Aberdeenvs.St Mirren

Match preview

Aberdeen's conclusion to the 2023-24 Scottish Premiership may have ended on a high note, winning all five of their post-split season matches to finish at the top of the relegation round table, but overall their season was an overwhelming disaster.

The Dons had finished third in the prior campaign and would have been aiming to secure European qualification for the second successive year in 2023-24, but they instead fell down the table into ninth in the regular season.

Despite their difficulties in the league, Aberdeen were at their best in the Scottish Cup and came agonisingly close to making it to the final, eventually falling to defeat against Celtic on penalties in the semi-final after a 3-3 draw in 120 minutes.

That loss was their last in all competitions, leaving them coming into this one unbeaten in their last 11, including pre-season matches, and they will be eager to maintain that positive momentum with a win here.

After having three managers in charge last year, Barry Robson, Neil Warnock and Peter Leven, fans will be hoping that new manager Jimmy Thelin can deliver a successful and extended spell at the helm.

As for St Mirren, since being promoted as champions of the Scottish Championship in 2017-18, they have enjoyed constant progression up the Scottish Premiership table in the subsequent campaigns.

An 11th-placed finish in their first year, securing their survival in the relegation playoff, was followed by ninth, seventh, ninth, sixth and a fifth-placed finish in the most recent season.

Steve Robinson will be aiming to guide the side to their third successive top-six finish this year, and they certainly got off to the perfect start as they beat Hibernian 3-0 in their opening game.

St Mirren are currently undefeated in their last eight matches across all competitions, including a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie with SK Brann last time out.

Aberdeen Scottish Premiership form:

Aberdeen form (all competitions):

St Mirren Scottish Premiership form:

St Mirren form (all competitions):

Team News

The hosts will be without Leighton Clarkson, who is not expected to return from a shoulder injury until late September, and Dante Polvara, who is out until November with a hamstring injury, for this one.

Shayden Morris is also a doubt after the forward was forced off in the 75th minute of their 2-1 victory against Kilmarnock, meaning Peter Ambrose could come into the side.

Despite appearing close to a move away from the club, Bojan Miovski started for the Dons in their opening league game, and the striker could feature again here if a move does not materialise.

St Mirren are likely to be without three of their own, as Conor McMenamin, Greg Kiltie and Mark O'Hara are all doubts due to injury concerns.

Robinson is anticipated to start an unchanged back three of Marcus Fraser, Alexander Gogic and Richard Taylor in front of goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe for this one.

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:

Mitov; Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, Mackenzie; Shinnie, Nilsen; Ambrose, Sokler, McGrath; Miovski

St Mirren possible starting lineup:

Balcombe; Fraser, Gogic, Taylor; Rooney, Adeniran, Boyd-Munce, Idowu, Tanser; Olusanya, Ayunga

We say: Aberdeen 1-1 St Mirren

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