yard effort into the top corner, clipping the crossbar on the way in.

Any hopes that that would give them a platform to build on were dashed as the visitors bossed the rest of the first half.

Dons goalkeeper Marius Muller had to be alert to save from Killian Phillips after a Declan John cutback, with Mats Knoester sliding in to block the former Aberdeen loanee’s rebound effort.

A Luke Thomas cross saw Muller save again from Sule’s header, before Aberdeen finally showed signs of growing back into the game. Nisbet was presented with two headed opportunities in the space of three minutes.

But St Mirren were the more dangerous, and while Muller once again denied Phillips from a curling effort, Saints were level three minutes before the break.

Marcus Fraser’s superb switch to the far side saw Thomas hold the ball up for Phillips, whose cutback was swept home at the far post by Sule.

Aberdeen made two substitutions and a change of formation at the break as they looked to gain a foothold, with Tony Yogane flashing an effort over the crossbar before fellow replacement Stuart Armstrong saw an effort ruled out for offside.

But they were back in front before the hour. Paul Nsio hauled down Yogane on the edge of the area, and though referee John Beaton initially awarded a free-kick, a VAR review upgraded the call to a penalty.

Nisbet’s initial effort was weak and well saved by Jacob Chapman, but the keeper could not hold on to the ball and the Dons captain drilled home at the second attempt.

They extended their lead after 72 minutes as Mouloua, barely on the park for 60 seconds, latched onto Afeez Aremu’s quick free-kick to beat the St Mirren line and curl the ball into the bottom-right corner.