Hicham Zerouali steered Aberdeen into the fourth round of the Tennents Scottish Cup - and a clash against Celtic's conquerors Inverness Caledonian Thistle - by scoring one goal and making the other.

The little Moroccan struck in the 53rd minute for his fourth goal in just five starts.

He has quickly won over the Pittodrie fans, who are beginning to smile again after a shocking start to the season.

Aberdeen came into the game with confidence after moving off the foot of Premier League at the weekend.

Saints manager Tom Hendrie signed a new five-year deal on Monday and saw his side give a battling performance, although they didn't pose any real threat.

The First Division leaders carved out the first chance of this third-round replay when Iain Nicolson delivered a fine cross.

Mark Yardley got away from his marker but his header was taken cleanly by Jim Leighton.

Aberdeen, boosted by their victory against St Johnstone at the weekend, which saw them move off the foot of the Premier League, stepped up the pace.

Robbie Winters was released by Jamie McAllister after 10 minutes, only to blast the ball high into the crowd from a good position.

Saints defender Ian Ross almost scored an own goal two minutes later when he was troubled by an Andy Dow free kick. Ross breathed a sigh of relief as his back-header drifted marginally wide of the post.

Winters headed wide from a Dow cross and then Saints' Hugh Murray deflected a dangerous cross from Cato Guntveit to safety.

But the First Division side were inches away from taking the lead in the 29th minute.

Paul Rudden skipped past Zerouali and picked out Barry Lavety with a fine cross. Lavety's header went beyond Leighton - only to come back off the post before being scrambled away.

Paul Bernard went on a surging run for Aberdeen in the 42nd minute and his powerful shot from the edge of the area was turned over by keeper Ludovic Roy.

Saints, however, were more than holding their own and Lavety seemed startled when Gary Bowman played the ball in, heading it up in the air when he had a clear route to goal.

Aberdeen began the second half by storming forward and took the lead eight minutes after the break.

Dow delivered a wonderful looping cross from the left and Arild Stavrum headed the ball beyond Roy with Zerouali touching it over the line.

It was the Moroccan's fourth goal for the club and the Pittodrie fans have quickly taken to him.

The goal capped an impressive spell of pressure by Aberdeen and put them in the driving seat.

Saints defender Ross intercepted a ball played into Dow by Zerouali and then Roy reacted superbly to block a shot from Winters after a clever backheel by the Moroccan.

Saints pressed forward in search of an equaliser. Scott Walker sent a header from six yards wide of the target and then Barry McLaughlin's shot from the edge of area went narrowly over the bar.

Aberdeen almost grabbed a second but Ross blocked a goalbound effort by Zerouali after sub Kevin Rutkiewicz played the ball across.

They extended their lead on the stroke of full-time when Paul Bernard tucked the ball home after Zerouali carved out the opening.

Teams:

Aberdeen: Leighton, Whyte, Solberg, Anderson, McAllister, Dow (Belabed 78), Bernard, Guntveit, Winters,Stavrum (Rutkiewicz 72), Zerouali.

Subs Not Used: Perry.Booked: Solberg, Guntveit.

Goals: Zerouali 54, Bernard 90.

St Mirren: Roy, Nicolson, Ross, Rudden, McLaughlin, Walker, Murray (Baltacha 76), Bowman, Yardley (McGarry 76),Lavety (Turner 86), Mendes.

Att: 12,947

Ref: Willie Young (Scotland).