Barry Robson's first goal since joining Aberdeen in the summer was as spectacular as it was unusual.

With the Dons seeking to stay in touch with the SPFL leaders - Buddies manager Danny Lennnon tipped them to finish second to Celtic in the race for the championship - it was imperative they did not slip-up against an in-form St Mirren side.

But Robson's stunning corner kick, midway through the second half, went directly into the opposition's net to seal the 2-0 win, despite complaints from St Mirren goalkeeper Marian Kello that he was impeded in trying to prevent the ball swerving into his net.

"It was a good goal," said a smiling Robson, "but I think if you check the record books, you'll find I've scored a few from corner kicks. You know if you can hit a dangerous area and you get it right and the wind is there you've always got a chance. I thought it was a decent performance with the weather conditions."

Kello, on the other hand, did not appreciate the attention paid to him at the corner kick by Scott Vernon, the Dons striker, and made his feelings known to referee Craig Thomson.

"The wind is not a friend to goalkeepers," he said. "The first goal was the result of a mix-up with Marc McAusland. I called that I would go for the ball and that he should hold Vernon off and we didn't cope well together with the situation. For the second goal, it was a good strike, but I was blocked by Vernon. After the game the referee admitted I had a point in my complaint."

St Mirren's dismal early-season form improved dramatically after their 1-1 draw with the Dons in Paisley on September 30. They then embarked on a run of 10 matches without defeat relieving whatever pressure there was on Lennon, who, to his credit, never lost faith that he could guide his side to better days.

Lady Luck was not smiling on McAusland when a long and high ball was punted to the edge of the visitors' penalty area in the 20th minute. It was a manoeuvre with which McAusland found difficulty and when he failed to assert himself in the presence of Vernon, the Dons striker gathered the ball and placed it low into the Buddies' net.

Vernon was presented with an even better opportunity 15 minutes later when Willo Flood sent a tantalising low cross to the back post where, rather than increase Aberdeen's lead, the frontman stumbled and knocked it over the line. It was symbolic of the possession the home side enjoyed with the wind behind them, though alarm bells had rung earlier as the visitors produced an eye-catching move which saw Jason Naismith touch Kenny McLean's low cross into the Aberdeen net. Stuart Stevenson, the assistant referee, concluded McLean was offside when he accepted the earlier pass.

This was a game dictated by the atrocious conditions. The home side coped with them better and when they won a corner in the 65th minute and Kello saw Robson's effort sail over his head and into the net, it underlined the home side's superiority.

There were other opportunities for the home side; Michael Hector shot wide as he raced through on goal, and Vernon struck the ball into Kello's arms.

Add to that a Joe Shaughnessy cross that evaded everyone and struck the post, and the picture of this game indicated a deserved win for the men in red.

Derek McInnes, the Aberdeen manager, said it was his most satisfying result as the Pittodrie boss, and he paid tribute to goalkeeper Jamie Langfield, who has now kept 95 clean sheets in Premier League games, 12 in his last 16.

He said: "He has every right to be proud of such an achievement, but I am proud of all my players. They have done well for me and coped brilliantly with the difficult conditions."