Aberdeen

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Such is the rollercoaster nature of this season, Aberdeen find themselves in a real dogfight for the European places, having been clear in third spot.

After a blistering opening to the campaign, the Dons endured an alarming slide, before seemingly getting themselves back on track with back-to-back wins.

It looked like they would end the weekend in fifth place until Nisbet's late intervention.

The team that prevails in the race to be best of the rest, will need grit, determination and character – as well as a dusting of quality.

We will find out if Aberdeen have the characteristics needed to get them over the line, in the coming weeks.

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Kevin Nisbet. The one-time Scotland striker is doing his best to get back into Steve Clarke's thinking.

He looked a little quiet for large parts, before dragging the Dons back almost single-handedly to earn a point.

Two proper striker's finishes as well.

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Shayden Morris believes Aberdeen are "dealing well" with the pressure of holding onto third sport in the Scottish Premiership.

The Dons sit one point above Sunday's opponents Dundee United, and the 23-year-old forward is hopeful that the home support can inspire an important victory.

"We're looking forward to the game, we know how big the occasion is," said Morris.

"They're close to us in the table, we've played them twice this season and both have been really close games with late winners as well.

"They're doing well this season, they've got a good coach in Jim Goodwin.

"United are a good team, we respect them highly, but being at home, that's a big advantage for us to have the fans behind us like they have been recently.

"I feel like it's a good type of pressure, we're a big team in Scotland, so we want to be in third place. We know that there are other good teams so we're not expecting it to be a massive gap.

"We're dealing with that pressure well and just trying to take every game as it comes.

"We know that from now to the end of the season, every game is a cup final for us, every game we go into is going to be full guns blazing from now on."

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Aberdeen defender Kristers Tobers will be assessed. Ester Sokler (hamstring), Dante Polvara (leg) and Jack Milne (ankle) are back training while Vicente Besuijen (knee), Jamie McGrath, Gavin Molloy (both shoulder) remain out.

Ross Docherty (thigh) and Louis Moult (calf) are still missing for Dundee United. Will Ferry limped off along with Luca Stephenson against Hibernian on Wednesday night and will be assessed.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin is unflustered about failing to retain Hibs-bound Jamie McGrath after talks over extending his Pittodrie stay failed to "find a solution".

The Republic of Ireland midfielder, whose injury means he has played his last game for the Dons, has signed a pre-contract to move to Easter Road in the summer on a deal until 2029.

Aberdeen confirmed McGrath was happy to remain at the Pittodrie, "but we were not prepared to offer him a four-year extension".

Thelin, speaking before Sunday's visit of Dundee United, said: "We have a good dialogue. It was a discussion about the contract - he was happy to stay but we didn't find a solution.

"He chose another thing for his future and we focus on our future.

"He has behaved really well and is a good player, but sometimes in this sport people go other directions. That's what it is."

Thelin is welcoming the pressure of the five remaining pre-split fixtures as his side aim to secure a top-six spot.

The Dons are third on 41 points, seven clear of St Mirren in seventh before Sunday's match against fifth-place Dundee United, who sit one point back.

"Every game now we have teams that are also quite close," Thelin said. "It's an open race. We know what we need to do and every game is so, so important.

"That's also good - the pressure is there; you have to be sharp every week. We play at home, there's going to be a lot of fans there, a lot of emotions. It's going to be a really good Sunday I hope."

Andrew Southwick
BBC Sport Scotland

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been talking in the build-up to Sunday's Scottish Premiership match against Dundee United.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• On Jamie McGrath agreeing to join Hibs at the end of the season, Thelin insists the Republic of Ireland midfielder was happy to stay but could not "find a solution". Thelin described McGrath as a "good player" but "it is what it is".

• Thelin feels there are positives to take from the 5-1 loss at Celtic Park last time out, but says they have to defend better.

• The Swede says the past four or five games show the Dons "are more stable and more clear" after ending the their long winless run. His players can feel the competition for places which has made training more intense.

• With just five matches until the split, Thelin stressed that "every game now is so important", and "the pressure is there". He is hoping for a "really good Sunday" at Pittodrie.

• Thelin says more consistency is needed but the players "have been doing an amazing job" and are ready for the last part of the season.

• Team news: Dimitar Mitov and Kristers Tobers are available, but it's still too early for Ester Sokler, Jack Milne and Dante Polvara.

