Aberdeen

Aberdeen midfielder Sivert Heltne Nilsen reveals he does not say much in the dressing room but "gets crazy when I come on the field" because he is so keen to win. (Record), external

Manager Jimmy Thelin expects Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen, 21, to benefit from playing for Finland against England. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Only two of this weekend's Scottish League Cup quarter-finals will have VAR in operation, with Motherwell v Dundee United on Friday and Aberdeen v Spartans on Saturday not using the technology and saving a combined £16,000 in the process. (Mail), external

Dundee, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Ross County, St Johnstone and St Mirren will each take in £1.6m in solidarity payments due to Celtic's Champions League qualification, with Aberdeen and Dundee United receiving £1m and £650,000 going to Hearts and Livingston. (Mail), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Eyebrows were raised when Aberdeen paid an undisclosed fee and handed out a three-year contract to Sivert Heltne Nilsen at the age of 32.

The Norwegian midfielder turns 33 in a fortnight, but is showing just why manager Jimmy Thelin was desperate to reunite with the man he describes as a "leader".

Nilsen has spoken previously about how Thelin rejuvenated his career at former club Elfsborg, and the Swede appears to be getting the best of out him again.

The Dons have received plenty of plaudits for their fluid and intense attacking style amid a record-breaking winning start for their new boss.

But Nilsen has been integral to Aberdeen sustaining attacks, plus winning and moving the ball with purpose at the base of the midfield.

The numbers back this up, with the Norwegian posting 258 successful passes in the Premiership this season - more than any other non-Old Firm player.

Nilsen has also won possession on 36 occasions - only Celtic's Callum McGregor (39) has managed to do that more.

The solidity the experienced midfielder brings has also allowed partner Graeme Shinnie to play further up the pitch, with the captain already on two goals and three assists from nine games this season.

If the Dons go on to enjoy a memorable campaign, Nilsen is already showing he can be a key figure in that.

Aberdeen cannot take Spartans lightly in Saturday's League Cup quarter-final, says Nicky Devlin, 30. (Record), external

Hearts will travel directly to Aberdeen from Azerbaijan next month with Steven Naismith's side taking on Conference League opponents Dinamo Minsk in Sumgait three days before their Scottish Premiership trip to Pittodrie. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

There won't have been many who would have predicted that early frontrunner for the Premiership's top scorer accolade would be Pape Habib Gueye.

But the fact he is perhaps underlines what Jimmy Thelin has brought to Aberdeen, although the striker's exploits may not be a surprise to those who followed his loan spell in Norway during the second half of last season.

Gueye spent six months at Eliteserien side Kristiansund and during his time on the Norwegian west coast he scored six times, setting up another three in 18 appearances.

It included a double against champions Bodo/Glimt as he tried to kickstart a career that was hit by injury in his opening months at Pittodrie as he failed to get regular game time under Barry Robson.

When the Senegalese forward signed for the Dons, one of the goals on his online showreel, scored during his time at Belgian side Kortrijk, had shades of his outrageous opener against Motherwell last Saturday.

So it was clear there was a good player there somewhere and he has emerged as a real bonus ball for Thelin as Gueye's latest double saw the Dons make it 10 wins from 10 this season.

Incidentally, the club record stands at 15. To eclipse that will involve winning their next six, which includes matches against last season's top three, with a visit to Celtic Park in among that.

If Thelin somehow does create Aberdeen history in October by winning all those games, all kinds of pre-season expectations will be swept over the Broadhill and into the North Sea. October will show everyone just where this Dons side is.

The first in their next sequence of matches will see them take on The Spartans for the first time in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

A place in the last four of that tournament for a seventh time in the last decade is the prize and it is a superb opportunity for Thelin to keep the feelgood factor going prior to a more challenging set of fixtures.

However, despite the lingering doubters from other parts of the country, some of the best Aberdeen teams to have graced the game in this country have failed where this season's version have succeeded so far.

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin will wait until the summer to use the money from the record sale of Bojan Miovski rather than take a chance on someone in January. (Press & Journal), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Slobodan Rubezic's attitude on and off the pitch has helped drive Aberdeen's perfect start to the season, according to manager Jimmy Thelin. (Daily Record, external)

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

Winning games breeds confidence and momentum. It's an old saying but it's never been truer, and Aberdeen are evidence of it.

Sivert Heltne Nilsen gives them a better base at midfield. It allows the full-backs to get forward. With his experience it's really helped them in terms of how they want to play.

They're creating chances and scoring goals but they're nice and solid as well. That's the big difference from last year.

They'll do well to push for second. Even though Rangers aren't in a position to push Celtic, they've got a bigger squad and better players than Aberdeen.

But the turnaround at Aberdeen has been phenomenal and I don't even think Jimmy Thelin would have thought it would have gone as well as this.

Former Aberdeen striker Billy Dodds was talking to BBC Scotland's Nick McPheat.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Aberdeen made it 10 wins from 10 under manager Jimmy Thelin with their 2-1 victory over Motherwell on Saturday, and the Dons have three players in my Team of the Week.

Slobodon Rubezic faced criticism last season for the occasional hot-headed mistake but he looks a player reborn this year. He seems calmer and the partnership with Gavin Molloy has been a central part of the Aberdeen success story.

Sivert Heltne Nilsen has been an excellent addition. The Norwegian keeps the Dons ticking in midfield and attempted 77 passes in this game, more than any other Aberdeen player this season.

A fabulous solo goal and a vital second from Pape Gueye gets him into this team. Five goals so far this season; what a revelation he has been after an inauspicious start to his Aberdeen career. Thelin will be delighted to have plenty of competition at the sharp end of the pitch.

