Aberdeenvs.St Johnstone

While the Done lost 1-0 at home to league leaders Celtic on Wednesday, the Saints were beaten by the same scoreline at home to Rangers last weekend.

Match preview

After enjoying an impressive start to the campaign under manager Jimmy Thelin, winning 10 of their first 11 Scottish Premiership games, Aberdeen have since suffered a dip in form and have failed to win their last four league matches.

The Dons let leads slip in back-to-back away draws with Edinburgh-based duo Hibernian (3-3) and Hearts (1-1) before conceding a 78th-minute goal in Wednesday's narrow loss at home to Celtic.

Thelin felt that his Aberdeen side deserved a point following a spirited performance, but defeat for the second-placed Reds has seen them slip seven points behind the in-form Hoops, who also have a game in hand.

Aberdeen, who have not lost consecutive home league matches since September 2023, will be confident of success on Saturday as they have only lost one of their last eight league meetings with St Johnstone (W5 D2).

The Dons have won their last two encounters against the Saints, including a 2-1 away victory in August, since suffering a 2-0 defeat at Pittodrie in February of last season.

St Johnstone head into Saturday's contest after losing four of their last five Premiership matches, suffering defeat by a one-goal margin in three of those.

A second-half own goal from Jason Holt condemned the Saints to defeat against Rangers last time out - their 10th league loss of the campaign after 15 games - and they are currently languishing in ninth place in the table, just three points above basement club Hearts.

Finnish coach Simo Valakari - St Johnstone's first foreign manager in their 140-year history - is yet to make the desired impact since taking charge at the beginning of October, winning just three of his first eight games at the helm.

The 51-year-old is now hoping that he can prevent the Saints from losing three consecutive games away from home for the first time since January 2023.

Aberdeen Scottish Premiership form:

W

W

L

D

D

L

Aberdeen form (all competitions):

L

W

L

D

D

L

St Johnstone Scottish Premiership form:

W

L

L

L

W

L

Team News

Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov is ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury, so Ross Doohan will continue between the sticks in his absence.

Top scorer Pape Habib Gueye, who has five goals to his name this term, is also ruled out until the New Year with a quad muscle tear, while Jack MacKenzie is set to miss out again with a knock, so James McGarry could continue at left-back.

As for St Johnstone, they are still having to cope without injured quartet of Barry Douglas, Cammy MacPherson, Sam McClelland and Uche Ikpeazu.

Benjamin Kimpioka and Nicky Clark have scored 10 of the Saints' 17 league goals so far this season and the duo are expected to start again in attack alongside Makenzie Kirk.

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:

Doohan; Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, McGarry; Shinnie, Nilsen; Duk, McGrath, Keskinen; Nisbet

St Johnstone possible starting lineup:

Rae; Wright, Sanders, Mikulic, Raymond; Carey, Sprangler, Holt; Kirk, Clark, Kimpioka

We say: Aberdeen 1-0 St Johnstone

Neither side enter this contest boasting a strong run of form, but Aberdeen will be regarded as favourites to come out on top and they should find a way to get the better of St Johnstone on home soil.

Written by

Oliver Thomas

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