Aberdeen

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin insists he has no worries about his squad's mentality despite a disappointing collapse against Rangers on Sunday.

The Dons lost 4-0 at Ibrox having been level on 54 minutes, against a Rangers side who had failed to win in their previous seven home matches.

The manner of the performance was somewhat alarming too, with goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov forced to make seven saves in addition to the four concessions.

Aberdeen face champions Celtic in the league on Wednesday, a preview of the Scottish Cup final later this month, but Thelin sees no cause for panic.

"It happens sometimes," he said. "You have some games away this season when we have a goal or two against us, we lose the identity a little bit.

"Sometimes the ambition in the player - they want to get back in the game and they take too many individual decisions.

"It was a difficult game against Rangers, but it was still 0-0 and then they score one goal quite easy. After that, come back to basics and try to stay in the game. Don't just disappear. We were quite open as a team.

"Does it happen every game? No. So I'm not concerned at all.

"Me, the staff and the players are together. We have a capacity to do really good games and my belief is that we will do it tomorrow."

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been talking to the media before his side's Premiership match against Celtic on Wednesday.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• Thelin says his side have "ideas" on what to do when they go behind in a game and they failed to do that in Sunday's 4-0 loss to Rangers.

• He adds his side need to "move on" and focus on how to get a result against Celtic.

• When asked about how his team can recover from a damaging Sunday afternoon, the Swede says he believes tomorrow will be "really good" when it comes to performance and there has been lots of "energy and focus" since the weekend.

• Thelin insists mentality is not an issue in his players, and when pushed said: "Does it happen every game? No. I am not concerned at all."

• Before a big week and a half for the Dons, Thelin reflected on the up and down season Aberdeen have had, saying: "Seasons can be like this sometimes. And we can still achieve something this year."

• Ester Sokler and Sivert Nilsen will miss the game, and changes may be made to the squad to give players a "rest".

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

Abject, abysmal, deflating. Three words to sum up Aberdeen at Ibrox.

We have thrown away third place with barely a whimper and, what's more concerning, done it without a fight after hauling Hibs back in briefly.

The lack of fight and belief coursing through this team right now is a serious red flag, especially the attitude when we go a goal behind.

Fans have a voice. We will voice our displeasure. I don't want to hear from the manager and players this week that wrongs will be righted.

Cross the white line and show us. It's time to do your talking on the pitch in our final three games.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie rejects the notion the Dons were distracted by their upcoming Scottish Cup final appearance against Celtic as they lost 4-0 away to Rangers on Sunday. (Record), external

Shinnie says lessons need to be learned following Aberdeen's second-half collapse at Ibrox. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's heavy defeat at Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Stuart: First half we were okay, second half we completely lost it as we were completely overrun. Need to get a result on Wednesday.

Alastair: The same old story of Aberdeen struggling to get a decent result in Glasgow. Add to that a defensive collapse, along with the now almost customary loss of a goal in added time. If all that wasn't enough we have 'Softly, Softly Jimmy Thelin' churning out the same excuses and promises of it being better in the future. I'm afraid it seems to me that we have made yet another error in choice of manager, but I doubt the club are ready to admit that yet. Surely only a matter of time before supporters become disillusioned with what's on offer.

Jimibub: Well there goes third. And I am glad I don't have a final ticket, as I would not want to spend a small fortune to travel to Glasgow and stay there two nights for a guaranteed big loss. That second half was the worst performance I have seen since Mark McGhee was in charge. Shame on the players, and shame on Thelin for not stopping the flood. I don't know what it would have taken, perhaps actually shouting at the players for once, but I don't need to know - I don't get a huge salary to figure that out. You would never have known Aberdeen were the side with something to play for while Rangers were in a dead rubber.

Garry: Absolute capitulation and an abomination of tactical set-up. What more can we do not to be convinced that Thelin has no clue what he's doing? Not all his fault either when you consider the players' performances. Heading into Wednesday against Celtic we've no chance and I really think the dressing room has gone. You can't tell me they're all desperately fighting for their places for the cup final. Lord help us. I can't wait for the team line-up and to see who has impressed the manager this week. Awful. I'm so glad Peter Leven remains at the club. I'd give him the job and trust him to deliver.

John: Simply not good enough, nor any pride wearing the shirt. Simply not fit to wear the once proud shirt of Aberdeen. Time to offload a lot of these amateurs. A cup final hammering awaits. God help us. Don't believe the manager is up to the task either. It's time to put the club up for sale, new direction required and a Scottish manager.

Watch the best of Rangers' four-goal Scottish Premiership win over Aberdeen as interim boss Barry Ferguson secures his first Ibrox victory in charge.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin revealed he had extended clear-the-air talks with his players in the Ibrox dressing room after the humiliating second-half collapse. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

A second-half pasting at Ibrox stalled Aberdeen's charge for third place in the Scottish Premiership.

