Aberdeen

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

After an incredible slump in form appeared to have been arrested, many were asking if Aberdeen had turned a corner.

On the basis of this, the answer would appear to be yes.

When they were seemingly untouchable earlier in the campaign, a hallmark of Thelin's side was an ability to find a way of winning games. They look to have rediscovered that quality once again.

Aberdeen were relatively comfortable against Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup a couple of weeks ago, then hung on to win at Dundee in the league. On Saturday, they got the job done once again.

This season could go down as one of the more bizarre in the club's history given the remarkable rollercoaster nature of their form.

But if they are now back on the right track, there is every chance it could be one which could still yield plenty.

Scotland and Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie is on the radar of Crystal Palace and any transfer would net former club Aberdeen a sell-on fee. (Press & Journal), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen defender Kristers Tobers admits there was a sense of relief after they ended their winless league run, but says they are not satisfied with just one victory.

The Dons were 2-1 winners at Dundee last time out, their first Premiership triumph since early November - a result that lifted them up to third in the table.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's visit of Kilmarnock, Tobers was asked what the mood has been like around the place following the win at Dens Park.

"Of course positive," he said. "The guys are happy.

"We are going to build from that. It was really important and a relief for a lot of players. Important we got three points and now we keep building on that and hopefully it is going to be a positive result tomorrow as well."

Latvia captain Tobers arrived at Pittodrie early in the January transfer window in the middle of the winless streak, and says the mood in camp has always been upbeat despite on-field issues.

"It has always been positive, everybody understood we cannot be negative before going to the game," he said. "Everybody needs to look forward even if it is a hard situation. Everybody was positive still and looking forward to a game to break the not winning streak.

"We got the cup win (against Dunfermline) as well but we were missing that win in the [league] so that helped us to boost our confidence even more."

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Aberdeen are still without Jamie McGrath, Gavin Molloy (both shoulder), Ester Sokler (hamstring), Dante Polvara (leg), Vicente Besuijen (knee) and Jack Milne (ankle).

Kilmarnock captain Kyle Vassell and defender Stuart Findlay (both ankle) remain out but both are back running. Midfielder Kyle Magennis had a scan on his knee and it proved clear.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin says the decision over who starts in goal against Kilmarnock on Saturday highlights the quality he has at his disposal right throughout the squad.

First-choice keeper Dimitar Mitov is back from injury, but was on the bench during their win at Dundee last time out, with Ross Doohan continuing between the sticks.

With Doohan doing well in Mitov's absence, Thelin was asked how tough a choice it is as to who gets the nod.

"The competition is healthy," the Swedish manager said. "We have good players - that is what you need because it is a long season. It is not a dilemma, it is only positive that we have a strong competition in the goalkeeper position, everywhere on the pitch.

"It is important for everyone to stay sharp and keep that hunger all the time. We are always going to choose the team we think is the best chance to start the game to give us the result."

The victory at Dens Park last weekend saw Aberdeen end a 14-game winless run in the league, and lift them up to third in the Premiership table.

Despite that difficult run, Thelin says goals never shifted from the start of the season.

"Nothing has changed," he said. "We are trying to arrive in Europe next season and that is what we are still working for. In the long term we are trying to be a stable team in Europe.

"We have a lot of things to improve but we are still in the race and still in the competition, there are still many games left.

"When you have this run we have, we know it is tough. So far we are there and we have to keep pushing for that."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premiership match against Kilmarnock.

Here is the best of what he said:

• On whether the Dons have now turned a corner after back-to-back wins, he said "the team is performing a little bit more stable", but notes that there are still areas where they can improve.

• He insists the "drive was always there" even when results were going against his side.

• With Dimitar Mitov back fit and Ross Doohan performing well, Thelin was asked how big a dilemma he faces now over who starts in goal – he said he doesn't see it as a dilemma, stressing how good it is to have real competition all round the squad.

• He added that the new signings have raised the levels in the squad.

• Now the Dons are back up to third in the table, the manager was asked about the challenge of staying there – he said their objective to qualify for European competition hasn't changed since the start of the season, saying they are "still in the race".

