Aberdeen

A huge result for the Dons.

Were you at Aberdeen's 2-1 win over Ross County or following the match from home?

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

Aberdeen caretaker manager Peter Leven tells BBC Scotland: "I thought we started really well. We scored a good goal, but then Ross County came back into it and we were a little disjointed. But our reaction second half was really good.

"I thought we were going to score more goals. But, credit to Ross County, they caused us problems. Again, we showed character. The subs were great when they came on - Duk and Dante.

"To get three points - at home, where we have not been great this season - full credit to the boys for finding a way to win."

Image source, SNS

Cam Wanstall
BBC Sport Scotland

Aberdeen caretaker Peter Leven picked up his second win in three games, but there was little to celebrate about the home side's overall performance.

His team were booed off the Pittodrie park at half-time and there is no wonder why, as Bojan Miovski's early opener was handed to them on a plate before a poor 40 minutes of football followed.

Staying in the game is all Leven could have hoped for as Aberdeen weathered the storm and kept themselves in it until Jamie McGrath popped up to direct home the winner.

Aberdeen attacker Jamie McGrath consistently led attacks despite his side's poor attacking showing, before grabbing the crucial winner late on.

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Caretaker manager Peter Leven makes one change to the Aberdeen side that defeated Motherwell before the international break.

With Slobodan Rubezic still out, Finnish defender Richard Jensen replaces Angus MacDonald at centre-back.

Aberdeen: Roos, Devlin, Gartenmann, Jensen, MacKenzie, Barron, Shinnie, McGarth, Clarkson, Hoilett, Miovski.

Substitutes: Doohan, Duk, McGarry, Hayes, Sokler, Morris, Polvara, Duncan, Milne.

Ross County: Wickens, Efete, Baldwin, Leak, Ayina, Randall, Loturi, Reid, Dhanda, Sims, Murray.

Substitutes: Ross, Borthwick-Jackson, Brown, Sheaf, Harmon, Henderson, Khela, White, Brophy.

Captain Graeme Shinnie says any player unable to handle the pressure of playing for Aberdeen should not be at the club. (Press & Journal)

Caretaker boss Peter Leven reckons any manager would be "crazy" to turn down the manager's job at "sleeping giant" Aberdeen. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Saturday's gossip.

Defender Slobodan Rubezic is Aberdeen's only absentee.

Scott Allardice, Dylan Smith and Will Nightingale have been long-term absentees for Ross County.

Aberdeen fan Glen Schreuder discusses Alan Burrows' managerial search update.

Listen in full on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

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Aberdeen caretaker manager Peter Leven says he wants his players to take a pressure-free mindset into Saturday's vital Scottish Premiership visit of Ross County.

The Dons are just three points above 11th-placed County, who currently occupy the relegation play-off spot.

When asked about handling the pressure going into such a big game, Leven said: "I try and take the pressure off them. I think when you get pressure it blurs your football vision and we have got very good football players in this team and I think they have got to bring that tomorrow.

"Of course it is a big game. Ross County are right behind us, but also we are looking up as well. We got a great three points against Motherwell in the last game, so we have just got to keep that momentum going."

Leven will again take charge of the team while the Pittodrie hierarchy continue their search for a permanent manager.

He insists the players remain laser focused on the job in hand, despite all the speculation whirring around in the background.

"They know their job," Leven added. "Their job is to win football matches and it is our job as staff and coaches to prepare them well to get that result.

"I am just focused on Saturday, then we will see what happens next week."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

Aberdeen caretaker manager Peter Leven has been speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s crucial Scottish Premiership visit of Ross County.

Here are his main points:

• Asked if he had still expected to be in charge of the team at this stage he said: "It is football, things can happen, so you have just got to plan for the unexpected."

• On whether all the speculation has made it difficult for the players to focus on the game: "Not at all, they know their job, their job is to win football matches and it is our job as staff and coaches to prepare them well to get that result."

• Leven said he has been given no indication how long he will continue as caretaker manager for, adding: "I am just focused on Saturday, then we will see what happens next week."

• Ahead of big games he talked about him trying to take the pressure off the players, saying: "I think when you get pressure it blurs your football vision."

• Says it is a huge game but added "every game is massive" at Aberdeen.

• He is expecting a tough match against County, but says his team are feeling good going into it and are looking build some momentum after beating Motherwell last time out.

• Team news: ‘Everybody is good.’

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We asked for your thoughts on whether Aberdeen will get their managerial appointment right, after Alan Burrows' statement regarding the club's ongoing hunt for a new manager.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Jimibub: In a word, no. The board (Dave Cormack) have demonstrated they are not able to appoint a suitable manager, and/or they have a culture at the club that is unsuitable for success. This is evidenced by all our recent managers failing miserably, and only interims showing glimmers of hope. Even Derek McInnes' performance was deteriorating at the end.

Andy: Based on their performance up to now, it is far from certain whether the Aberdeen board will get this appointment right. Cormack's judgement has proven to be very poor and I see no reason why this should change. It's a lottery.

Sandy: Looks like nobody wants the job. How many have said 'no thanks'? We will end up with someone desperate for a job and we will end up with another dead-end manager.

