Aberdeen

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin told BBC Scotland: "Some parts of the game were quite good, in the first 30 minutes of the first half. We were quite stable for 60 or 70 minutes, but in the last part Hearts were a little better.

"When you're on this run that we have been on, and you get a penalty in the 93rd minute and it's saved, you have to be happy with the point.

"We have to be humble. We saw good signs today and this amazing save can be used as a positive to prepare us for the next game with more energy.

"We have to improve. Nothing changes what we're aiming for. We have to push more, to be more intense, but also balance the game with and without the ball.

"Some parts with the ball were much better than before, we control some areas much better. We need more players in the opponents' box. The chances were there but we need more players in and around the box."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

It's hard to pinpoint what's gone wrong at Aberdeen, but they look a shell of the side that were being talked about as title contenders.

Their performance rather epitomised their season. They started brilliantly and it looked like a matter of time until they scored in the first 10 minutes.

They piled pressure on a fragile-looking Hearts, who had a centre-back partnership that had never played together before. Topi Keskinen was particularly threatening, and will fall asleep thinking of his first-half miss and how he should have done better.

As soon as that trickled wide, Aberdeen's confidence and attacking intent evaporated.

There was plenty of fight and desire, shown most by captain Graeme Shinnie, but the plan was non-existent as they sat further and further back, allowing Hearts time on the ball.

The second-half was particularly poor, with the addition of Duk and Morris creating one chance each, neither of which troubled Craig Gordon.

Also worrying was that Sivert Heltne Nilsen - who conceded the late penalty - and Dante Polvara played the final half hour as a centre-back partnership. Debutant Kriters Tobers went off, possibly hurt, after an hour while Angus MacDonald was an unused option on the bench.

A first clean sheet in 13 games is undoubtedly a plus but it only came from the fingertips of Ross Doohan.

Image source, SNS

Graeme Shinnie. The captain gave it everything. His standout moment was a last-ditch block on Kenneth Vargas, when some of his teammates had resigned themselves to allowing a shot at goal.

Aberdeen have agreed a deal to sign versatile Brommapojkarna player Alexander Jensen, 23. (Tipsbladet - in Danish), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

Croatian midfielder Ante Palaversa has signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at Aberdeen until summer 2027.

The 24-year-old arrived in the north east last August and has scored two goals in 17 appearances.

"I'm really enjoying my time here at Aberdeen and am focused on continuing my development under the manager and the coaching staff," Palaversa said.

"I am determined to play my part in delivering success for this club."

Manager Jimmy Thelin has been delighted with the midfielder's progress.

"We can visibly see him taking more and more responsibility every single day. As he gets used to Scotland, the culture and the game in this country, we will see him growing even more as a player," he added.

"The coaching staff and I not only have a lot of belief in him now, but also the potential that he has to become an excellent player."

Image source, SNS

Hearts boss Neil Critchley admitted he's not paying too much attention to Aberdeen's awful form as the sides prepare to meet on Sunday.

The Dons have lost their past five games and haven't won in 10 matches - a run stretching back to the start of November.

"The fact they've not won in 10 makes me very wary," Critchley said. "I don't like those stats because eventually they will win at some point.

"They've got good players. Some of the results, if you look at some of the games, they've just not had a little bit of the rub of the green in some places. Those moments can go for you and go against you."

Hearts have gone through bad runs themselves this season - part of the reason why they currently sit 11th in the table.

Critchley's side lost four games in a row before the draw with Aberdeen at the start of December to stop the rot, and have won four out of nine since.

"We've seen that in some of our games. There's a fine line between winning and losing and they've just been on the wrong side of it a little bit," Critchley added.

"I think it will change for them at some point, just hopefully not on Sunday.

"We're in good form, we can go there confident and I don't think we've won there since 2016. That's about time we change that."

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen could hand debuts to Kristers Tobers and Jeppe Okkels after Gavin Molloy (shoulder) and Ester Sokler (hamstring) were told they face lengthy spells out.

Slobodan Rubezic is suspended, while Dimitar Mitov, Vicente Besuijen (knee), Jack Milne (ankle) and Pape Habib Gueye (quad) are still sidelined.

