Aberdeen

Image source, Getty Images

Aberdeen "feels like home already" for Alfie Dorrington, who has joined on loan from Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season.

The defender, who made his senior debut in December for Ange Postecoglou's side, "wanted to get up here as soon as possible" after holding talks with manager Jimmy Thelin.

"It's amazing to finally be here and everyone has been so welcoming," the 19-year-old said after training with the Dons on Monday.

"It feels like home already. I know it's a big club with a lot of history and the supporters are really passionate so it was a no brainer for me.

"As soon as I spoke to the manager and heard about what he wants to achieve here, I just wanted to get up here as soon as possible. I believe the way he wants to play will suit my style and he just wants this to be the best part of my career.

"It's my first loan so I want to start as many games as I can, work hard and I hope I can repay the faith the manager has shown in me."

Image source, SNS

"Calm" Kristers Tobers impressed manager Jimmy Thelin on his Aberdeen debut, but the Dons "must be careful" with the Latvia captain.

Tobers played 66 minutes against Hearts on Sunday in what was his first match since playing for previous club Grasshoppers five weeks ago.

The 24-year-old was enjoying a winter break before joining the Pittodrie club last week, but he didn't look like a player who's been out in the cold recently.

"I think Kristers did really well," said Thelin after the 0-0 draw. "He is a calm player, he can organise a team.

"We have to have in mind that we also have to take him off because he has come in from a between season (winter break in Switzerland) where he didn't train so much.

"We have to be careful about him, but in a new team, after one-and-a-half training sessions and he did that performance. It was really good."

Thelin's side are back in action away to Rangers on Wednesday and although they remain without a win in 11 matches, he is hoping the clean sheet and the fact they halted a five-game losing run on Sunday, can boost the morale of his squad.

"It's been a while, so it's important to have that feeling," he said of the clean sheet. "Especially the goals we get against us in the last couple of games is too easy.

"We were focused on being better collectively and it's important to have a clean sheet because it gives us a chance to win a game.

"It's difficult if you always get two goals against you and you have to score three to win and then create the stress. It was good to have a clean sheet and also use the positive parts like we stopped losing games."

Watch Sportscene analysis of Aberdeen's 0-0 draw against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership. Available to UK users.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Kristers Tobers: A great debut for the Latvia captain. Looked at home straight away and his distribution was excellent.

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 0-0 draw against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Darral: All I can say is what has gone wrong? Lacking cutting edge, creativity and an out-and-out finisher. Bojan Miovski was the heart and soul of that team and we are seeing now what life is like without him, but, in Jimmy we trust!

Dick: Aberdeen were the better team in the first half and should have had it sown up by half-time. They need more pressure in the box or a different type of striker.

They have tightened up the defence and given the midfield the confidence to start passing with tempo again. Doolan's penalty save was top drawer.

Karl: Aberdeen can retain possession fine. We can also pass it about relatively fine. The problem is our midfield don't seem to want to commit themselves to the box to flood it when our wingers break. We often have a winger ready to cross a ball into a box with only a striker waiting and being marked by at least six-seven players.

John: It is essential that the club gets a proven striker in place as soon as possible. Send Nisbet back down south he is not the answer to our problem.

Is Miovski getting a game over in Spain? Get him back on loan. If we don't score goals we are putting pressure on a shaky defence.

Barry: Ross Doohan deserves all the credit coming his way. Fair play to the man, he's definitely up for it. And if we had a Miovski upfront we'd have been 3-0 up at half-time. We have to get a decent striker in this window - it's an absolute must or we will continue to toil.

Fred: Started well but ended in our usual shambles. Will the new signings improve the team? The jury must still be out. Unfortunately I have real doubt about the judgement of our new manager. We need new strikers as without this we will not win another game. Another acid test against Rangers.

Anon: The Dons can't buy a win at the moment. Lots of effort but again poor distribution at key times is costing them dearly.

Watch highlights of Aberdeen's 0-0 draw against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership. Available to UK users only.

Image source, SNS

• Aberdeen have failed to win in their last 11 games in the Premiership, their last joint longest winless streak was from 24 January 2024 to 13 March 2024.

• Hearts have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer run of games without conceding a goal in the competition was a run of seven games from 9 December 2017 to 24 January 2018.

• Hearts are undefeated in their last four games in the Premiership, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 11 May 2024 to 3 August 2024.

• Hearts have stopped the opposition from scoring a first-half goal in 14 of their 23 games, only Dundee United (15) and Celtic (20) have done this more often in the league this season.

