Aberdeen

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Aberdeen turned in their best display since October to hammer Motherwell at a sell-out Pittodrie and seal a top-six place, the 16th time they've achieved that since the inception of the split in 2000.

It was an impressive performance and probably the Dons' best since the win over Rangers that had them nine points clear of the Ibrox side and level with Celtic.

This was just their fourth Premiership win since then, but Jimmy Thelin believes they will kick on from here and the formula he has struck with Leighton Clarkson and Ante Palaversa in the engine room, with captain Graeme Shinnie at left-back, is paying dividends.

With Sivert Heltne Nilsen out for an extended period, Thelin will surely stick with this set-up now after altering it for the St Johnstone stalemate last time out.

Clarkson was superb and the 'quarter-back' role seems to suit him. His goal was outstanding and he was involved in just about everything.

Kevin Nisbet has also been reborn and his recall to the Scotland squad will have given him a further boost. He could yet be the difference between success and failure for Thelin this season. It is now seven goals in eight games for the forward.

With Hibernian going to Rangers on Saturday, where they haven't won since 2018, the Dons potentially have a chance to reclaim third place when they travel to face Ross County before a visit from Barry Ferguson's side, who go to Pittodrie between the two legs of their Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao.

The club also deserve praise for their ticket initiative which ensured a full house with an excellent travelling support up from Lanarkshire for the game.

The win over the Steelmen was also notable as being the first time this season that Aberdeen have come from behind to win a league game, and that in itself points to an improvement in character with much still to play for.

More performances like this will give the Dons fans belief that this rollercoaster of a season could yet end on a maximum high.

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Is the Scottish Premiership in need of a shake-up? If so, how do you go about it?

News emerged on Tuesday that the SPFL is considering changing Scotland's top flight to a 10, 14 or 16-team division in an attempt to help reduce fixture congestion.

In its current 12-team form, the clubs split into a top and bottom six after 33 rounds of matches, with 38 rounds played altogether.

That format has been in place since 2000-01 and retaining that model is also an option, but reports have also suggested the split could be scrapped.

For any fresh structure to pass, it needs the backing of 11 of the 12 Premiership clubs, and eight out of 10 from the Championship plus 75% of League One and League Two combined.

And judging by the fan reaction to the mere thought of reducing the league to a 10-team division, you would have to assume that idea is already unlikely.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, former Premiership players Cammy Bell and Cillian Sheridan provided their views on a potential restructure.

Expansion is the only option for former Rangers and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Bell, while ex-Celtic striker Sheridan would like to see the split retained.

"I think we need a little bit of freshness about our game," Bell said. "So, if we can expand that league, then absolutely do it. We've got big enough clubs now that can generate good crowds.

"We're at a time just now where we've got the potential of trying to change it and certainly for me it's got to be expansion."

"The split works now," Sheridan added. "When I first came over and saw the whole split thing, I just never really got it. But in the past few years it has been quite interesting.

"If the league is wrapped up, if relegation is wrapped up, it does add a little bit of excitement to things in terms of teams getting into the top six and having to get European football."

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin says summer transfer window targets must have the right character to play for the club and must also display they are rounded players by being potent in both defence and attack. (Press & Journal), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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Aberdeen's return to form has coincided with one all-important factor: Kevin Nisbet is looking like his old goalscoring self.

With a European spot in their sights after securing top six, and a Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts on the horizon, Scotland striker Nisbet is hitting his stride at the opportune moment for Jimmy Thelin's side.

Nisbet's double - his second brace in four games - in the 4-1 weekend trouncing of Motherwell took his tally to seven goals in his past eight matches, only one of which the Dons have lost.

The 28-year-old put Saturday's game to bed with a header and 30-yard stunner from a combined xG of just 0.51, but it's not just his form in front of goal that's lifting spirits again around Pittodrie.

The on-loan Millwall forward also created two chances for his team-mates, recovered the ball four times, and had the highest passing accuracy of anyone who played more than 45 minutes, with 19 of his 20 passes finding a red shirt.

