NewsLoan watch: Leighton Clarkson scores stunning match-winning free-kick

The midfielder made it two goals in three games north of the border as the Dons defeated St Johnstone 1-0 in the Scottish Premiership at McDiarmid Park.

"Leighton is a quality player who technically is absolutely fantastic," manager Jim Goodwin said.

"That free-kick was a real bit of quality. You need that bit of individual brilliance sometimes.

"When you sign those quality of players, you hope you have a match-winner. Technically, we know exactly what we're going to get.

"Leighton is very brave on the ball; he takes it in tight areas and looks to play forward. That is something we want from our midfield players."

Elsewhere in Scotland, Lucy Parry scored and won a penalty in Hibernian Women's 3-2 defeat by Motherwell in the Scottish Women's Premiership.

In the Championship, Rhys Williams completed the full match as Blackpool played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor.

Tyler Morton was a 72nd-minute substitute for Blackburn Rovers in their 3-0 defeat against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, while in League One Conor Bradley featured for 78 minutes as Bolton Wanderers were beaten 2-0 by Sheffield Wednesday.

In League Two, Adam Lewis stepped off the bench for the final five minutes of Newport County's 2-1 win over Tranmere Rovers and James Balagizi was involved in Crawley Town's 2-0 loss to AFC Wimbledon.

Vitezslav Jaros completed the game in goal for Stockport County, who were beaten 2-1 by Mansfield Town, while fellow goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga featured in Macclesfield FC's 4-2 Emirates FA Cup victory over Mossley.

In Europe, Anderson Arroyo was an unused substitute for Alaves in their Segunda Division win over Mirandes in Spain, and Billy Koumetio played the full match as Austria Vienna defeated Wolfsberger in the Austrian Bundesliga.

LFC Women's Ashley Hodson clocked up 69 minutes for Birmingham City as they began the Barclays Women's Championship campaign with a goalless stalemate at home to Lewes.

Goalkeeper Charlotte Clarke and West Bromwich Albion suffered a 6-0 defeat versus Nottingham Forest in their Women's National League Premier Division opener.