Stephen Robinson believes his side simply had to keep 11 men on the park to have any chance of keeping up with big-spending Aberdeen.
Jim Goodwin’s Dons have recruited heavily so far in the current transfer window, with new recruits Bojan Miovski, Leighton Clarkson and Luis Lopes all on the scoresheet as the hosts brushed aside the Buddies at Pittodrie.
St Mirren shot themselves in the foot when former Aberdeen centre back Declan Gallagher was sent off early in the first half with the scores still level at 0-0.
And Robinson feels that fateful moment, with the home side also receiving a penalty at the same time, cost the Saints dearly.
Robinson told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “They’re a good team, they’ve spent a lot of money recruiting that squad.
“They’ve got players who can hurt you in every area of the pitch, especially in that forward area.
“You see the boys they’re bringing on for lots of money.
“When you come here with 11 men, it’s a tough enough game with the amount of money Aberdeen have spent on the squad they have put together.
“For 22 minutes, I thought we were excellent, our front two were a handful.
“Once the penalty decision and the red card happened, the game plan goes out the window. It’s a double whammy, you get hit by both.
“Having seen it back, Declan is adamant it hit his chest, and not his arm. Whether that is right or wrong I don’t know.”
