Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill remains coy about being linked with Aberdeen's vacancy after he oversaw a 1-0 win over Scotland at Hampden. (Record), external
Defender Nicky Devlin urges Aberdeen's senior players to shoulder more responsibility. (Press and Journal - subscription), external
Top four is "a minimum" target for the Dons, says former Aberdeen winger Niall McGinn. (Record), external
Image source, SNSMichael O'Neill isn't in any rush to rule out a move back to club football amid links to Aberdeen, says Northern Irish broadcaster Michael Clarke.
Speaking on BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Clarke suggests the Northern Ireland manager may be looking to "remind the world" he's available if a deal can be struck.
"It's a curious one because when the press conference took place in Belfast, ahead of this double header, I opened it by asking that question, 'would you like to just dispel this now and we can get on with international matters?' And he didn't really do that."
"He said, 'well, I'm committed to Northern Ireland. I have a contract here. I don't really want to comment any further.'
"And then I said, 'well, just for the record, is that no, then you're not really interested.' And he still didn't say no.
"He keeps talking about the things he wants to do with Northern Ireland whilst reminding us Stoke were able to buy him out of his contract the last time. There is a wee bit of that with Michael here, I feel.
"So whether that is for Aberdeen's benefit or whether that's just reminding the rest of the world that for the right price if a good enough offer was out there, he would never say never."
Phil Goodlad is joined by Mark Atkinson, sports editor for The Scotsman and Northern Irish broadcaster Michael Clarke to preview Scotland’s friendly with Northern Ireland.
They also take a look at the latest in Aberdeen’s search for a new manager and ask if Michael O’Neill would be a good fit for the job.
Listen to the full episode here.
Michael O'Neill remains focused on his job as Northern Ireland manager as he continues to be linked with the Aberdeen vacancy. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external
Aberdeen forward Bojan Miovski has thanked his club-mates for igniting his international career after scoring for North Macedonia in Friday's 1-1 friendly draw with Moldova. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external
Image source, Getty ImagesNorthern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill insists his "focus" is on his current role amid links to the vacant Aberdeen job.
The Pittodrie club are searching for their fifth manager in three years after interim boss Neil Warnock suddenly stepped aside earlier this month.
Reports have suggested O'Neill, 54, could be in the frame for the position - which he attributes to his attendance at a recent Dons match and his residence in Scotland.
On being linked to the job, he said: "This is something that is probably a result of me living in Scotland and me recently going to the St Mirren game.
"When I left Aberdeen were winning 1-0, when I got to the car they'd been beaten 2-1. I had nothing to do with that, either," he laughed.
"I've said all along, when you commit to a contract it doesn't mean that you'll see it out, but it means there's commitment on both sides, which there is from myself and the IFA [Irish Football Association].
"When I left my initial contract to go to Stoke City, the IFA had to be compensated for that, which they were. Everyone was happy with that arrangement. Who's to say that won't happen again?
"But at this minute in time, I have to focus on the job that I'm in and I have to do a good job. I'm 12 months into it, and I need to win more games than I've won in the 12 months and that's where my focus is."
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill, who has been linked with Aberdeen, has left the door open on making a return to club football. (Press & Journal)
Former Aberdeen midfielder Steve Tosh has backed the club's patient approach for a new manager and insists the waiting game will be worthwhile if the Dons land their number one target. (Press & Journal)
Read the rest of Monday's gossip.
Aberdeen should reveal the identity of their new manager within the next 72 hours having whittled their hunt down to a three-man shortlist that contains one UK-based candidate and two from abroad. (Sunday Post, print edition)
Zeljko Sopic, whose Rijeka side lead Croatia's top flight, has poured scorn on suggestions he could be in the mix for the vacant Aberdeen job, with the 49-year-old saying: "It's constantly raining there and that's not good for my hairstyle at all." (Novi List), external
Rijeka head coach Zeljko Sopic is not on Aberdeen's list of manager targets and the hunt still appears some way from conclusion with sources in Sweden expecting Jimmy Thelin to stay on at Elfsborg. (Scottish Sun On Sunday), external
Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, BBC Sport
We asked you whether Aberdeen can beat the drop as we head into the final stretch of the season.
