Aberdeen

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Aberdeen showed excellent battling qualities to come from two goals down and rescue a point against Dundee Utd on Sunday.

A month or so ago such an act of escapology may have been beyond them so in that regard there was tangible proof there is something of a spark there.

However, it was yet another poor start to a game. Aberdeen's first-half performances have been a problem all season, even when they were rampaging through that scarcely believable first quarter of the season.

With the exception of the win over Rangers at the end of October, when they should have been out of sight by half-time, they have been way too slow out of the traps.

It was the same story on Sunday as they found themselves in a hole at the break and once again Jimmy Thelin had to make changes before the second 45 got under way, with Jeppe Okkels and Jack MacKenzie sacrificed.

What we saw in the second half was a determined performance yet the Dons need to find a way of starting games in that manner. A lot of the play in that first half was too ponderous with the forward players taking too many touches when shots at goal were on.

The goals conceded were extremely cheap, which has been another constant throughout the winter months. It could prove to be an important point, but equally it could prove to be a costly two dropped although the Dons fans would have taken a draw as the match ticked into stoppage time.

And so attention returns to the Scottish Cup and a visit from Rangers' conquerors Queen's Park.

Aberdeen know all about the Championship side's qualities having faced them in the League Cup group stage and although they won that one, they were reliant on a late debut goal from Topi Keskinen.

However, it is a home tie against lower-league opposition and Thelin has an enormous opportunity to take the club back to Hampden as they look to end three-and-a-half decades of pain and misery in the tournament.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

The Dons don't do it the easy way.

Aberdeen came from behind to snatch a vital point at home to Dundee United, and the man to thank for that comeback makes my team of the week.

There's been question marks over Kevin Nisbet's contribution at times this season, but he proved his worth with two huge goals to grab an important draw for Aberdeen against Dundee United. He has a great instinct for goalscoring.

We asked for your views after came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

John: A great point. Whatever Jimmy said to them at half-time certainly worked, a team of two halves. Nisbet is looking sharper every game. We know what we have to do, win every game until the split and then take it from there. Great crowd and atmosphere on Sunday, long may it continue.

Mark: Great strength of character by Aberdeen. If the team stop conceding soft goals, more wins will start to happen. Thank goodness the days of negative Goodwin football are gone for us!

Mike: We're still a long way from the finished article, lots of possession but not much end product. To be honest, we're nowhere near the third best team so any European place would be good from here. All in all, a thoroughly disappointing season after our start.

William: Teams don't have to work particularly hard to score against this Aberdeen team. We were worth a point on second half effort but had we started the game this way, we wouldn't have been chasing it. Once again we've assembled a squad of good individuals that can't play as a team.

Paul: Very lucky to get a draw. The whole team looked disinterested for most of the game. My patience with Thelin has all but gone. Its now his team, yet he still persists with players who aren't performing week in, week out. Clueless manager, clueless players, roll on the end of another rubbish season.

Eilidh: Jimmy Thelin is the man for Aberdeen but his favouritism for certain players is his downfall. Jeppe Okkels nowhere near good enough to be starting, he also makes Topi Keskinen weaker by being on the left. Shadyen Morris deserves to start over him. All our games up until the split are must win now.

Image source, SNS

• Aberdeen have scored in each of their last four games in the Premiership, scoring six goals in that run.

• Kevin Nisbet has now scored five goals in nine appearances in the Premiership against Dundee United.

• Dundee United have lost 18 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (20) have lost more.

• Samuel Dalby has scored 13 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other player.

Watch highlights as Aberdeen came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

Manager Jimmy Thelin told his players to lean on how Pittodrie can make "fans and players come together" to inspire Aberdeen's comeback against Dundee United. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

Kevin Nisbet struck in stoppage time as Aberdeen came from 2-0 down to earn a point at home to Dundee United.

Nisbet has struggled at times during his loan from Millwall but his first effort set up a grandstand finish, and his fourth goal in five games ensured the points were shared.

What did you think of that, Aberdeen fans? Was a point deserved? Who impressed you?

Let us know your thoughts here, external.

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin told BBC Scotland: "Performance wise, maybe we're not happy with the result. But football is football.

"We started well, but they score and we have to do better in how we defend. It is difficult to be 2-0 down at home at half-time in a really important game.

"But, the belief and the character of the players - and supporters who pushed us until the last second - I'm so proud of that. That atmosphere will be the difference at the end of the season.

"It was important that we didn't lose today and we tried to win. We have to fix some parts and do better but the way we attacked them in the second half was really strong.

"We started quite well but then they score and some stresses come in. The second half we had more players in the box, we were more direct. The players who came on brought a lot of quality.

"I like to see players who, during the season, get better and better. They grow on the training pitch and in the gym. They grow more important on the pitch. Kevin will be an important asset for us now he's showing good form."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

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.

Image source, SNS

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.

Image source, SNS

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.

Image source, SNS

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.

Image source, SNS

• 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

Image source, SNS

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.