• On the challenge of Kilmarnock – Thelin said he is expecting a "tough game" against "a good team".

• Team News: Ester Sokler, Dante Polvara and Jack Milne are back training with the squad, but are still a couple of weeks away from playing. Gavin Molloy and Jamie McGrath remain out.

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• Aberdeen have won six of their last seven home league games against Kilmarnock, losing the other 1-0 in December 2023.

• Kilmarnock have won four of their last five league meetings with Aberdeen (L1), as many as their previous 38 beforehand (W4 D8 L26).

• Aberdeen's 2-1 win at Dundee last time out ended their 14-game winless run in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L10). Before that winless run, the Dons were unbeaten in 20 league games (W16 D4), and before that streak, they were winless in 11 (D5 L6).

• Kilmarnock have won both of their last two league games, last winning three in a row within a single season in the Scottish Premiership in October 2020 under Alex Dyer.

• Kilmarnock have seen more goals scored by teenagers (excl. own goals) in the Scottish Premiership this season (6) than any other club. 19-year-old Bobby Wales has scored in two of Killie's last three league games.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

The sense of relief from the Aberdeen supporters was palpable from the top of Dundee Law all the way down to the Tay as the Dons won a league game for the first time in three months at Dens Park.

Topi Keskinen's decisive goal was worthy of winning any match, anywhere. The huge visiting support in the Bob Shankly stand had a perfect view of it, too, as the Finn's rocket whistled past Jon McCracken in the Dundee goal. In that moment of quality you could see why the Aberdeen board sanctioned the big transfer fee to land Keskinen in the summer.

Jimmy Thelin will hope that the long-awaited victory kick-starts their Premiership season with a visit from Kilmarnock to come on Saturday.

There were plenty positives for the manager to take from the win with winter arrivals Alexander Jensen, Mats Knoester and Kristers Tobers all impressing as the Dons stopped their record-breaking winless league streak at 14.

Throughout the storm that had engulfed the club during those 14 matches, Thelin has remained calm both on the touchline and in front of the microphones and he will personally be relieved that things appear to be moving in the right direction again having sealed a place in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals the previous Sunday.

The team has also recorded successive wins for the first time since beating Dundee United and Rangers in the halcyon days of October.

It is quite remarkable, that, despite the 99-day wait for a Premiership victory, Aberdeen emerged from the weekend in third place and with it all to play for.

There are seven games to go until the split with nine teams realistically fighting it out for the four places in the top half that remain available and the Dons' face four of the current bottom six in the lead up to the 33-game mark.

The Dons' fans have been riding the rollercoaster all season and it shows no signs of slowing down just yet.

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Giant-killers Queen's Park's trip to Aberdeen in next month's Scottish Cup quarter-finals will be televised live on BBC One Scotland.

The Scottish Championship side stunned top-flight Rangers in the last round and will aim to back up their shock win at Ibrox when they travel to Pittodrie on Saturday, 8 March.

Callum Davidson's side will kick off against Jimmy Thelin's Premiership outfit at 12:30 GMT on BBC One Scotland and BBC iPlayer.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

It may have taken 14 winless league games, but Aberdeen have finally gotten there.

A 2-1 victory over Dundee has ended the wait for victory.

Topi Keskinen slammed in a goal of the season contender, and Kevin Nisbet looked in the mood for more.

Are things finally clicking into gear once again for Jimmy Thelin's charges? The manager stuck with the team who secured victory over Dunfermline and they repaid the faith shown in them.

I spoke last week about how I wanted this team to show they meant business.

On Saturday, they certainly showed they did and results elsewhere saw us leap back into third place. Impressive given how long we have waited for a win! More importantly, it means the race for third is back in our own hands.

The centre-back pairing of Kristers Tobers and Mats Knoester looks to be what we have longed for - steady, assured, and blocking everything a team throws at them.

Ante Palaversa and Sivert Heltne Nilsen have started three games in midfield together in 2025, and we've won them all! Coincidence?...

Up top, Nisbet looks a different player. Perhaps he's been aided by the competition brought in by Oday Dabbagh, who himself looked sharp off the bench against Dundee.