Here's a taste of what you had to say:
Justin: The Ross County match will possibly determine whether we stay out of the relegation play-offs. Lose that and the doubt and lack of confidence will most probably be a huge factor. Maybe the players will step up.
Niall: Relegation for a club this size is unthinkable but distinctly possible if the players' attitudes and management team structures and tactics don't change. The cup is a distraction from full focus on every minute of every league game left of this farcical season.
Marti: Beat County & then Livi & I reckon we'll be okay. However, if we lose to County then I can't see this lot pulling themselves out of the playoff spot. Certainly don't fancy playing Dundee United or Raith Rovers.
Anon: We won’t get relegated, but wherever we end up in the bottom six will be an accurate representation of the level of the team - we shouldn’t kid ourselves that we have underachieved. The problem has been our midfield. They can’t protect the defence and can’t create for the forwards. Sorting that out has to be the priority for the new manager.
Duncan: When you look at the fixtures pre split, counter-intuitively the Dons can still actually make top six but that's unrealistic. The fight and determination shown against Motherwell was a relief. I went to Fir Park fearing the worst and got a ray of hope with the performance. Play to our own strengths and we will climb the table.
Geoff: We don’t deserve to stay up but if the players play to 90% of their ability we will win the remaining games and stay up. We need a complete rebuild to maintain any right to stay up in future otherwise we are just putting off the evil day.
Former Aberdeen youth coach Cameron Campbell has joined RB Leipzig's backroom staff. (Press & Journal), external
Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image source, Getty ImagesBojan Miovksi might be suffering a rare goal drought for Aberdeen, but the striker has found his shooting boots for his national team.
The North Macedonia international gave his side the opener with a lovely clipped finish in their friendly against Moldova.
His fine goal looked to be the winner, before Vitalie Damascan's outrageous bicycle kick levelled matters in Turkey.
Stephen McCormick, Aberdeen's first supporter experience manager, on how the fans' tifos are made.
This segment is taken from the Friday, 22 March episode of A View From The Terrace. Watch on BBC Scotland at 22:30 BST.
We're firmly into the business end of the campaign.
Aberdeen have had a slog of a season, with the aim now to avoid the relegation play-off and continue their Scottish Cup quest. We want to know how you're feeling as we head into the final stretch.
How confident are you that Aberdeen can beat the drop? Will the Scottish Cup continue to be a saving grace? Who will be the key players? And what's your biggest concern about this Dons side?
Aberdeen's hopes of appointing Elfsborg coach Jimmy Thelin as Pittodrie manager are fading. (Sun), external
Thelin withdrew from talks with the Dons over loyalty to Elfsborg. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external
Aberdeen have moved closer to appointing a new boss, having whittled down their shortlist. (Record), external
Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland
Aberdeen’s victory at Motherwell was the definition of timely. With Ross County beating Hearts in Dingwall at the same time, it was of paramount importance that the Dons’ players stepped up and they did by grinding out three huge points as the club tries to look up the way rather that nervously peering into the rear-view mirror.
It’s not the first time that Fir Park has helped dig them out of a hole. They were one more winless game away from equalling a club record of 12 league matches without victory which they suffered across two seasons in 1999. That it was success in the Lanarkshire town won’t be lost on those who remember the 11-goal thriller that saw Ebbe Skovdahl’s side emerge with a 6-5 win to end that particularly gruesome chain of results.
That Jim Leighton and Andy Goram were present at either end that night made it all the more nonsensical.
I wasn’t witness to that game but our group thought the tiny TV in the Music Hall bar in Aberdeen was on its last legs as the Ceefax page with the live scores updated every few minutes. It was one of those “you remember where you were” moments. The Charlatans put on a good show that evening as well.
In the present day, the club is edging closer to naming its new full-time manager and thankfully for the board, the reluctant stand-in Peter Leven delivered a massive result and performance against the Steelmen. The visitors were much stronger at the back, it was just a fifth clean sheet in the league, and looked hungry, something that was hugely lacking at Dens Park just a few days before.
The Dons are far from out of the woods as they at least headed into the international break with a long-awaited positive and first league win in 11. With County and Livingston up next for them in the Premiership and with a new man at the helm a distinct possibility, they will be hoping to have put enough distance between themselves and danger that they can begin focusing their energy on that Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic in April.
