Aberdeen bought themselves some valuable breathing space near the bottom of the Scottish Premier League thanks to Arild Stavrum's first hat-trick for the club at Pittodrie tonight.

Stavrum nodded home his first against St Mirren after a goalmouth scramble caused when Ludovic Roy could only fumble Robbie Winters' cross with Darren Young in close attendance.

And when he calmly converted two second-half penalties, Aberdeen's victory was secure - extending their SPL advantage over the Saints to 12 points and allowing the Dons to look up the table instead of down.

The home side had made four changes to the team who drew 0-0 with Livingston in the Scottish Cup on Saturday, with Ryan Esson coming in for the injured David Preece in goal.

St Mirren were forced to reshuffle their defence, switching to a back four with the influential Tommy Turner unavailable.

Within two minutes, former Don Ricky Gillies had been booked for a nasty challenge on Kevin McNaughton.

But most of the first half was evenly fought in front of the lowest home crowd of the season at Pittodrie.

In 11 minutes, young full-back McNaughton started one of Aberdeen's most dangerous attacks.

His flighted ball towards Rachid Belabed induced panic in the St Mirren defence and from the resultant corner David Rowson's attempt was blocked on the line by Gillies.

But Saints were next to threaten, Gillies shooting wide at the other end, before a long kick out from Roy found its way through to Graham Fenton and the former Blackburn man's volley produced a fine save from Esson.

St Mirren remained on the offensive, and Fenton again tested Esson with a looping effort from outside the box.

Aberdeen then came close when Winters' neat cut-back after a strong run down the left was met by Stavrum but his effort was blocked.

But Aberdeen finally broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute, Belabed released Winters down the right this time and the former Dundee United man's cross was eventually turned into the net by Stavrum, after Roy and Young had tangled in the six yard box.

In the second half, Aberdeen were more in control and when Stavrum's second came it was from the penalty spot.

Scott Walker shoved Winters as he attacked a McNaughton cross at the near post, and referee George Clyde had no option but to point to the spot.

Walker was booked for his challenge and Stavrum sent Roy the wrong way.

St Mirren never looked like getting back into it, and Winters almost got the third when he flicked on a Rowson cross but saw it rebound from the post.

The third goal was only delayed, however. Winters broke from his own penalty box and when he fed Stavrum the Norwegian was brought down just inside the box by Roy.

But he picked himself up and knocked the ball into the same spot as his first penalty, past Roy, who guessed right but could not prevent the goal.

The 3-0 margin of victory possibly flattered Aberdeen but Dons fans went home happy having seen their team secure a crucial three points over one of their relegation rivals.