Aberdeen are favourites to sign Tottenham Hotspur central defender Alfie Dorrington, the 19-year-old who was an unused substitute in Sunday's 3-0 FA Cup victory over Tamworth. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

Hearts missed a 93rd-minute penalty in a Pittodrie stalemate as Aberdeen's winless run stretched to 11 games - matching their unbeaten streak at the start of the Scottish Premiership season.

The Tynecastle club haven't won at Pittodrie since 2016 and were gifted the perfect chance when Sivert Heltne Nilsen fouled Kenneth Vargas, but Jorge Grant's spot-kick was tipped on to the post by Ross Doohan.

Were you at Pittodrie? What did you make of the game? Did Aberdeen deserve a point?

Did anyone impress you? And where do you see this run ending?

Let us know your thoughts, external.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin told BBC Scotland: "Some parts of the game were quite good, in the first 30 minutes of the first half. We were quite stable for 60 or 70 minutes, but in the last part Hearts were a little better.

"When you're on this run that we have been on, and you get a penalty in the 93rd minute and it's saved, you have to be happy with the point.

"We have to be humble. We saw good signs today and this amazing save can be used as a positive to prepare us for the next game with more energy.

"We have to improve. Nothing changes what we're aiming for. We have to push more, to be more intense, but also balance the game with and without the ball.

"Some parts with the ball were much better than before, we control some areas much better. We need more players in the opponents' box. The chances were there but we need more players in and around the box."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

It's hard to pinpoint what's gone wrong at Aberdeen, but they look a shell of the side that were being talked about as title contenders.

Their performance rather epitomised their season. They started brilliantly and it looked like a matter of time until they scored in the first 10 minutes.

They piled pressure on a fragile-looking Hearts, who had a centre-back partnership that had never played together before. Topi Keskinen was particularly threatening, and will fall asleep thinking of his first-half miss and how he should have done better.

As soon as that trickled wide, Aberdeen's confidence and attacking intent evaporated.

There was plenty of fight and desire, shown most by captain Graeme Shinnie, but the plan was non-existent as they sat further and further back, allowing Hearts time on the ball.

The second-half was particularly poor, with the addition of Duk and Morris creating one chance each, neither of which troubled Craig Gordon.

Also worrying was that Sivert Heltne Nilsen - who conceded the late penalty - and Dante Polvara played the final half hour as a centre-back partnership. Debutant Kriters Tobers went off, possibly hurt, after an hour while Angus MacDonald was an unused option on the bench.

A first clean sheet in 13 games is undoubtedly a plus but it only came from the fingertips of Ross Doohan.

Image source, SNS

Graeme Shinnie. The captain gave it everything. His standout moment was a last-ditch block on Kenneth Vargas, when some of his teammates had resigned themselves to allowing a shot at goal.

Aberdeen have agreed a deal to sign versatile Brommapojkarna player Alexander Jensen, 23. (Tipsbladet - in Danish), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

Croatian midfielder Ante Palaversa has signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at Aberdeen until summer 2027.

The 24-year-old arrived in the north east last August and has scored two goals in 17 appearances.

"I'm really enjoying my time here at Aberdeen and am focused on continuing my development under the manager and the coaching staff," Palaversa said.

"I am determined to play my part in delivering success for this club."

Manager Jimmy Thelin has been delighted with the midfielder's progress.

"We can visibly see him taking more and more responsibility every single day. As he gets used to Scotland, the culture and the game in this country, we will see him growing even more as a player," he added.

"The coaching staff and I not only have a lot of belief in him now, but also the potential that he has to become an excellent player."

Image source, SNS

Hearts boss Neil Critchley admitted he's not paying too much attention to Aberdeen's awful form as the sides prepare to meet on Sunday.

The Dons have lost their past five games and haven't won in 10 matches - a run stretching back to the start of November.

"The fact they've not won in 10 makes me very wary," Critchley said. "I don't like those stats because eventually they will win at some point.

"They've got good players. Some of the results, if you look at some of the games, they've just not had a little bit of the rub of the green in some places. Those moments can go for you and go against you."

Hearts have gone through bad runs themselves this season - part of the reason why they currently sit 11th in the table.

Critchley's side lost four games in a row before the draw with Aberdeen at the start of December to stop the rot, and have won four out of nine since.

"We've seen that in some of our games. There's a fine line between winning and losing and they've just been on the wrong side of it a little bit," Critchley added.

"I think it will change for them at some point, just hopefully not on Sunday.

"We're in good form, we can go there confident and I don't think we've won there since 2016. That's about time we change that."

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen could hand debuts to Kristers Tobers and Jeppe Okkels after Gavin Molloy (shoulder) and Ester Sokler (hamstring) were told they face lengthy spells out.