All while having the fewest touches, 38, of any outfield player, showing his ability to be an effective part of the game while often doing a lot of his work off the ball.

"Crucial for Aberdeen has been the return to form of Nisbet," Sunday Mail chief football writer Scott McDermott told the Scottish Football Podcast.

"He was just not producing enough, or not producing the form that we knew he was capable of obviously from his Hibs days. But something seems to have clicked in the last few weeks.

"He's back among the goals. And when you've got that threat that can pretty much guarantee goals up front, it's obviously a massive, massive help."

Leighton Clarkson: On song and strolled it, scoring a superb goal. Instrumental as Aberdeen hit all the right notes.

Kevin Nisbet: Should Aberdeen get a deal done with Millwall to make this move a permanent one? On the evidence of recent weeks it could make very real sense. The on-loan striker suddenly looks at home in red.

Watch all the highlights from Aberdeen's 4-1 win over Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only

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Jimmy Thelin is targeting European football after Aberdeen secured a top-six finish with their 4-1 win over Motherwell on Saturday.

The Dons missed out on continental action after finishing seventh last term, but now look in good shape to return to Europe by taking one of the league's top four or five positions, if they do not win the Scottish Cup.

"From the beginning we've had a clear picture for the long term, but we want to arrive in Europe this season," said Thelin.

"We will try until the last game both in the Dup and in the league.

"Nothing has changed in terms of what we're pushing for but we have to deserve it. We will now focus on the next game away to Ross County."

47 points was enough for St Mirren to earn European football last season. Thelin's Aberdeen already have 46 on the board with seven matches still to be played.

Aberdeen fans, we asked for your opinions on the 4-1 win over Motherwell that secured your top six status for this season. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Jimibub: The absolute minimum goal has now been met, and what a way to achieve it. That had early season vibes to it. Now, get to the Cup final (or achieve a Cup win, better yet) and secure third.

It has been a rollercoaster, but as all have said so often, if we had gotten here without either run, no one would be complaining. At least Dave Cormack kept his cool for once and didn't sack Jimmy Thelin.

Dick: A crisp, decisive display from an Aberdeen team who had Motherwell chasing shadows in the first half. Leighton Clarkson was back in his best position, distributing the ball from in front of the back two.

Motherwell adjusted their strategy after the break but the addition of Shayden Morris provided width to sort that out. A European slot is next stop.

Fred: An excellent team performance and a well-deserved win. If the team can maintain this standard, third is a definite possibility. All the players performed today, no passengers.

Andrew: One of the best attacking displays we've produced this season. So much more emphasis on moving the ball forward instead of back. Clarkson had a brilliant game and Kevin Nisbet has been a different animal in the last couple of months.

Chris: That was a perfect execution of the manager's tactics. Really good, clever, quick football. However, Motherwell were dreadful. Ponderous, always losing loose balls and no leadership. The Dons were good, but they were not playing a side with quality.

Ritchie: The best performance since last November. Showed great character after going behind, players showed good battling qualities and didn't allow Motherwell to bully them. Clarkson was excellent at spreading play and driving forward. Hopefully a catalyst for strong end to the season.

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• Aberdeen won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 15 May 2024 against Livingston (15 games without a win).

• The Dons are undefeated in their last three games in the Premiership - their last longer unbeaten streak was from 16 March 2024 to 9 November 2024, a run of 20 games.

• Kevin Nisbet has scored nine goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other Aberdeen player. He has now scored seven goals in 12 appearances in the Premiership against Motherwell.

• Jimmy Thelin's side have scored 13 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Celtic (22) and Dundee United (15) have scored more in the Premiership this season.

• Motherwell have a record of W0, D1, L11 when trailing at half-time in the Premiership this season.

• Motherwell have conceded 13 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Ross County (17) and Hibernian (16) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• Callum Slattery has contributed to goals in his last three games in the Premiership (three goals, one assist).

Aberdeen managerJimmy Thelin is open to a potential move to buy on-loan Kevin Nisbet in the summer, with the Scotland striker having another year to run on his Millwall contract. (Press & Journal - subscription), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Aberdeen secured their place in the Scottish Premiership's top six with an emphatic 4-1 win over Motherwell at Pittodrie.