As has perpetually being the case this season, the next few weeks will be season-defining for the Pittodrie club, for all kinds of reasons.
Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie feared Crohn's Disease would prevent him having such a successful professional career. (Record), external
Aberdeen interim boss Peter Leven says Bojan Miovski's team-mates are key to getting the club's leading goalscorer back firing again. (Press & Journal)
Read the resort of Tuesday's gossip.
Image source, SNSConnor Barron admits the disruption at Aberdeen has been "tough" to deal with but believes Peter Leven is doing a good job of turning things round.
The Dons ended their 11-game winless run with victory at Fir Park on Saturday, a result that the Scotland U21 international says his teammates must build off in the final weeks of the season.
“We needed the win, so it was a massive three points, but it’s just the start," Barron told club media. "We need to go on a run. It’s just the first win ticked off, we need to go again.
“Peter Leven’s been brilliant. He’s obviously been here a while and we all know what he’s like and the way he wants to play. I think Wednesday night at Dundee, we got a bit stuck in between different managers telling us different things and we just weren’t all on the same page. It’s been tough dealing with the upheaval here, but that’s football, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s like that.
“We had a good meeting together as a team and we realised the quality we’ve got on the ball and that we need to start using that.
“Every player sees things differently and takes things differently. Some like a wee arm around them and some do better for a wee rollicking. It’s been brilliant to see what Pete can do in this short space of time."
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Well, it's been a while since Aberdeen have had a presence in our team of the week.
But after ending their 11-game winless run in league action with a 1-0 win at Motherwell on Saturday, the Dons have lifted their spirits and leapfrogged St Johnstone in the table.
Kelle Roos hasn't had an easy time of it in between the sticks this season, but the Dutchman showed out with some crucial stops to preserve Aberdeen's victory.
Jack MacKenzie also carried on from his impressive display in the cup win over Kilmarnock with another stellar showing at Fir Park.
Neil Warnock is on standby for yet another return to management, with the 75-year-old having already had a couple of enquiries since ending his 34-day stay at Aberdeen a week ago. (Scottish Sun), external
Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, BBC SportSportscene look at Leighton Clarkson's winner for Aberdeen and discuss the Pittodrie side ending their winless run against Motherwell.
Highlights: Motherwell 0-1 Aberdeen
We asked for your thoughts after Aberdeen ended an 11-match winless run with a 1-0 victory against Motherwell, under caretaker manager Peter Leven.
Here's a taste of what you had to say:
Anon: Good defensive performance, good to keep a clean sheet and win the match. Hopefully a turning point in the season.
Ann: Leave Leven in charge - should never have appointed [Neil] Warnock, Leven could have just taken the team until a manager was found. Warnock was only here for the money, at least Leven cares about the team and club.
Richard: Good result at Motherwell hope it be the turning point in what has been the poorest season in a long time. If they survive in the top-flight, it will not be because of how they have been led by the Aberdeen board. The next manger appointment is critical to the whole club's future.
Andrew: My son and I were were part of the 1097 jubliant Dons fans at full-time at Firhill today. It wasn't another six goal thriller like the previous two games but a hard fought win which will raise the mood of the players and the fans. A team performance to be proud of today. Night and day compared to Dundee midweek. Onwards and upwards.
Justin: A massive three points but the players need to be fully cognisant of the task at hand - it’s not over. This must be seen as a stepping stone.
Paul: Finally. Next two games are crucial. Our new manager must be better and have full control over the team. [Dave] Cormack has been dreadful for this club.
Niall: The pressure is now on. Finally some real fight and drive. [Leighton] Clarkson and [Jack] MacKenzie were outstanding and there were signs of a team performance, however, this is one game and three points. Results elsewhere demonstrate that this dogfight will not be in our hands. The next match against a resurgent Ross County is huge.
Fred: A good performance, let’s see if they can maintain this level in the next games. Good fight and determination but our forwards do not seem capable of scoring. The club needs a major overhaul of the playing staff if we have any hope of making an impact next season.
Andrew: Solid team performance - defensively a bit more composed. Still edgy at times but [Angus] MacDonald is steady. Got a break from VAR today. Persist with this formation.