After the 4-0 defeat, the Dons must realistically take something from Wednesday's visit of Celtic if they're to catch Hibernian.

There's also the small matter of the Scottish Cup final on 24 May against Brendan Rodgers' champions.

Reds fans, how concerned were you by Sunday's defeat? Has that second-half lapse influenced who you want to start in midweek, or indeed play the showpiece match itself at Hampden?

Have your say using this link.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin tells BBC Scotland: "We have to show more of ourselves.

"The first half we were quite good defensively but did not have so many threats. The second half we started better and created some chances. After their first goal we stopped doing things as a team.

"Sometimes we have to be smarter in how we play the game, we gave them chances in transition, opened the block and chased players individually and the game was out of our hands.

"The organisation went down. We were defending one against one, open spaces all over the central areas. We were leaving space everywhere and not defending in a block. You drain yourself as an individual and a team if you don't defend better.

"We have to manage games better in these important games. The standard performance-wise was not good enough. We have to find a way to turn this around.

"We can't hide, we have to show up, do it again and do it better."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Pre-match, manager Jimmy Thelin said it was important his players showed "presence" and bravery on the ball. They didn't do that nearly well enough.

As to some of their defending, particularly in the second half, the Swede will be scratching his head. He'll also be worrying, given he has two matches against champions Celtic in the next 10 days, one of which is the Scottish Cup final.

The first-half performance was acceptable. The second was not. To concede four goals and watch goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov still have to make save after save will give Thelin plenty of foot for thought as he heads into the crucial final period of the season.

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Rangers midfielder Ianis Hagi will miss the last three games of the season with an injury picked up against Celtic last week but Robin Propper has returned to training.

Ridvan Yilmaz and Dujon Sterling (Achilles) are out for the season while Tom Lawrence has been absent recently.

Aberdeen defenders Alexander Jensen and Kristers Tobers are back in training. Ester Sokler (leg), Sivert Heltne Nilsen (eye) and Vicente Besuijen (knee) remain sidelined.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin believes Sunday's Scottish Premiership match at Rangers will be a good marker of his side's progress.

Aberdeen have won one, drawn one and lost one against Rangers this season, but the Dons trail the Ibrox side by 15 points with three matches of the league season remaining.

"For us it's important we also get better," Thelin said. "Rangers are doing well.

"They are ahead of us in the table and in the future, we want to be better and better every season, and the best way to do that is to play against the good teams and try to be better all of the time.

"It's a good game right now, so we can push ourselves and perform really well and try to get the result."

Despite a torrid run of home form, Rangers are guaranteed to finish second in the league.

Barry Ferguson's side have not won at Ibrox for over three months, but Thelin says his players will have to be at their best to deepen Rangers' woes.

"The games between Rangers and Aberdeen are always big and important for both teams," he said.

"I don't think they're going to feel anything like they are not connected with the game or whatever. I think it is still a really exciting game to play.

"It's still our aim to reach Europe and nothing has really changed in our mentality, what we want to achieve.

"We have to go there and try to be the best we can be, and put on a good performance."

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has been talking to the media before his side take on Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• Thelin says "nothing has really changed" in what Aberdeen want to achieve this season and insists facing Rangers is a "good" game for this point in the campaign.

• As he has throughout the season, Thelin stresses the need to improve and says playing against a team above them in the table is a good way to do that.

• When asked about the upcoming Scottish Cup final, Thelin says competition in his squad is in a positive place at present as players vie for a spot at Hampden.

• Despite that, the Swedish manager insists the Dons are taking things one match at a time, starting with Rangers.

• Thelin expects Rangers to line up with a back four at Ibrox and foresees a game where transitions will be important.

• Team news: Everyone is fit and training apart from Ester Sokler and Sivert Nilsen.

Rangers and Aberdeen meet at Ibrox this weekend, 34 years to the day since the teams went to head for the title.

The Dons required just a draw to win the league, but failed to convert early chances and were made to pay as Rangers triumphed 2-0 thanks to a Mark Hateley double.

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Aberdeen's Jimmy Thelin has made it a hat-trick by being named Premiership manager of the month for April.

The Swede takes the award for the third time this season after steering the Dons to 1-0 wins over Ross County and Hibs either side of a 2-2 draw with Rangers.

Aberdeen also set up a Scottish Cup final against Celtic by seeing off Hearts in extra time at Hampden.

"I am very grateful to accept this award for the third time this season," said Thelin.

"We are all in this together at Aberdeen, so this award is recognition of the part that everyone has played and the work they have put in.

"It's been an exciting journey so far and an emotional first year for me personally in Aberdeen.

"There is a good atmosphere around the club and it feels like everybody shares the same vision for our future."

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• Rangers have lost just one of their past 13 home games against Aberdeen in all competitions (W10 D2), winning their last three in a row since a 3-1 reverse in September 2023.

