Aberdeen

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Saturday’s League Cup semi-final with Celtic at Hampden.

Here are the key lines:

• On last night’s win over Rangers, he says: "All the players yesterday did amazing things", but is keen to move on and focus solely on Saturday, adding: "We are quite good at putting the game behind us."

• On the challenge Celtic will pose, Thelin says they are a good team with a good coach and they know their strengths, but for Aberdeen it is about having "a strong belief in we are going to do".

• The Swede was asked how much confidence the Dons can take from their recent 2-2 draw at Celtic Park. He pointed out both teams will have learned things about each other but says: "We don’t think too much about the last game, it is a new game, it is a cup game."

• On whether it is difficult to keep players grounded amid their excellent start, he says: "The games are coming really quickly now so we can't think about something else, we don't have time for that, so that is making my job much easier. The schedule fixes it for me."

• Will Jamie McGrath stay on penalty duties after his miss against Rangers? Thelin says: "If he wants to take the next one, he should take it. You keep moving and believing in yourself and we believe in him."

• Kevin Nisbet will train fully on Friday and should be available for the game, meaning the injured Dante Polvara is the only absentee.

Gary Scott, an Aberdeen supporter and BBC Scotland's Dons fan columnist, marvels at the Pittodrie atmosphere during the victory over Rangers and says celebrations at Shayden Morris' winner sent him flying "five rows from where I started".

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We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 2-1 win against Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Lindsey: Let's not beat around the bush - Aberdeen as a club have finally got it right! I put it down to the recruitment and analytics, from selecting a manager to proposing the players in key positions with a specific requirement. There can be no let-up on this and congratulations to all those doing the hard work behind the scenes.

Bill: A great start - long may it continue. However, we are riding our luck a little and gave away a soft goal last night and we looked vulnerable down our left side. Was also a very poor penalty - but another hard-won three points. Keep it going for Saturday.

Steve: They are a real team, playing to, and at times, outperforming their potential. Players who looked last season past their best or on their way out have been reborn. The collective is everything with everyone playing for each other. Amazing to see the full-backs as auxiliary strikers. A brilliant managerial appointment.

Andrew: I've been watching Aberdeen v Rangers games for nearly 30 years and I've never seen such an aggressive performance from the team. Delighted Jimmy Thelin stuck with what has been working so well. The fact we could bring on a quality player in Ante Palaversa speaks volumes about the strength of the squad. Connor who? Can't wait to see where we go from here.

Marty: It's time to take Aberdeen seriously. This is not just a lucky run, this is a serious team with a manager that knows how to manage each player individually and get the best out of them. You can see that Jimmy has connected with the players and they want to win for him. Something very special is happening at Aberdeen right now. Bring on Celtic!

Andy: Being honest, it was a game of two halves but the Dons should have been out of sight by half-time. They murdered Rangers in that first half. That said, I'll settle for a 2-1 win.

Stuart: What an atmosphere, what a game, what a result. If we can go on and beat Celtic on Saturday that would cap the best week ever. I'm so proud of everyone connected to Aberdeen at the moment. Well done Dons.

Sportscene's Neil McCann reviews Nicky Devlin's performance in Aberdeen's 2-1 win against Rangers.

Shayden Morris picked an opportune moment to net his first league goal for Aberdeen.

The English winger, whose Pittodrie career has been revived by Jimmy Thelin, marked his 50th Dons appearance by rifling home the second-half winner against Rangers to leave the Ibrox men languishing nine points behind.

It was just the latest example of an impact substitute from Thelin's Aberdeen as they maintained their incredible unbeaten start and kept pace with Celtic at the top of the table.

The stats show it was a deserved 2-1 victory, too. While the Dons had just 37% possession, they had a higher xG (2.11 compared to Rangers' 1.7) as well as more shots (20 to 17), shots on target (six to three) and shots inside the box (14 to 10).

Relive a memorable night at Pittodrie by pressing the play button above to watch Morris' strike and the unbridled scenes of celebration at full-time.

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• Aberdeen have scored six goals via substitutes in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Rangers have attempted 22 crosses in this match, higher than their season average of 21.7 in the Premiership.