Slobodan Rubezic is suspended, while Dimitar Mitov, Vicente Besuijen (knee), Jack Milne (ankle) and Pape Habib Gueye (quad) are still sidelined.

Hearts could hand a debut to Elton Kabangu after the Belgian striker was granted a work permit following his loan switch from Union Saint-Gilloise.

Lawrence Shankland (calf) is still out along with Gerald Taylor (knee), Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring), Stephen Kingsley (hamstring) and Frankie Kent (quad).

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen assistant coach Emir Bajrami has left the club.

The 36-year-old arrived at Pittodrie from Elfsborg last summer alongside manager Jimmy Thelin and fellow coach Christer Persson.

However, Bajrami has now departed for family reasons.

"The situation is very difficult and very unfortunate, but we totally understand and respect the decision Emir has had to make," Thelin said.

"We would all do the same in his position and we wish him, and his family, all the very best for the future.

"All of our focus at the moment is getting back to winning ways and strengthening the squad in the January window, and then we will look at the coaching situation when that period is over."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Latvia captain Kristers Tobers has described his move to Aberdeen as "a dream" and believes his game will suit the style of football under Jimmy Thelin.

The 24-year-old arrived at Pittodrie for an undisclosed fee from Swiss Super League side Grasshopper Club Zurich this week.

Tobers, who has signed a three-and-a-half year deal, admits experiencing British football has long been a desire of his.

"Everyone was saying it is my type of style," the defender said.

"How I play football as well and then somehow in my head it always stuck in my head that I want to be here.

"It is a dream for me, I always wanted to be in that kind of environment to play and how many people are coming to the games, it is amazing, you can see that everybody loves football here."

Tobers, who has 37 caps, could make his debut on Sunday when Aberdeen look for a first win in 11 games as Hearts visit Pittodrie.

"We want to change it together and I think that one win is all that we need to get back on the winning streak," he added.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premiership visit of Hearts.

Here are the key points:

• On the news Gavin Molloy and Ester Sokler face long spells out injured, Thelin says he is disappointed for the players and the team, adding "we need to find solutions".

• Striker Pape Habib Gueye, out injured since September, is "maybe two weeks away" from a return to action.

• Thelin believes January recruits Kristers Tobers and Jeppe Okkels will bring "new qualities, new energy in the team".

• On the potential for further signings: "We are working on things, lets see what the future holds."

• Amid their 10-game winless streak and five straight defeats, the manager says fourth-place Dons "are still in a good position whatever the run".

• Thelin admits "it is a challenging time" but everybody is trying. He adds that in terms of the bigger picture, when you change things sometimes there can be setbacks.

• On the challenge Hearts will pose, he says they are a good squad with good qualities.

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen defender Gavin Molloy will be out until May while striker Ester Sokler faces eight weeks on the sidelines, the club have confirmed.

Defender Molloy requires surgery on a shoulder injury sustained in the home loss to Ross County on 2 January.

Sokler was forced off early in that game with a hamstring injury.

"It's clearly a big disappointment for us to lose both Gavin and Ester for extended time periods," Dons boss Jimmy Thelin said.

"We will continue to work to find solutions to help ensure the squad remains competitive and everyone at the club wishes them both a speedy recovery."

When these sides last met at Pittodrie in October, Aberdeen were unbeaten and second in the league, while Hearts were bottom without a win.

How times have changed.

Jimmy Thelin's side are stuck in a winless rut, having gone 10 games without victory – including five defeats on the trot. They have slipped down to fourth.

After their latest defeat by Motherwell, where they also lost defender Slobodan Rubezic to a red card, the Swede conceded his side have "problems to solve".

They need to do so quickly if they are to avoid matching their worst losing streak of seven since December 2010.

Amid this slump, where they appear short of the confidence that developed through their 11-game unbeaten run at the start of the season, they have often given themselves an uphill battle, conceding the first goal in seven games since their last win.

While it makes for grim reading, the glimmer of hope is Hearts are in town. The Dons have not lost to Hearts at home in the Scottish Premiership since May 2017.

However, Neil Critchley's side are two from two in 2025 and are eyeing three league wins in a row for the first time since February last year.

On the back of arguably their best win under head coach Critchley against Dundee United on Sunday, the maroon mood music has changed for the better since the Boxing Day derby defeat by Hibernian.

At the heart of that has been James Penrice, who grabbed the crucial goal at Tannadice. The former Livingston man has been a bright spark in an often dull season for the Gorgie side.

If Hearts are to end their Pittodrie hoodoo on Sunday, the left-back will no doubt have a part to play.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks