Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "I've been really pleased with the performances from the team. We have consistency in our play, which has led me to pick the same XI.

"It's trying to get the balance between being a really good defensive unit and an attacking threat, that's what we're struggling with at the moment.

"A number of goals we've conceded have been mistakes so we can improve on these in training and get better in the big games.

"A win tonight could move us to third in the table, which is a massive incentive. Aberdeen is struggling and at the wrong end of the table, but we don't look at them as a poor team. Their starting XI has quality.

"The Aberdeen team will click at some point, we just have to hope it's not tonight against us. Our main focus is what we can do to the opposition."

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Tannadice

A lot of eyes will be on the visitors tonight – particularly their manager Jimmy Thelin – as Dundee United host Aberdeen in their first meeting of the season.

Thelin is a man under real pressure after his side’s terrible start to the season – they are bottom of the Scottish Premiership, having taken just one point from their opening four games and not scored a league goal all season.

Their early campaign misery was compounded by a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Motherwell at Pittodrie at the weekend.

So, to say Thelin needs things to turn round – and turn them round fast – is an understatement. If you put all of the above together you start to see why this is such a big game for the Dons.

Things couldn’t be more different for Dundee United – after a fine season last term, the early signs are that they are set for another positive one this time round.

They have been scoring lots of goals – the only source of the concern is the fact they have been conceding plenty too.

Nevertheless, manager Jim Goodwin will be confident they can keep the feel-good factor alive by getting the job done tonight.

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Aberdeen prop up the Scottish Premiership before this evening's games.

A win would change all that and possibly send Rangers bottom, depending on the outcome of Falkirk v Hibernian.

Wins for Dundee United and the Bairns would propel them into the top four while Hibs could get closer to the top two if they leave Central Scotland with all three points.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "We want to be competing at this level and it's great to welcome Hibs here tonight.

"We are loving it. It's a learning curve, you know if you switch off you're going to lose goals and we've got to make sure we learn very quickly.

"Hibs finished third last season, they're sitting in third right now and we've got an opportunity, if we win, to go above them. I'm sure it's going to be an entertaining game.

"There's not many times you come to watch Falkirk and it's not entertaining. We'll certainly be looking to attack."

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Dundee United and Falkirk have been inactive for 10 days. Well, I'm sure they've been training and whatnot but they haven't had a first-team game to play since 13 September.

And that was a frustrating day for both with the Bairns losing at home to St Mirren before Dundee United were denied victory in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Hibs.

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At the risk of sounding like Alan Partridge, tonight is about bouncing back for Aberdeen and Hibernian.

Both sides exited the Premier Sports Cup at the quarter-final stage on Saturday.

The Dons succumbed to a 1-0 home defeat by Motherwell before Hibernian lost 2-0 away to Rangers.

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Hibs head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "The level of performance this season has been good. We've lots goals at key times in games.

"Last season we scored a lot of goals, this season I think we're creating more chances and we're not taking them. If you don't score when you're on top, you give the opponents opportunities.

"This one has all been about the reaction from Saturday. Shows how far the club has come, and the expectation around the club, that we're disappointed with that.

"It would be a very good start to the season if we can get three points tonight. Winning becomes a habit, I think that's something Falkirk have demonstrated over the last two seasons. I think they're a very good addition to the Premiership and it's a really difficult test for us."

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Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Falkirk Stadium

As the sun goes down over the Ochil Hills and the temperature drops inside the stadium, a crowd of nearly 7,000 should be warmed up by a cracker of a game between Falkirk and Hibernian.

The home side have played a fantastic style of football over the past couple of seasons and, although undoubtedly they have found things a bit more difficult this campaign, John McGlynn certainly has entertained their fans.

Similarly, Hibs have been a terrific watch for the majority of the season and whilst scoring plenty of goals have also leaked a few more than David Gray would have liked.

It should all make for an interesting evening at The Falkirk Stadium.