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• Aberdeen have only lost one of their past 15 home league games against Dundee United (W8 D6), and are unbeaten in their past seven (W5 D2) since a 3-0 reverse in August 2014.

• After their 1-0 win in December, United could enjoy back-to-back league victories over Aberdeen for the first time since November 2008 under Craig Levein.

• Since Christmas, no side has lost more games (eight) or scored fewer goals (five) in the Scottish Premiership than Aberdeen.

• United have lost their past two away league games by an aggregate score of 4-0; not since January 2021 have they suffered three successive away defeats without scoring in the Scottish Premiership.

• After their 3-1 defeat to Hibernian last time out, United have lost 16 points from winning positions in the Scottish Premiership this season, with only Dundee (20) and Hibernian (18) dropping more. Conversely, only Hibs (13) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more points from losing positions in the division this term than the Tangerines (11).

Aberdeen will continue to play out from the back, despite Tuesday's 5-1 defeat at Celtic Park, insists defender Kristers Tobers. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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Mats Knoester believes Aberdeen's "brave" attacking approach at Celtic Park yielded positives despite the 5-1 defeat.

The Dons' run of three straight wins shuddered to a halt as they paid for profligacy in front of goal, with substitute Shayden Morris' late consolation all they had to show for their efforts.

However, Dutch defender Knoester, who signed in January from Ferencvaros, is remaing upbeat and said: "I do think it's a better thing to stick to your way of playing because we still created.

"I hadn't played there before, of course, but we had quite a few chances and I've heard that it's not easy there.

"A lot of opponents just sit back and they still lose, so I think it's much better to try and be brave and stick to your way of playing football.

"The difference is if we could punish them in the beginning, that can be the difference to turning a game around.

"It's hard to speak about positive things, but I do think if you look at the bigger picture, we had some big opportunities to score a goal at the beginning.

"The biggest difference was they are so clinical.And I think that was basically the story of the first half, that every chance was a goal and we weren't clinical enough. Also sometimes we missed maybe a little bit of smartness, like making a foul, taking the speed out of the game.

"But I think we have to take our lesson out of it and not be too negative, even though it was a big loss. I think we could we can still take positives."

Aberdeen face Dundee United this weekend and Knoester acknowledged the magnitude of a game against a side vying with them for third spot,

He said: "It's a big game. If we win that, you don't forget about this (Celtic) game, but at least we can turn it into positive again.

"So if the result is good this weekend, I think we can say that we took our lesson."

Aberdeen were only willing to offer Jamie McGrath a new three-year contract, but the 28-year-old Republic of Ireland midfielder will head to Scottish Premiership rivals Hibs this summer after the Leith club landed him with an extra 12 months on the table. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

"If you come for the king, you best not miss." That quote, from award-winning TV show The Wire, was apt when reviewing Aberdeen's latest game against Celtic.

The Dons had numerous opportunities to score at Parkhead but failed to take those that came at the crucial moments in the match, with Shayden Morris' late goal barely denting what was another ultimately embarrassing defeat in Glasgow.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Celtic were utterly ruthless up the other end. But having watched a lot of both teams this season, this was not a vintage performance from the champions, who were unusually careless in that first half in particular, yet still strolled in at the break 3-0 up.

Oday Dabbagh, Kevin Nisbet and Jeppe Okkels all spurned huge chances and the major frustration for Jimmy Thelin will be two-fold: It was a lesson against profligacy and a reminder there remains work to do at the back.

To get a result at Celtic Park requires lots of facets of the game to go your way, as Aberdeen experienced the last time they were there in October, but the Dons boss will be disappointed with the manner that most of the goals were conceded.

It was actually a positive performance in many ways by Aberdeen. They have played worse at Parkhead and not conceded five times.

However, it is now 29 games against Celtic without a victory. Before this sequence, the longest Aberdeen had waited for win over them was 18. It also leaves their aggregate scoreline from four visits to Glasgow this season at 16-3.

In truth, the fixture came at the worst possible time given the Dons had looked as though they were beginning to get a foothold on their season again after 14 league games without a victory. Sunday's clash with Dundee United at Pittodrie is probably their biggest Premiership game of the campaign with the split looming into view.

Unfortunately, Aberdeen's battle, like nine other top-flight clubs, is not with Celtic and to a certain extent, matches in Glasgow's east end can be written off in that regard.

