Aberdeen swept St Mirren aside in devastating fashion to book their place in tomorrow’s Betfred Cup quarter-final draw.
A Gary Mackay-Steven double and goals from Graeme Shinnie and Stevie May secured a 4-0 win for the Dons against the Championship champions at Pittodrie.
Scott Wright was given his first start of the campaign by Dons manager Derek McInnes with Sam Cosgrove dropping to the bench.
The Dons boss was forced to make a second change before kick-off, however, as Niall McGinn suffered an injury in in the warm-up which led to him being replaced in the starting line-up by Frank Ross.
For St Mirren, former Don Cammy Smith was named in the starting 11 by Buddies manager Alan Stubbs.
It was one-way traffic from the opening whistle with Stevie May and Lewis Ferguson testing Craig Samson in the Saints goal but Aberdeen’s excellent start finally paid off in the 16th minute when Gary Mackay-Steven volleyed Ferguson’s cross past Samson from 12 yards.
The Dons doubled their lead in the 20th minute with another fine passing move ending with Mackay-Steven crossing for captain Graeme Shinnie and he beat the Saints goalkeeper with a bullet header from close range.
Aberdeen were dominant and they deservedly grabbed a third as Wright intercepted a Samson pass before rounding the goalkeeper and squaring for Stevie May who scored his first goal of the season.
Mackay-Steven added his second of the game and his side’s fourth in the 56th minute from the penalty spot after winning the spot kick for his side after being tripped by Hayden Coulson.