Ross: It's been a bit of a mess since Barry Robson's departure, and Cormack's reign as a whole has been too. Neil Warnock clearly thought it would be a cakewalk and ultimately didn't last. The next appointment needs to be a long-term appointment, but with false promises and candidates seemingly pulling out last minute, it doesn't look promising.

Alison: It's an absolute must that we get it right this time. We need stability because all these changes that have been happening over the past few years have been unsettling for the players and the fans. The people at the top are supposed to get it right, but the board have been a shambles with the decisions they have made. They owe the fans to get it right.

Scott: Clearly we were lied to when they said the search was at an advanced stage when Warnock left - doubt they had even started. At this point they better be unveiling a huge name or it will be ridiculous.

Andrew: The players have not blended well. They struggle to attack or defend and there is no cohesion. We need a manager who can resolve that first, then alter and improve the squad later.

Christopher: As much as it has been frustrating waiting for a new appointment to be announced from the club, I would prefer they take their time and don't mess this one up. With it being almost April and where we are situated in the league, we are on a knife edge. Any bad decision now will more than likely seal our fate.

Chris: Burrows' statement didn’t fill me with confidence in the sense they’ve clearly not fully sold their vision to their first choice target. However, it does confirm that the appointment won’t be one of the usual suspects out of a job. Genuinely feared a meltdown if Neil Lennon had landed it given his Hibs exit and the general circus around him.

"It hurts me quite a bit to watch the way Aberdeen defend," says former Pittodrie captain Willie Miller, who worries his old club "don't have a plan" for the possibility of a relegation play-off. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, BBC Sport

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• Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski has been directly involved in five goals in two league appearances against Ross County this season (three goals and two assists) with no player contributing to more against a single opponent in the Scottish Premiership this term (Simon Murray against Livingston and James Tavernier against St. Johnstone – both also five).

• Ross County have won eight points from their last five matches in the top-flight (W2 D2 L1), the same tally as they managed across their previous 12 league games (W2 D2 L8).

• Aberdeen are winless in each of their last six home league games (D4 L2), last going longer at Pittodrie without victory in the league between October 2002 and February 2003 (nine games).

• Ross County lost their previous away game against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership earlier this season 4-0 and could lose two away matches against the Dons in the same league campaign for the first time since 2016-17, when the first such defeat was also by a 4-0 scoreline.

• Aberdeen are unbeaten in their last five top-flight meetings with Ross County (W3 D2), keeping four clean sheets in a row and winning each of their last three league games against the Staggies.

Aberdeen supporter Darren Abel discusses whether Scottish football does enough for all fans, on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

Aberdeen fans, what did you make of Alan Burrows' statement regarding the club's ongoing hunt for a new manager? And do you trust the club's board to get this one right?

Have your say here.

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Aberdeen chief executive Alan Burrows says a managerial appointment during the international break is "unlikely", but remains hopeful they can unveil their top target "very soon".

In the statement announcing Neil Warnock's departure, chairman Dave Cormack said the Dons were at "an advanced stage" in their search to replace the Englishman, but nearly three weeks later, Peter Leven remains in interim charge.

"The search for a manager is ongoing," Burrows said. "I would like to think it's entering the final stages.

"Obviously we said a couple of weeks ago we'd like to appoint during the international break; that looks unlikely.

"It's important we get this right rather than quick. The key focus for us is that the appointment is the right one long-term for Aberdeen.

"We're hopeful the person we've earmarked and identified is someone we can appoint very soon.

"While I accept this process has been longer than anyone would anticipate, I would like to reassure everyone that nothing has dropped in our desire to get this appointment right."

Aberdeen return to action following the international break by welcoming Ross County in a huge match on Saturday.

Who should caretaker boss Peter Leven include in his XI? Pick your team here.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland

Despite the impact Saturday’s match at Ibrox may or may not have on both the title race and top-six jostling, there is little doubt that match of the day is at Pittodrie.

Ross County make the journey along the A96 for a pivotal fixture in the battle to avoid the relegation play-off place.

With Livingston all but gone, there is a battle now between Aberdeen, County, Motherwell and St Johnstone to save themselves from end-of-season nerve-fraying, with just five points between Motherwell in eighth and County in 11th.

This is not where Aberdeen supporters expected their team to be come the spring, but it is the reality.

Millions of pounds have been spent on a squad that has underachieved to the tune of just 30 points from 30 games.

Still, the win at Motherwell before the international break was as welcoming as it was imperative, particularly given County’s win over Hearts in Dingwall. It also stopped the Dons equalling a club record winless run in the league.

It seems that a huge away support is heading to the Granite City for a match that could see the teams end the day either level on points or with clear daylight between them.

It would be no surprise if Peter Leven is handed the reins for this one as the club’s search for Barry Robson’s long-term replacement chugs its way through an eighth week.

The good news for the Dons is that key man Bojan Miovski rediscovered his scoring touch during the break with a superbly taken goal for North Macedonia in their friendly against Moldova having gone eight games without one for his club. They need him to start firing again with a trip to doomed Livingston to come the following week.

Most neutral observers, while acknowledging Aberdeen are in a survival battle, feel they have enough in the squad to get them over the line and keep themselves out of trouble. It’s up to those wearing the shirts to prove that that is the case.