• Graeme Shinnie has attempted six tackles in this game, more than any other player (ahead of Connor Barron - five tackles).

• James Tavernier has created 26 chances this season, the joint-highest total in the Premiership (alongside Matthew Kennedy).

Manager Jimmy Thelin praises Aberdeen's mental strength in the victory against Rangers. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Aberdeen's start to the season has been "fantastic", says Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who is quick to point out his side have also been "brilliant" as both sides occupy the top two spots in the Scottish Premiership after 10 games. (Mail), external

Celtic captain Callum McGregor as well as Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn are expected to be available for Saturday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final with Aberdeen. (Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Were you at Pittodrie or following the match elsewhere?

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

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "First of all the atmosphere was amazing, it was an emotional game. Our first half was really, really strong.

"Then the character of the players was really strong, the players who came on to the pitch gave us extra energy.

"I know how hard the players try and work, but it's also how they react. They believe in each other. I'm so glad for them."

On being involved in a potential title race, he added: "No, it's still early. We know that. We have to stay focused. We still have to improve things and we know it's a long season."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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The post-match scenes at Pittodrie said it all how about how significant a win this is for Aberdeen.

A narrative had been building that their opening fixtures had been favourable and that they were yet to be truly tested.

Sure, the League Cup group games against lower-league opposition allowed them to build momentum, but having now taken four points from Celtic and Rangers, there can be no doubt now that this is a serious team with a serious manager.

A stunning first-half display full of verve and intensity highlighted Jimmy Thelin's side's identity, which Philippe Clement continues to lack at Rangers.

The only thing missing for the Dons was a second goal, which should have come from Jamie McGrath's penalty after a VAR review showed John Souttar had handled Topi Keskinen's strike.

Thelin's men understandably tired after the break and they had to suffer in the spell Rangers found their leveller.

But this team have shown they have the mentality to respond to adversity and they did so again by dragging themselves to another win.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

The biggest week in Aberdeen's season so far has arrived in both the league and League Cup.

First up is a seismic visit of a Rangers team that simply can't afford to lose. Another Aberdeen victory under the glare of the Pittodrie floodlights would prise open an incredible nine-point gap between the two and may cause all sorts of repercussions down Ibrox way.

Of course, that isn't of Jimmy Thelin's concern as he looks to produce the Dons' greatest ever start to a league season.

Saturday's win over Dundee United saw the club better the start made under Derek McInnes in 2015, when they won their first eight Premiership matches before the wheels came off.

You now have to go back to Jimmy Bonthrone's side, who also won eight and drew one of their first nine in 1971. Eddie Turnbull's former Pittodrie assistant watched his team go unbeaten until matchday 13 that season but they were held to a draw by Celtic in their 10th fixture.

The only other such start to a league season came in 1935, so Thelin has the chance to create history this week.

It is traditionally one of Scottish football's most explosive, headline-inducing fixtures and it may not be for the faint-hearted.

But what an occasion it could be with both teams desperate for the win, with other subplots such as Philippe Clement's future and the return of Connor Barron for the first time since he switched clubs.

Following that will be a League Cup semi-final against Celtic at Hampden on Saturday, a club the Dons haven't got the better of at the national stadium since 1992, which was at this stage of the same tournament. But Aberdeen go into that one having not lost in 90 minutes to the champions this calendar year despite a now 26-game winless streak against Celtic.

By Saturday evening, the Reds could be sitting pretty in the league and into a cup final having beaten the big two from Glasgow. And if that were to come to pass, it could end up being a very special season for the Dons supporters, who have bought into the Thelin revolution and then some with a third home sellout on the bounce ready to greet the sides on Wednesday evening.

"Humble", adjective, having or showing a modest estimate of one's importance. It is famously the Swede's mantra. But two wins in four days would make it difficult for even the most pessimistic Aberdonian to not dream of what might lie ahead.

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• Aberdeen have only won one of their last 13 home games against Rangers in all competitions (D6 L6), a 2-0 league victory in April 2023.