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St Johnstone have the chance to go eight points clear at the top of the Scottish Championship with a win at second-bottom Airdrieonians this evening.

Even at this early stage, such a lead would be a huge fillip for the Perth side, while Airdrie are looking for their first league win of the campaign.

The same is true of Scott Brown's Ayr United as they travel to face his former Celtic manager Neil Lennon and Dunfermline Athletic.

Victory would take Ayr to within a point of the Pars, who are targeting a win to go level on points with second-top Fife rivals Raith Rovers as well as high flying Arbroath.

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Billy Dodds
Former Rangers striker & coach on BBC Radio Scotland

Dundee United are up against a struggling, out of form and out of confidence Aberdeen.

It's an opportunity to hurt Aberdeen and keep them down at the bottom of the table.

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Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

It's huge for Aberdeen tonight.

The formation doesn't look like it's changed. The experience is there but Jimmy Thelin is still searching for that player to strike it rich.

He needs to turn it around and that's all he's looking for tonight. The longer this game goes on, the more pressure that'll be heaped upon him.

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Tune in to Sportsound here using the 'Listen live' option above or via BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Scotland Extra or 810MW.

Tonight's show will provide live commentary of Falkirk v Hibernian with updates of Dundee United v Aberdeen.

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Jimmy Thelin makes three changes to the Aberdeen side beaten 1-0 by Motherwell in the Premier Sports Cup on Saturday.

Sivert Nilsen replaces Graeme Shinnie in the heart of midfield.

Adil Aouchiche and Topi Keskinen drop to the bench, with Dante Polvara and Nicolas Milanovic coming into the attacking three behind striker Kevin Nisbet.

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Jim Goodwin goes with the same side that started the end-to-end 3-3 draw against Hibernian last time out.

Ryan Strain returns to the squad for the first time since the opening game of the season against UNA Strassen.

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Dundee United: Kucherenko, Keresztes, Esselink, Iovu, Stephenson, Sevelj, Camara, Ferry, Fatah, Dolcek, Sapsford.

Substitutes: Richards, Strain, Eskesen, Sibbald, Naamo, Thomson, Cleall-Harding, Constable, Moller.

Aberdeen: Mitov, Jensen, Knoester, Dorrington, Gyamfi, Nilsen, Armstrong, Milanovic, Polvara, Karlsson, Nisbet.

Substitutes: Suman, Shinnie, Aouchiche, Yengi, Bilalovic, Palaversa, Molloy, Milne, Keskinen.

John McGlynn has made one alteration from Saturday's defeat by St Mirren at the weekend.

Ethan Williams makes his first start for the Bairns, replacing Scott Arfield in midfield.

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David Gray has made two changes to the side that were beaten 2-0 by Rangers in the Premier Sports quarter-final on Saturday.

Warren O'Hora replaces Grant Hanley in defence while Dan Barlaser starts in place of Dylan Levitt in midfield.

Both Hanley and Levitt are on the bench.

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Falkirk: Bain, Adams, McCann, Henderson, Spencer, MacIver, Neilson, Cartwright, Tait, Williams, Miller.

Substitutes: Hogarth, Oliver, Graham, Agyeman, Allan, Arfield, Lissah, Samuel-Ogunsuyi, Hart.

Hibernian: Sallinger, O'Hora, Bowie, Boyle, Chaiwa, McGrath, N Cadden, Mulligan, Obita, Barlaser, Rocky.

Substitutes: Smith, Hanley, Levitt, C Cadden, Iredale, Klidje, Hoilett, Campbell, Molotnikov.

It's a catch-up session for eight SPFL clubs this evening with two games each in the top two tiers.

Here's the line-up...

Scottish Premiership

• Dundee United v Aberdeen
• Falkirk v Hibernian

Scottish Championship

• Airdrieonians v St Johnstone
• Dunfermline Athletic v Ayr United

All games kick-off at 19:45 BST

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