Hearts could hand a debut to Elton Kabangu after the Belgian striker was granted a work permit following his loan switch from Union Saint-Gilloise.

Lawrence Shankland (calf) is still out along with Gerald Taylor (knee), Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring), Stephen Kingsley (hamstring) and Frankie Kent (quad).

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen assistant coach Emir Bajrami has left the club.

The 36-year-old arrived at Pittodrie from Elfsborg last summer alongside manager Jimmy Thelin and fellow coach Christer Persson.

However, Bajrami has now departed for family reasons.

"The situation is very difficult and very unfortunate, but we totally understand and respect the decision Emir has had to make," Thelin said.

"We would all do the same in his position and we wish him, and his family, all the very best for the future.

"All of our focus at the moment is getting back to winning ways and strengthening the squad in the January window, and then we will look at the coaching situation when that period is over."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Latvia captain Kristers Tobers has described his move to Aberdeen as "a dream" and believes his game will suit the style of football under Jimmy Thelin.

The 24-year-old arrived at Pittodrie for an undisclosed fee from Swiss Super League side Grasshopper Club Zurich this week.

Tobers, who has signed a three-and-a-half year deal, admits experiencing British football has long been a desire of his.

"Everyone was saying it is my type of style," the defender said.

"How I play football as well and then somehow in my head it always stuck in my head that I want to be here.

"It is a dream for me, I always wanted to be in that kind of environment to play and how many people are coming to the games, it is amazing, you can see that everybody loves football here."

Tobers, who has 37 caps, could make his debut on Sunday when Aberdeen look for a first win in 11 games as Hearts visit Pittodrie.

"We want to change it together and I think that one win is all that we need to get back on the winning streak," he added.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premiership visit of Hearts.

Here are the key points:

• On the news Gavin Molloy and Ester Sokler face long spells out injured, Thelin says he is disappointed for the players and the team, adding "we need to find solutions".

• Striker Pape Habib Gueye, out injured since September, is "maybe two weeks away" from a return to action.

• Thelin believes January recruits Kristers Tobers and Jeppe Okkels will bring "new qualities, new energy in the team".

• On the potential for further signings: "We are working on things, lets see what the future holds."

• Amid their 10-game winless streak and five straight defeats, the manager says fourth-place Dons "are still in a good position whatever the run".

• Thelin admits "it is a challenging time" but everybody is trying. He adds that in terms of the bigger picture, when you change things sometimes there can be setbacks.

• On the challenge Hearts will pose, he says they are a good squad with good qualities.

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen defender Gavin Molloy will be out until May while striker Ester Sokler faces eight weeks on the sidelines, the club have confirmed.

Defender Molloy requires surgery on a shoulder injury sustained in the home loss to Ross County on 2 January.

Sokler was forced off early in that game with a hamstring injury.

"It's clearly a big disappointment for us to lose both Gavin and Ester for extended time periods," Dons boss Jimmy Thelin said.

"We will continue to work to find solutions to help ensure the squad remains competitive and everyone at the club wishes them both a speedy recovery."

When these sides last met at Pittodrie in October, Aberdeen were unbeaten and second in the league, while Hearts were bottom without a win.

How times have changed.

Jimmy Thelin's side are stuck in a winless rut, having gone 10 games without victory – including five defeats on the trot. They have slipped down to fourth.

After their latest defeat by Motherwell, where they also lost defender Slobodan Rubezic to a red card, the Swede conceded his side have "problems to solve".

They need to do so quickly if they are to avoid matching their worst losing streak of seven since December 2010.

Amid this slump, where they appear short of the confidence that developed through their 11-game unbeaten run at the start of the season, they have often given themselves an uphill battle, conceding the first goal in seven games since their last win.

While it makes for grim reading, the glimmer of hope is Hearts are in town. The Dons have not lost to Hearts at home in the Scottish Premiership since May 2017.

However, Neil Critchley's side are two from two in 2025 and are eyeing three league wins in a row for the first time since February last year.

On the back of arguably their best win under head coach Critchley against Dundee United on Sunday, the maroon mood music has changed for the better since the Boxing Day derby defeat by Hibernian.

