St Mirren manager Tommy Craig has urged his players to take the initiative against an Aberdeen side that have been heavily outscoring the Buddies in recent weeks.

The Dons have struck 10 times in three consecutive wins ahead of St Mirren's Scottish Premiership visit to Pittodrie tomorrow night. It has taken St Mirren 14 games to score as many as that, a run which stretches back to last season.

Craig admitted they were missing the injured Steven Thompson following their 2-1 defeat by Celtic on Saturday, but he continues to believe they can rise up the table if they add a cutting edge to their play.

"I think everybody who has been at the games over the piece realises that we are not too far away but the ultimate aim of football is scoring more goals and we are falling down badly there," he said.

"It is still the area we need to address and we have to see if we can add a few more goals and add to our meagre tally.

"We know where the problem lies and we are working hard to put it right."

St Mirren agreed to postpone their trip to Pittodrie in August to allow Aberdeen to have a break following their Europa League exertions.

But the generosity may have backfired as Aberdeen have struck form in recent weeks with strike pair Adam Rooney and David Goodwillie on seven goals between them in their last four games.

Craig said: "It's a place we know well and it's always a difficult venue. They are riding high just now. We'll need to be at our best to get some kind of result.

"But a repeat of Saturday's performance added with a couple of goals give us an opportunity to get a result. But we know what they are like - they are very, very offensive at home. They have guys in their pool who can weigh in with goals.

"They have a very potent strikeforce and also got players who can hurt you from midfield. They are a good side and certainly one of the sides you expect to be up there at the end of the season.

"Rooney and Goodwillie seem to have struck up a good partnership. But we have to impose ourselves on the game."