• Rangers have only lost two of their last 19 league meetings with Aberdeen (W12 D5), although both of those have come in their last five such clashes (W2 D1 L2).

• Aberdeen won their last home league midweek match (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) 5-1 over Livingston in May, but haven't won back-to-back such fixtures since December 2018.

• Rangers have won just two of their last nine away league games (D3 L4), and just one of their last six (D2 L3), beating Dundee United 1-0 in September.

• Since the Scottish Premiership rebranded in 2013, Rangers' James Tavernier has more goals against Aberdeen (13) than any player has against a single club in the competition, with 11 of his 13 such strikes being penalties.

Former Aberdeen striker Lee Miller says Jimmy Thelin's "well-drilled" Dons are free of pressure against Rangers and will be relishing the opportunity to extend their unbeaten start with a statement win.

Listen to the big-game preview on the Scottish football podcast

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Aberdeen striker Kevin Nisbet will be assessed after missing the win over Dundee United with a knock.

Dante Polvara (hamstring) is back in training but not ready to be involved and Pape Habib Gueye (quad) remains out.

Rangers midfielder Ianis Hagi returns from suspension while Tom Lawrence has recovered from a knock and John Souttar is available after being rested against St Mirren.

Ridvan Yilmaz, Oscar Cortes, Rabbi Matondo and Danilo are all working with the physios.

Former Hearts sporting director Joe Savage regrets not signing Nicky Devlin before the Scotland right-back, 31, joined Aberdeen from Livingston. (Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

The stage is set for a Pittodrie blockbuster on Wednesday night as Aberdeen look to move nine points clear of a Rangers side who are aiming to inflict a first defeat on Dons manager Jimmy Thelin.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen defender Nicky Devlin is taking little notice of Rangers' early-season troubles prior to Wednesday night's showdown at Pittodrie.

The unbeaten Dons go into the game joint top of the Premiership and knowing a win would see them open up a nine-point gap over the third-place Ibrox side, who have lost two and drawn one of their opening nine matches.

Right-back Devlin said: "They are coming off the back of beating someone [FCSB] in Europe by four goals, they beat St Mirren at the weekend, so I don’t think they are in a bad place to be honest.

"They are obviously right behind both us and Celtic just now, I am sure they will look at it as an opportunity to close that gap, to put themselves right back in amongst it, and that is what we are up against.

"We have to be wary of that, we have to bring the best Aberdeen and hopefully that will be enough to win the game."

It has been a dream season so far for Devlin. As well playing a key role in Aberdeen's 15-game unbeaten run, the 31-year-old made his Scotland debut as a substitute in the Nations League draw with Portugal at Hampden.

Devlin admits the Dons have enjoyed a "remarkable turnaround" since their last league defeat, which was away to Dundee in March.

"If you had said to me after Dens Park, Peter Leven’s first game when he took over, we would be in this position, I probably wouldn't have believed you," he said.

"It has been a remarkable turnaround since then, but it is something we want to keep building on.

"From the start of the season there was an excitement. [Jimmy Thelin] was a managerial appointment that probably not many people in Scotland knew much about, I would probably say most of the squad as well were very similar, didn’t really know what to expect.

"But he has instilled a belief in us to go and try and win every game, and that is what we have managed to do for most of season so far."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Wednesday night's Premiership encounter with Rangers at Pittodrie.

Here are the key points:

• Thelin says Rangers are "a good team" with an experienced manager.

• Asked if Aberdeen are favourites going into the game, Thelin says "I don’t speculate about those kind of things" and "every game is a challenge".

• On whether the pressure is all on Rangers - who would be nine points adrift of the Dons if beaten - says: "It is so early, we are in October. I don’t think about the table in that way or how many points etc, for me the most important thing is the performance for ourselves in this game and that is the only thing we focus on."

• Despite their fine form, Thelin insists Aberdeen have a lot of things still to improve on.

• He rejected any notion his team may have an eye on this weekend's League Cup semi final with Celtic.

• Asked if Kevin Nisbet would be fit for the Rangers game, Thelin said "maybe". Dante Polvara is the only other absentee.