At the heart of that has been James Penrice, who grabbed the crucial goal at Tannadice. The former Livingston man has been a bright spark in an often dull season for the Gorgie side.

If Hearts are to end their Pittodrie hoodoo on Sunday, the left-back will no doubt have a part to play.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin hinted at further January arrivals as he looks to halt his side's recent slide.

The Dons have lost their past five matches and are winless in 10 after a magnificent start to the season, dropping from second to fourth in the Scottish Premiership.

Thelin has brought in winger Jeppe Okkels on loan from Preston and Latvia captain Kristers Tobers has signed for an undisclosed fee from Grasshopper Club Zurich, and the Swedish manager says making his squad better is a "never-ending story".

Tobers has received a work permit and could make his debut alongside Okkels against Hearts on Sunday.

"You always have the ambition to improve the team," Thelin told Sky Sports. "It can be through training to get better, and also sometimes you need to recruitment to find the right profile. It's a never-ending story.

"You always have to try to get better every week and build the team for the long-term.

"Okkels I know from the past. He has the capacity to run a lot and go behind the back line. Tobers has good leadership and also good on the ball."

• Aberdeen have won their past nine home league games against Hearts since a 0-0 draw in December 2017, while they haven't lost at home to Hearts in the league since May 2016 (1-0).

• None of the last 22 league meetings between Aberdeen and Hearts have been won by the away side (17 home wins, 5 draws), with Aberdeen the last visiting team to win this fixture in May 2017 (2-1).

• After winning 10 of their first 11 league games of the season, Aberdeen have failed to win in 10 (D3 L7), losing their last five in a row. Not since December 2010 have the Dons endured a longer league losing streak (7).

• Hearts have won both of their league games in 2025, but haven't won three in a row in the Scottish Premiership since February 2024 (run of 6).

• James Penrice has been directly involved in four goals in his last seven league appearances for Hearts (2 goals, 2 assists). He has never scored or assisted more in a single Scottish Premiership campaign.

Gary Scott
Fan writer

Another week, another loss as Aberdeen fell to Motherwell at a chilly Fir Park on Sunday to make it five Premiership defeats on the spin and only one win in the past 12 games.

This run of form threatens to undo the sparkling start to the season, with Aberdeen slipping from second place in the table to fourth (albeit level on points with Dundee United) in a matter of weeks. So what's gone so wrong, so quickly?

The obvious prognosis is a drastic drop-off in confidence. The first round of fixtures saw an Aberdeen side full of belief with an element of a confident swagger.

The Dons were devastating on counter-attacks, looked progressive in their build-up play and were scoring goals from all areas of the pitch.

Now the goals have dried up (only three scored in seven games), Aberdeen's possession has become noticeably slower and more ponderous with players taking the perceived 'safe' option rather than a more adventurous or progressive pass.

On top of that, the strikeforce are not pulling up trees. Kevin Nisbet and Peter Ambrose missed three sitters in injury time alone in the home defeat to Ross County. Ester Sokler (who is now out for a lengthy period with injury) has only scored two league goals all season, Duk has failed to net this campaign and injury has robbed us of the goalscoring form of Pape Habib Gueye.

The woes in front of goal have been compounded with a calamitous season defensively. Even during the winning streak, Aberdeen were conceding sloppy goals and gifting teams chances.

Usually, Dimitar Mitov or last-ditch blocks from the likes of Nicky Devlin would deny sides but there were obvious defensive frailties. In each of the past six games (at least) you can point to individual errors in the defensive third costing Aberdeen goals.

The positive in all of this is Aberdeen's general performance at Fir Park on Sunday (bar a 15-minute spell where the game ran away from them) was an improved one.

With the January window now open, Thelin will be looking to his board to back him to turn this run around quickly as there is still so much to play for this season.

Aberdeen have already acquired winger Jeppe Okkels on loan from Preston, a trusted lieutenant of Thelin from their days together at Elfsborg, and Latvia captain Kristers Tobbers from Grasshoppers.

Rumours of other acquisitions abound and it will be interesting to see just how many players Thelin is allowed to bring in during a notoriously difficult window.

Gary Scott can be found at the ABZ Football Podcast, external