The visitors made a dream start, breaking the deadlock after just five minutes when Callum Slattery powered a header into the net.

But the Dons were soon back level, after Alfie Dorrington's shot found its way past Motherwell keeper Ellery Balcombe, taking a deflection off Andy Halliday on its way.

The host's second goal was a thing of beauty, Leighton Clarkson curling in a sumptuous 20 yarder as the interval approached.

And they extended their advantage on 76 minutes when Kevin Nisbet headed in from an Alexander Jensen cross.

Nisbet got his second and Aberdeen's fourth with a rasping added-time strike from 30 yards which crashed off the underside of the cross bar and into the net.

What did you think of that, Dons fans? Where did it go right for Aberdeen today?

Who impressed you? And now top six is secure, how do you feel about the rest of the season?

Let us know your thoughts.

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin told BBC Scotland: "It was a really good collective team effort today. We start the game really well and they score more or less the first time they arrive in our box.

"Sometimes teams can react in another way, but it was nice to see the reaction that the team game. The response was really good.

"We have some injuries but the squad is growing, and players are developing. It's not so much about football sometimes, but about responsibility. [Leighton] Clarkson's performance today was really good to see.

"We see players getting better and better - even Alfie [Dorrington] has grown since he arrived [in January]. It's created healthy competition inside the squad. Graeme Shinnie at left-back was really strong today.

"I like the way the team is growing. We need the squad to be good through the season. We need to use the whole squad the whole way.

"Nothing has changed, but it is good to be top six. We can only take it game by game, we have another difficult game away next weekend to prepare for."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen were hoping to progress following the arrival of manager Jimmy Thelin last summer.

And securing their place in the top six is a significant first step – albeit it has been a bit of rollercoaster ride to achieve it.

Last season Aberdeen finished seventh – at the end of a disappointing campaign - so avoiding spending the remainder of this one battling in the bottom half is an undoubted step in the right direction.

But, lets be clear - a place in the top six is the minimum that is expected by the Dons and their fans.

Having ticked off that objective – the next one is to secure European football.

If they can do that, then Thelin, and the Pittodrie powerbrokers, will rightly be satisfied with the work done over the course of the season.

However getting a consistency of performance and results – two things that have been lacking in recent months – between now and the end of the season, will be the key to determining if the Red Army can look out their passports next term.

Image source, SNS

Kevin Nisbet. Harsh not to give this to Leighton Clarkson on a day where the Aberdeen midfielder strolled things, but we'll go with Nisbet just for that second strike alone.

Took the first one well, ghosting in between his markers to power his header home, before scoring a screamer that had more dip than a nacho party.

Seven goals in his last eight games is a good return.

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov begins another spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury he sustained on international duty with Bulgaria.

Kristers Tobers (hamstring) and Sivert Heltne Nilsen (eye) remain out along with long-term absentees Vicente Besuijen (knee), Jamie McGrath and Gavin Molloy (both shoulder).

Motherwell wing-back Marvin Kaleta is a doubt with a stomach bug while Tawanda Maswhanise only returned from playing for Zimbabwe in time for one training session.

The Steelmen remain without Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (broken wrist), Shane Blaney, Sam Nicholson (both knee), Jack Vale (Achilles), Steve Seddon (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Zach Robinson (Achilles) and Archie Mair (hand).

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin says his side need to be "really sharp" and clinical as they look to achieve their pre-season objective of European football.

The Dons are fourth in the table - one point behind Hibs and two above fifth-place Dundee United - and can guarantee a top-six finish with victory at home to Motherwell on Saturday.

"Every game in the season is important but now there are not so many more points to play for, we don't have another chance to catch up, we need to be really sharp now and take our chances," said Thelin.

"We have to always take it step by step and we have the aim before the season to arrive to the European spots but right now it is really tight, even to the top six, but our aim and direction hasn't changed.

"So we know it is going to be difficult but we have to be focused and believe in what we are doing and be optimistic."

With Motherwell just five points behind in seventh, Thelin is well aware of the challenge his side face.