• The past eight league matches between Rangers and Aberdeen have an even head-to-head record: three wins each, two draws, and 11 goals each.

• Rangers are winless in their past seven home games in all competitions (D2 L5), their longest ever run without a home win.

• Since winning their opening three away league outings of this season, Aberdeen have only won two of their past 14 on the road (D4 L8).

• Cyriel Dessers has scored in Rangers' past two league games, and could score in three successive Scottish Premiership appearances for the first time. With 10 home league goals last season and nine this, Dessers could become only the third player to reach double figures for home goals in both of his first two Scottish Premiership seasons since the competition's rebrand in 2013, after Louis Moult (2015-16 & 2016-17) and Bojan Miovski (2022-23 and 2023-24).

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Getting winger Nicolas Milanovic from A-League outfit Western Sydney Wanderers for less than £400,000 is a good deal for Aberdeen, say Australian pundits. (Press & Journal), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Aberdeen's Jimmy Thelin has been nominated for the Scottish Football Writers' Association manager of the year award.

The Dons boss is vying with Celtic's Brendan Rodgers, Hibernian head coach David Gray and Falkirk manager John McGlynn for the SFWA prize.

After arriving last summer from Elfsborg, Aberdeen enjoyed a record-breaking 16-game unbeaten start to the campaign under the Swede.

But the Pittodrie side's season took a dramatic dip when they remarkably went on to endure a winless run of 14 league games throughout the winter.

However, Thelin's men have recovered to book a place in the final of the Scottish Cup against Celtic while remaining in the hunt for third spot in the Premiership.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Aberdeen turned in a toothless performance in Paisley at the worst possible time in what was a hammer blow to their hopes of finishing in the Premiership's top three.

Zero shots on target tells the story as the Dons once again toiled against St Mirren in what has become something of a bogey fixture for them in recent years, particularly in Renfrewshire.

Worryingly for Jimmy Thelin, his team has averaged a paltry 3.74 shots on target per game in the Premiership with only Motherwell and relegation-haunted Ross County and St Johnstone worse off.

The same old problems reared their head against Saints as the Swede's side struggled against a well-organised machine in Stephen Robinson's team who have had the Dons' number in the past three meetings.

A sloppy goal was also lost from a set-play while the lack of a tangible Plan B was exposed not for the first time this season.

To have no attempts on target in what was essentially a must-win game disappointed the big travelling support.

Jeppe Okkels did have the ball in the net but in this day of VAR, that type of handball by Kevin Nisbet is seldom overlooked. His arm was deemed to be in an unnatural position, however there was still plenty of the game to go.

Coupled with Hibernian swatting Dundee United aside as the Dons toiled at the other end of the M8, they will now need an effective two-result swing in the final three games given the Edinburgh club's big goal difference advantage.

It may be Aberdeen need to win all three of their remaining fixtures to stand a chance which would mean beating both Glasgow sides and winning at Tannadice on the final day.

Of course, the Dons could take the guaranteed European league phase prize by winning the Scottish Cup. But if they can't cause a shock in the final against holders Celtic, they will have to try to hold on to fourth place at worst as that would give them two bites at progressing through the European qualifiers with a place in the second qualifying round of the Europa League.

Their main season aim in the league is now in the long shot category, albeit Hibs go to Celtic Park at the weekend before the Dons travel to Ibrox to take on a beleaguered Rangers.

But, even taking into account the Ibrox side's ills this campaign, they will have to be a whole lot better than Saturday's timid showing if they are to win that one.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

Boy am I glad we don't need to play St Mirren again this season.

What a difference a week makes in football. From being right back in the race for third to a performance our mid-season slump would be proud of.

Defeat in Paisley put a big dent in our hopes of a third-place finish and with the way our fixtures play out it does feel now the priority is to ensure we don't slip any further than fourth.

The club's player of the year ceremony was held on Thursday night, but what we saw from those in red on Saturday wont be winning any awards.

Playing Topi Keskinen in the number 10 role as opposed to left wing where he has flourished recently was baffling given the recent inclusions of Jamie McGrath and Dante Polvara, while Alexander Jensen's pace and energy were missed on the right-hand side of defence.

Jimmy Thelin and Dave Cormack spoke about a team who would give maximum effort and show the desire to play for Aberdeen, yet it feels like there is a degree of effort missing.

Now that may be harsh, but is late-season fatigue coming into it? We haven't had a heavy fixture schedule and with the cup final looming, fitness and fatigue concerns are a worry if true, especially given the club's hopes for next season and playing European football.

Another worry is our inability to break stuffy teams down. As well as player recruitment, a Plan B when teams sit deep is something I hope to see improved next season.

We have four huge games left this season - a trip to Ibrox beckons on Sunday - and it is time for the players to put in a complete performance.

Jimmy Thelin needs to stop tinkering players out of their best positions and get back to giving fans confidence and momentum going into the cup final.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external