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 2-1 win against Motherwell.

Here's what some of you said:

Chris: The Dons display against Motherwell was very slick for 75 minutes. We looked in total control, slick passing, pressed well and recovered the ball. However, in the closing period we gave Motherwell a goal and belief. Perhaps making so many changes to give people game time unbalanced us.

Justin: I was at the game, although it wasn't always pretty Aberdeen were in zero danger until Motherwell kind of scored from nothing. But what a performance from Pape Gueye, he's like a different player from when he first arrived, like a new signing, it's great to see the deserved love he's getting. It was a slightly nervous end to another massive win for the Dons.

Niall: The 'Thelin Effect' rolls on with another dominant Dons performance. First half intensity was amazing, just the final clinical result was missing until Gueye pounced with precision and a contender for goal of the season. There is so much to like about the squad cohesion and teamwork. Sivert Nilsen is a standout performer amongst so many others.

John: This season has consistently been the best atmosphere I've experienced at Pittodrie in years. Even when the Dons conceded the crowd remained positive. In Jimmy we trust.

Jim: An excellent match. A little nervy at the end, but a win is a win. Five on the trot in the league, 10 out of 10 in all. Couldn't be happier. Disappointed to have conceded the late goal, and missed a bag of chances again, but the balance is right.

Mark: Some of the play, especially in the first half, was fantastic. The club has recruited well but what is going on with Gueye? Last season he looked like he had never played football in his life and this year he’s winning the Ballon d'Or!

Fred: A very competitive match. We are such a different team this season, we would have lost this match last year by capitulating in the final few minutes. A performance that shows we can fight to the end. Excellent goals, proved we can absolutely compete for the top two places.

Marti: There's a great buzz around Pittodrie just now and long may it continue. 1 -0, 2-1, I don't really care, it’s still early days and we’ve not played the Old Firm yet, but bring it on.

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• Sivert Heltne Nilsen attempted 77 passes in this game - more than any other Dons player this season.

• Pape Guèye's brace moves him to the top of the Premiership goalscoring chart this season.

• Motherwell have scored in their last four games in the Premiership, their longest run of players finding the net in games since the competition since February.

Were you at Pittodrie on Saturday or following the match elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the game - have your say here, external.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "It was an exciting game until the end - the first half was really strong from us.

The second half they came out stronger, but I'm happy with how we defended together. It was still a good team performance to win the game."

On two-goal stiker Pape Habib Gueye, Thelin added: "His first was amazing... the speed, how far away he was when he picked up the ball, staying cool to score.

"It was an amazing performance from him. His pressing and effort for the team is also amazing to see."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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The pre-match pyrotechnics show at a bouncing Pittodrie highlighted the feelgood factor at Aberdeen, who seem to be finding new ways to win games.

And the positive energy will not be fizzling out any time soon as the records continue to tumble for Jimmy Thelin, who can take his team to a League Cup semi-final next weekend with a home win over fourth-tier Spartans.

The Swede is also now the first Premiership manager to win all five of his first league games since Giovanni van Bronckhorst with Rangers in December 2021.

For a while it felt like it should have been a comfortable afternoon, but it ended on a nervy note for Thelin and his players.

That is something the manager will undoubtedly analyse and address, but, in the main, the centre-back duo of Slobodan Rubezic and Gavin Molloy impressed again.

Second-half attacking changes sprung Motherwell into life, but they could not make Aberdeen pay with their openings.

On another day Stuart Kettlewell's men could have come away with a point, which would have perhaps been deserved on the balance of the chances.

When the likes of Tony Watt, Jair Tavares and Jack Vale are in the right shape to start games, the Lanarkshire side should look more vibrant at the top end of the pitch.

They have been much improved at the other end this season, but Kettlewell will be disappointed with the goals his team conceded, particularly the first as Pape Habib Gueye was able to race clear from his own half.

Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, Molloy, Rubezic, MacKenzie, Heltne Nilsen, Palaversa, Keskinen, Gueye, McGrath, Nisbet.

Substitutes: Doohan, Clarkson, McGarry, Besuijen, Sokler, Morris, Milne, MacDonald, Ambrose.

Motherwell: Oxborough, O'Donnell, McGinn, Gordon, Casey, Wilson, Zdravkovski, Halliday, Miller, Maswanhise, Robinson.

Substitutes: Hegyi, Seddon, Balmer, Sparrow, Kaleta, Ebiye, Watt, Vale, Tavares.

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Aberdeen hope to have Leighton Clarkson back while Duk has returned to the club following his unauthorised absence but is unlikely to feature. Dante Polvara (hamstring) remains out.

Shane Blaney is the closest Motherwell player to a return with Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (thigh), Callum Slattery, Sam Nicholson (both knee), Harry Paton (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring) and Johnny Koutroumbis (calf) still missing.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin hailed the club's fans and says their support will be crucial as his side look to turn their early-season form into long-term success.

The Dons have won their first nine games in all competitions under the Swedish manager, and Pittodrie will be close to sold out as they look to make it 10 against Motherwell on Saturday.

"I think the support is amazing," Thelin said.

"That's why for me, this connection between the club and the city and the supporters, that's how you can build a long-term success because it's not easy to stay a top team for a long time and you need to build something stable and a strong core."

Thelin is anticipating a tough test against Stuart Kettlewell's side, who sit fifth in the Premiership after taking seven points from their opening four games.

"Motherwell have a good coach, a clear identity, they have also started well in the league," Thelin added.

"They are really good in transitions. As usual we need to be humble and respect the opponent."

Aberdeen defender Nicky Devlin says Duk apologised to the rest of the Aberdeen squad after the Cape Verde forward's early season absence.