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Sam Cosgrove's 15th goal in 14 games rescued a Scottish Premiership point for Aberdeen who came twice from behind against St Mirren.

Duckens Nazon put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot before Lewis Ferguson headed in an equaliser.

Aberdeen defender Tommie Hoban was stretchered off before Saints' Kyle McAllister curled in a beautiful goal.

But Cosgrove evened things up again and though Aberdeen pressed strongly for a winner, it would not come.

It brings to an end St Mirren's six-game losing run in the Premiership, but they remain bottom, and trail Hamilton and Dundee by five points.

Aberdeen meanwhile stay third, five points behind Rangers in second.

Cosgrove's impact in both boxes

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes acknowledged before the match the onus was on his side to break St Mirren down, but they started somewhat sluggishly.

Nevertheless, there was an inevitability about Cosgrove having a say in the opening goal. The surprise was that the impact came in the opposition penalty area.

Inexplicably, the striker hauled Paul McGinn to the floor, leaving referee Craig Thomson little choice but to award the penalty.

Nazon coolly stroked the spot-kick in off Joe Lewis' right-hand post to claim his second goal in consecutive games.

Aberdeen's response was swift and though Vaclav Hladky blocked Greg Stewart, they drew level when Gary Mackay-Steven whipped in a cross, Michael Devlin flicked it on and Ferguson, who had missed a similar opportunity earlier, headed in at the back post.

The home side were in the ascendancy and should have made that count three minutes later when Stewart put the ball on a plate for Niall McGinn, who contrived to balloon the ball over the bar from 12 yards.

But of greater concern was a serious-looking injury to Hoban, who went down unchallenged in serious pain, and was ultimately stretchered off.

Aberdeen defender Tommie Hoban was withdrawn before the break after badly injuring his knee

Aberdeen reshuffled, playing without a right-back, but were the architects of their own downfall when Devlin gave the ball away cheaply and was punished, as McAllister got the ball on to his left foot before lashing the ball past Lewis.

But Cosgrove was to have the last word. The striker's irresistible goal-scoring form continued as he side-footed past Hladky for his 15th goal in 14 matches, though a late headed opportunity to seal the victory should have been converted.

Aberdeen threw everything at the St Mirren goal, but the visitors' defence stood firm for what could be a precious point.

Reason to be cheerful for St Mirren - analysis

This might feel like a moral victory for Oran Kearney's side, despite twice surrendering a lead.

They defended stoutly, as they needed to in the face of a late Aberdeen onslaught, and although they now trail Dundee by five points, they make up a little ground on Hamilton Academical.

More pertinently, they had the look of a team who at least knew what they were supposed to be doing.

Aberdeen looked rattled for a spell by the injury to Hoban, but should have wrapped up the points with one of the numerous chances they created.

Derek McInnes took a chance by playing without a full-back after Hoban's departure, but fortune did not favour the brave on this occasion.

Indeed, they might have been caught on the counter-attack on one or two occasions, but survived a couple of scares to ultimately earn a point.

'It would have been a big three points' - reaction

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: "We were guilty of gifting a couple of opportunities to St Mirren to score. To give them a shot of adrenalin by gifting them the first goal makes the task even more difficult.

"At the end the game is all us, we've had loads of opportunities, we're peppering their box with crosses but ultimately St Mirren found enough resolve and got enough encouragement in the goals they got to hang on for a point."

St Mirren manager Oran Kearney: "Disappointed not to hold on to the lead, you get a bit greedy when you're in a position like that. Obviously, with the situation we're in, it would have been a big three points. But before the match if you'd offered us a point we'd have probably taken it."