Darren Young had given Aberdeen the lead but Scott Walker and Steven McGarry ensured St Mirren would go into the interval ahead when they grabbed goals within three minutes of each other.

St Mirren headed into their vital game against Aberdeen knowing that their Premier League survival could be decided more than 100 miles away at McDiarmid Park.

A win for Dundee United against St Johnstone would mean the Paisley side almost definitely playing in the First Division next season, unless they could secure a win against the Dons and score well into double figures against Motherwell next week.

Buddies boss manager Tom Hendrie started with four strikers - McGarry, Stephen McPhee, Mark Yardley and Graham Fenton - although Fenton was likely to drop back to midfield to replace the suspended Ricky Gillies.

Ebbe Skovdahl made just one change to his side - Young replacing Rachid Belabed, who started on the bench.

The game started at a frantic pace and the opening minutes proved to be scrappy, with fouls committed by both sides.

It was St Mirren who had the first chance of the game after four minutes from Tommy Turner's free-kick.

The skipper flighted the ball into the box and Mark Yardley nodded into the path of McGarry but the young striker's header was easily held by goalkeeper Ryan Esson.

Yardley, himself, had a go two minutes later but he nodded just wide of the post.

Saints had been enjoying most of the possession and it was 14 minutes before Aberdeen managed to test goalkeeper Ludovic Roy.

Unfortunately for St Mirren, the Frenchman failed to stop the Dons taking the lead.

A great ball from Darren Mackie released Young, who went on a surging run before firing the opener past Roy from six yards out.

Aberdeen had been visibley lifted by their goal and now held most of the possesion.

Young attempted to grab his second of the day after 26 minutes but his long-range effort flew yards over the crossbar.

A couple of minutes later, Arild Stavrum was denied by a vigilant Jamie McGowan, who cleared the danger at the far post.

A sickening clash of heads between Fenton and Thomas Solberg resulted in the St Mirren player being replaced by Iain Nicolson on 38 minutes after he failed to reappear after treatment.

A flurry of activity in front of the Aberdeen goal eventually saw St Mirren grab the equaliser. First Gary Bowman's shot deflected off Derek Whyte and then McGarry nodded wide.

But three minutes before the break, defender Walker fired the equaliser past Esson after Yardley had nodded the ball into his path.

And right on the half-time whistle St Mirren surged into the lead. Yardley tried to set up McPhee in front of goal. His shot was blocked by Esson but McGarry pounced to ram home the rebound.