Aberdeen dominate St Johnstone but draw another blank

Aberdeen lost at home to St Johnstone on Sunday without scoring a goal.

They had 65% of the ball and hit 22 shots, a season-high total, but nothing went in, according to BBC Sport. Dominance did not bring danger. Pressure did not bring points.

St Johnstone goalkeeper Toby Steward made two impressive saves to protect the win. Aberdeen sent on Hicham Mahou for his debut from the bench. Even fresh legs could not change the ending.

It is becoming a familiar story in the north-east. Aberdeen have seven goals from their first eight league games. Four of those seven came in one afternoon, a 4-0 win over Motherwell. They have failed to score in five of their eight matches.

The underlying numbers are stark. Their expected goals total, a measure of chance quality, stands at 8.3, the lowest in the league. They average 2.9 shots on target per match, the worst record in the division. They have created 12 big chances, the clearest openings, in eight games. That is joint-low.

Kevin Nisbet is carrying much of the load. He has scored three of Aberdeen's seven league goals. Those three strikes have come from just five shots on target. When he is quiet, Aberdeen often go quiet with him.

Head coach Stephen Robinson left St Mirren in March to take over at Aberdeen. He said he believes his current players can find a solution to the goalscoring problem. His old club know the feeling. St Mirren scored 30 goals last season, the worst record in the league by 10 goals.

Aberdeen are not alone at the bottom of the scoring charts. Falkirk and Kilmarnock have also managed seven goals from eight games this season.

For supporters, the worry is simple to explain. This team can keep the ball. It can get into shooting positions. It cannot yet turn that control into the one moment that lifts a stadium. Until that changes, afternoons like Sunday will keep happening.