With a positive result alongside a fairly positive performance, the Red Army have lots to smile about this week.

Let's hope we make it a hat-trick of victories this weekend over Kilmarnock.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin believes Scotland forward Kevin Nisbet is getting "sharper and sharper". (Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

The Sportscene panel discuss the potential shirt pull on Antonio Portales in the build up to Aberdeen's opening goal against Dundee on Saturday.

Scotland forward Kevin Nisbet, 27, is ready to show his best at Aberdeen after netting goals in successive games in the Dons' return to winning ways. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

Sportscene's Steven Thompson, Neil McCann and James McFadden review Topi Keskinen's impressive strike for Aberdeen against Dundee (UK only).

Aberdeen beat Dundee 2-1 at Dens Park to end their 14-game winless run in the Premiership. (UK users only)

Aberdeen fans, we asked for your views on the victory over Dundee which ended the Dons' 14-game Premiership winless streak.

Here's what some of you said:

Richard: While we can appreciate a couple of wins on the bounce, I remain unconvinced we are ready for tough opposition. Great performances by Ante Palaversa, Topi Keskinen and some of the new recruits but I fear that the level of opposition in the past two games is creating something of a false dawn. The rate of improvement is good, but needs to continue.

John: Good win. The players who came in the January window look a lot better than the ones they replaced. Dundee were the better team but we will take three points and move on. Jimmy Thelin can't play the two old men in midfield together, the legs have gone and why doesn't Shayden Morris get a start? Onwards and upwards.

Eric: A dogged, determined display by the team, however we won't survive that kind of onslaught on a weekly basis. You can't defend in your 18-yard box alone and the midfield need to cut off these opportunities long before they arrive. Good to see goals from the strikers, though not sure on the combination up front. A great confidence booster overall.

John: Well a win was certainly needed and the team dug in to get a result which takes a bit of pressure of the management team and the players. We still looked disorganised defensively and pretty messy at times.

John: Feels like the beginning of a new era. Duk, Slobodan Rubezic, Graeme Shinnie and Leighton Clarkson being quietly discarded while Jimmy Thelin stamps his authority on the club with signings that fit his style of play. Third in the league with a third of the season still to play. Crisis, what crisis?

John: At last a glimmer of hope. Mats Knoester did well and Richard Jensen is looking very promising, might be worth swapping him with Sivert Nilsen in the centre. Several good balls into space where a striker should have been, but wasn't. Would have liked to see Oday Dabbagh replace Kevin Nisbet for the last 20 minutes. More determination and effort was a positive.

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• Dundee attempted 22 shots in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

• Josh Mulligan has assisted five goals in the Premiership this season, more than any other Dundee player.

• Dundee have conceded 24 first-half goals in 26 games, no team has conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• Kevin Nisbet and Topi Keskinen scored their fifth goals of the Premiership this season, no Aberdeen player has more.

• Aberdeen have a record of W10, D1, L1 when scoring the opening goal in the Premiership this season.

• Aberdeen are unbeaten in their past eight Premiership matches when leading at half-time (W7, D1) dating back to 2 March 2024 against St Mirren (L 2-1).

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Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin was pleased for the huge travelling support as his team ended a 14-game winless run in the Scottish Premiership by sinking Dundee.

"I can see the faces of the players, the happy faces of the fans who supported us in struggling times and good times," Thelin told BBC Scotland.

"We put a smile on their faces with how the team competed and helped each other on the pitch. We had some difficult situations but the players defended together and sacrificed themselves.

"It's important for us to refocus now on the next game but take some good points from this game and the cup game. We are playing better together."

Aberdeen fans, how are you feeling after your team ended a 15-game wait for league victory?

Give us your thoughts on Saturday's win over Dundee using this link., external

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Topi Keskinen's stunning goal will attract the social media clicks - and rightly so - but Ante Palaversa was a dominant presence for Aberdeen during their long-awaited win.

The midfielder put in several teasing deliveries and provided touches of class in a chaotic central chunk of the pitch.

Jeppe Okkels' caught the eye, while Kristers Tobers looks an influential addition to Jimmy Thelin's defence.