Aberdeen off the pace and eyeing the January transfer window to unearth some momentum

The Ladbrokes Premiership statistics show that Aberdeen, seeking the runners-up place for the third successive year, have won only half of their 16 fixtures, only four at Pittodrie; it is not a run of form to suggest a hat trick of silver podium places is likely.

Derek McInnes, their manager, was surprisingly relaxed when asked about the issue of his many out-of-contract players prior to kick-off.

First-team members like Peter Pawlett, Ash Taylor, Niall McGinn and Andrew Considine are among nine who may, or may not, be invited to remain at Pittodrie with McInnes appearing to give the impression that he would not be too perturbed to lose some of them.

His activities in next month’s transfer window may give an insight into his strategy.

Certainly, there is a need – some might say a desperate one – for a goalscorer. Adam Rooney has not delivered in the way he did in the previous two seasons while newcomers Jayden Stockley, Wes Burns, on loan from Bristol City, and Miles Storey, a perpetual unused substitute, are falling short.

Rooney summed up this encounter as “a game of few chances” and pointed to a remarkable save from Aberdeen’s goalkeeper Joe Lewis to prevent a stunning 30-yard David Wotherspoon free-kick from taking the points back to Perth.

"It was frustrating,” Rooney insisted. “But we've got another game on Tuesday [against Motherwell at Pittodrie] and we have to look forward to that one now.

"We need to be more creative in the final third but credit to St Johnstone, they made it difficult.”

That lack of creativity Aberdeen’s midfield is quite palpable; Ryan Jack tends to slow the pace while Kenny McLean is far from the player he showed he was as St Mirren’s key man a year ago.

The one ray of light is James Maddison, on loan from Norwich City until next month, though it will be no surprise if he is permitted to extend his stay under McInnes’ wing.

"He is a talented player who is capable of creating something, so we try to get the ball to him as much as possible," added Rooney. "He took a number of kicks [Murray Davidson and Steven MacLean were both booked for fouls on him] and he probably needs more protection.

“He has gained a reputation in the last couple of games for going down easily but if he doesn't he is going to suffer a serious injury. He shifts his body and goes by a lot of people but to be fair to him he gets up and gets on with it. It must be double figures the number of fouls against him.

"There are games where it’s obvious the other team is taking turns in kicking him and I'm surprised there haven't been more yellow cards shown. It won't stop him though, it's part and parcel of the game for him and he handles it well.”

For Tommy Wright, the St Johnstone manager, there is a puzzle to solve regarding why his outfit, hugely competent at Pittodrie and unlucky near the end not only with Wotherspoon’s near-miss but that Blair Alston could not capitalise on Graeme Shinnie’s sloppy pass-back when he intercepted the ball, have largely flopped at home.

“It was the best chance of the game,” was how Wotherspoon described Alston’s opportunity.

“He was unlucky as it just went past the post. There was also Graham Cummins's chance in the middle of the box which he he just needed to keep down.

“We did have a few shots and I can't really remember them having anything clear cut apart from Andrew Considine from a corner.

"I don't know why we haven’t performed at home. I can't put a finger on it at the moment.

“We're just conceding soft goals at home that we don't concede away from home. We seem to be pretty good shape wise and when we’re defending away from home, but we can't seem to take to home games.”

There will, of course, be numerous twists and turns in the race for second place and much might depend on the business done during next month’s transfer dealings when Rangers are expended to strengthen in their bid to boast of meaningful progress.

Aberdeen, meanwhile, must live with the expectation among their supporters that they will end the season as runners-up to Celtic, though given the resources available to Wright, a top six finish is always the target at the beginning of each season.

That they have exceeded that so many times – let’s not forget, too, that they won the Scottish Cup just over two years ago – is quite remarkable.

Indeed, like so many in Scottish football, Wotherspoon wonders why his manager has not been lured to a bigger club.

"I think it is a surprise with what he's done with the club,” he said.

“He's been so successful over the years that I am surprised he's not been in the mix for any of these jobs.

“Look at the facts; they show he's been great with the club. He's got to be focussed on what he's doing and so are we and we're focussing on getting into the top six.”