For the second week in a row, the man in the middle was the major talking point of an Aberdeen game.
But the Dons were left owing referee Euan Norris a debt of gratitude as he helped the Reds secure a win which looked to have been lost against St Johnstone.
There were no red cards on this occasion, as was the case at Easter Road, but there were contentious issues to be debated once more, although the Dons were content to let one decision which went against them pass after receiving another major one in their favour.
It was a test of nerves towards the end, but on a day when he saw his side score twice at home for the first time this season, manager Mark McGhee had more positives than negatives from his team's display.
Leading the way were wingers Sone Aluko and Peter Pawlett. Aluko, who by his own admission has fallen well below his standards of last season so far in this campaign, offered glimpses of the form which has made him such a popular figure with the Aberdeen support in his 45-minute appearance.
He almost gave his club a perfect start when he chested down Gary McDonald's pass, but he shot into the side netting, while the visitors replied with a close effort of their own, Chris Millar firing across goal with an effort which had Dons goalkeeper Jamie Langfield scrambling.
Derek McInnes's men gave as good as they got, but their willingness to push forward was punished when the home side broke away to score a wonderful opening goal.
The move started from a Saints free kick on the edge of the box with Langfield getting two hands to Liam Craig's strike. The ball broke to Andy Considine and the defender played a through pass to Peter Pawlett whose pace took him away from Saints defender Kevin Anderson. Pawlett played the ball out left to Aluko who drifted past two Saints defenders with ease before coolly slotting the ball past the advancing Smith for his second goal of the season.
It was clear what the Saints' weakness was, namely a lack of pace at the back and Pawlett exploited it again when he knocked the ball past former Don Kevin Rutkiewicz before accelerating away from the Saints captain, only to see his effort parried by Smith in the visitors' goal.
Aluko, who suffered a stomach injury in the closing moments of the first half, failed to appear for the second 45 minutes with Darren Mackie taking his place. The forward almost helped set up a second goal when he crossed for Jerel Ifil, but the defender's curling effort from the edge of the box was tipped over the bar by Smith.
For all Aberdeen's probing, still the second goal would not come and McInnes's side almost drew level when substitute Kenny Deuchar met Craig's cross, but his header was blocked and then cleared off the line by Ifil. The let-off seemed to knock the confidence out of the home side which drifted out of the game as the visitors took control.
The composed play of the first hour ebbed away as nerves predictably festered among the home players.
The crispness of the passing was replaced by players wanting too much time on the ball, and the Saints players, sensing they could get back on level terms, increased their workrate and tempo considerably.
Dons goalkeeper Langfield got caught up in the atmosphere too, failing to find much purchase on an attempted punch and it was left to Ifil to rescue his team-mates for the second time when he cleared Rutkiewicz's goalbound effort. The visitors were not to be denied, however, and they deservedly drew level 15 minutes from time when Deuchar challenged Langfield in the air and the ball fell to Craig who drilled his effort into the empty net.
The Dons goalkeeper immediately looked to referee Euan Norris to bail him out, but the official awarded the goal, prompting a furious appeal from the Scotland squad member which resulted in him being cautioned.
For the second week in a row, the Dons felt they had been wronged by a decision, and they rediscovered their drive which, in turn, led to them regaining the lead. Charlie Mulgrew found a burst of pace down the left to take him to the byeline and he crossed for the onrushing Lee Miller who went sprawling into the goal under a challenge from Danny Grainger.
The official pointed to the spot, booked Grainger for the foul, and Miller converted to restore the home side's advantage.
Having regained the lead, there was renewed determination not to let it slip, and Michael Paton almost put the game beyond the visitors with an outrageous 35-yard strike which bounced off the crossbar.