"They are on a good run right now, they score goals, two goals every game [in each of their last three matches] and some good results," he said of Michael Wimmer's side.

"They have changed some parts in their way of playing with the intensity, build-up and the attacking so it is a different team from the one we played against last time."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premiership visit of Motherwell.

Here are the key lines from the Dons boss:

• The shoulder injury goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov picked up on Bulgaria duty is not as bad as first feared, but he faces weeks "and not longer than that" out.

• On the eye issue that has sidelined Sivert Heltne Nilsen recently, Thelin says "that is a longer one" and "quite an unusual injury".

• The return of Kristers Tobers, who has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, is "more about weeks than months".

• With just three games left before the split, Thelin has warned his side "need to be really sharp now and take our chances".

• He feels Aberdeen are in a "better place now as a team" and heading in the right direction at this important part of the season

• Fourth-place Dons can secure a top-six finish with a win this weekend and Thelin says "we have to take it step by step", adding their aim "hasn't changed" since the start of the season.

• He is expecting a tough game against a Motherwell team who are scoring goals and are on a "good run right now", including victory at Ibrox.

Image source, SNS

• Aberdeen have won three of their past four home league games against Motherwell (D1), and are looking to win three such meetings in a row against the Steelmen for the first time since March 2017.

• After their 2-0 victor in January, Motherwell could earn back-to-back league wins over Aberdeen for the first time since November 2021 under Graham Alexander.

• Aberdeen have drawn their past two league games, 2-2 against Dundee United and 0-0 versus St Johnstone, last drawing three in a row in February 2022, a run that consisted of draws against St Johnstone, Motherwell and Dundee United.

• After their 2-1 win at Rangers, Motherwell are looking to win back-to-back away league games for only the second time this season, previously doing so in October.

• Aberdeen's Graeme Shinnie has made more tackles (84) than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

What if the Scottish Premiership was decided on overperforming your expected goals (xG) rating?

You're rolling your eyes, aren't you? Fair enough, but the above graphic still paints an interesting picture.

In the second column you will see each team's current xG tally after 30 games, but the table is sorted based on the third column, which shows how much each side has overperformed or underperformed by.

For example, the chances leaders Celtic have created throughout the season suggests they should have scored around 77 goals, but Brendan Rodgers' side have surpassed that tally with an overperformance of almost 12 goals.

Remarkably, Dundee have overperformed their xG total of 34 by 11 goals. If Tony Docherty's side could sort out their defensive issues, it's safe to assume they wouldn't be fighting for survival.

It's the opposite for Kilmarnock, with their underperformance of 5.5 showing they have struggled to take their chances. Addressing that is key if Derek McInnes wants to pull his side away from the bottom.

Other underperformers include Hibernian, Dundee United and Ross County, while the remainder of the teams in the division appear to be fairly steady.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Aberdeen's third-place hopes suffered a blow with the news that goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov is likely to miss up to a month because of a shoulder injury sustained playing for Bulgaria against Republic of Ireland in the Nations League relegation play-off.

It will be Mitov's third spell on the sidelines this season and he will now be doubtful for the Dons' Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts next month too.

The 28-year-old's absence - which means a return to the starting XI for Ross Doohan - is a major headache for manager Jimmy Thelin given the importance of every remaining match in their season.

As the domestic action resumes, Aberdeen welcome Motherwell to Pittodrie this weekend with the split just three games away.

The stadium will be sold out, in part helped by a ticket initiative by the club although home matches have been very well attended by Dons supporters this season.

It still seems ludicrous that Thelin's men still haven't confirmed a top-half finish by this point after they came roaring out of the blocks.

They face a Motherwell team unbeaten in three games and sitting in seventh spot, just a point outside the top six. An away win would reduce the gap between these two to just two points so it's an important match.

However, a home victory would ensure Aberdeen will be playing their post-split fixtures for a shot at European football.

And with a tricky trip to Dingwall and a visit from Europa League quarter-finalists Rangers to come, three points would ease the pressure on Thelin as it would be unthinkable that they finish in the bottom half.