But Thelin will be hoping the result does not have an adverse effect on the next few weeks of what has been one of the strangest seasons in the club's history and with so much still in play.

We asked for your thoughts on Aberdeen's 5-1 defat at Premiership leaders Celtic.

Here's what some of you said:

Justin: Thoughts of what could have been.. too many missed chances, poor set-pieces, simple mistakes and slightly unlucky. 5-1 was a little flattering for Celtic but that's how it goes at Parkhead. Hopefully it doesn't derail our recent progress.

Marco: I feel sorry for Ross Doohan. Despite the dreadful winless run, his form had been solid. But he let in a few easy goals and that set the tone for a heavy defeat. Aberdeen played well, fluid in transitions and showed fight. Hopefully the boys can move on quickly, get this one out of their heads and regroup for Dundee United.

Fred: An off-form Celtic but still far too strong for us. We still cannot score consistently and our defence still cannot defend even after the injection of the new players. Unfortunately our midfield was weak and far too slow. Our manager still seems unable to vary tactics when the team is struggling.

Andy: A sobering wake-up call (yet again) from Celtic. They were ruthless in front of goal, Aberdeen were toothless. Five decent chances passed up.

Joe: Scottish football 0-1 Celtic. If we're not already used to it, this is the state of Celtic's utter dominance of Scottish league football. No team will take many points from them if any. It's not about results in these game it's about performance and last night was a decent performance. The results that count come outwith the Old Firm, ie at United.

Malky: It's embarrassing seeing people write that our season isn't defined in games like this. If you have any aspirations of being a successful team, these are exactly the type of games that will determine a successful season. The weak mentality continues against Celtic. Zero belief in either box. Dundee United on Sunday becomes huge, a must win.

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• Celtic have scored in each of their last nine games in the Premiership, scoring 30 goals in that run.

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

• Alistair Johnston has assisted seven goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no player has more.

• Daizen Maeda has scored 11 goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other Celtic player.

• Aberdeen have scored 12 goals via substitutes in the Premiership this season, only Celtic (17) have scored more.

Aberdeen created a string of first-half chances but fell to a heavy defeat in Glasgow.

Dons fans, what did you make of your team's display? What more would you like to see in Sunday's huge showdown with Dundee United?

Send us your thoughts here., external

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On a bleak night for Aberdeen, there were few stand-out performers.

Shayden Morris brought directness off the bench, blowing one big chance when he tore away from Auston Trusty, and polishing off another after bamboozling Liam Scales late in the game.

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Winning at Celtic Park requires defensive solidity and a killer instinct up front and Aberdeen, ambitious and full of positive intent as they were, delivered neither.

Jimmy Thelin pledged to be true to his side's tactical identity, and there was little change to the aggressive blueprint which saw his team keep pace with the Glasgow juggernaut early in the season, and record a belligerent 2-2 draw here.

What was missing, was Aberdeen's bloodlust in the Celtic box.

Oday Dabbagh's lack of conviction in pursuing his early chance. Kevin Nisbet's miscue when presented with an open goal from 20 yards out, Shayden Morris' powderpuff effort when one-on-one with Kasper Schmeichel told the tale of a profligate evening.

Corners failed to beat the first man. Promising positions were frittered away. And when possession was surrendered, Aberdeen were left desperately exposed, notably for Celtic's second goal.

They simply got too much wrong, at too unforgiving a venue.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Alexander Jensen says he is still adjusting to the intensity of Scottish football and has plenty of room for improvement despite an impressive start to his Aberdeen career.

The Danish full-back, 23, has edged Scotland cap Nicky Devlin on to the bench and started the Dons' past six games after arriving from Swedish side IF Brommapojkarna on a four-year deal in January.

"I think everyone around the team has been making it very easy for me to settle here and have helped me a lot," said Jensen.

"It is very different to Swedish football, more intense and duels, I still have to get used to that. I think there are still a lot of things I can improve and the team can improve as well."

Jensen has been key to the Dons' recent upturn in fortunes, with three successive wins in all competitions before Tuesday night's trip to face Celtic.

"First of all it was to play at Pittodrie which I enjoy so much, crazy fans and crazy atmosphere there, but of course it is a great game and a big game so I am looking forward to that as well," he added.

"Every day I feel it is coming as a team and it is coming how we want to play. Everybody is on the same pattern so it is coming on and off the pitch."