Aberdeen

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Graeme Shinnie says Aberdeen need to "get back to what we have been doing well" when they travel to Hibs in the Premiership on Tuesday night.

The Dons are second in the table - three points behind leaders Celtic - and want to return to winning ways after losing 2-1 at St Mirren at the weekend, a result which ended the Pittodrie side's unbeaten start to the league season.

"That is what good teams do - when they have a knockback they respond," captain Shinnie said.

"We did it after the heavy defeat to Celtic (in the League Cup) and we have to do it again now. The majority of the season has been very good so far - we need to remember that and we need to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.

"Not only that, get back to what we have been doing well because I thought we lost that a little bit on Saturday. We didn’t look our normal selves at times."

Aberdeen will be aiming to pile more misery on a Hibs side who are bottom of the table having won just one of their opening 13 league games.

"It is a tough position they have found themselves in but they have had opportunities to win the games," Shinnie said, when asked about Hibs' woes.

"It has been late goals - Dundee United they lost two late on, the Edinburgh derby they lost a late goal. Had they held out in a few games they would be a lot higher up the table.

"We need to be very wary, they have got good players, everyone knows that.

"We have had a knock but the majority of the season has been very good so it is trying to get that momentum back for us."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media ahead of their Premiership trip to play Hibernian on Tuesday night, here is what he said:

• Thelin says him and the players "had a good chat" after Saturday's league defeat at St Mirren, adding he was "not happy" with how they started the game

• The manager insists the job at Aberdeen is a "long term process" and says he doesn’t think the defeat at the weekend will have any impact at all.

• On the challenge Hibs will pose, Thelin says looking at the league table is "a mistake" adding "they are a good team" but believes "it is better to focus on what we can do".

• With the hectic festive fixture schedule cranking up, Thelin talks about using his squad and highlights the "impressive" work the likes of James McGarry and Jack Milne have been doing adding "when it is time for them I am going to trust them 100%".

• On injuries, Thelin says Angus MacDonald is likely to miss one more game through while Pape Habib Gueye remains out.

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• After losing their last league meeting with Aberdeen 0-4 in May, Hibernian are looking to avoid suffering successive such defeats against the Dons for the first time since November 2020 (run of three).

• Aberdeen are looking to win two away league games at Hibernian in a row for the first time since May 2019.

• No side has won fewer home games in the Scottish Premiership this season than Hibernian (one), who are winless in their last four league matches on home soil (D2 L2).

• Aberdeen have won both of their last two midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games, last winning three in a row in December 2018 (run of four).

• Martin Boyle has been directly involved in 10 goals (six goals, four assists) in his last 13 Scottish Premiership appearances against Aberdeen for Hibernian, including nine (five goals, four assists) in his last seven at Easter Road.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Aberdeen's 2-1 defeat against St Mirren.

Former Aberdeen forward Bojan Miovski scored his first La Liga goals in Girona's 4-1 Saturday win over Espanyol, much to the delight of his manager Michel. (Record), external

Rangers goalkeeper and vice-captain Jack Butland insists the Ibrox club are still in a title race, despite being eight points behind Aberdeen and 11 off Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic. (Mail), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

Watch highlights as St Mirren win 2-1 against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 2-1 defeat against St Mirren.

Here's what some of you said:

Andrew: The game was a tale of two halves. We were slow to start but again second half substitutions made an immediate impact. There will be games where we ride our luck, that wasn't one of them. Unlucky with both goals. We are in second place, miles ahead of the chasing pack, which is way ahead of where we expected to be. In Jimmy Thelin we trust.

Andy: I guess it had to end and apart from a brief rally by the Dons in the second half, it was the correct result. I thought that Graeme Shinnie and Sivert Nilsen failed to protect their defence and certainly did not dominate in that area like they should do.

Marty: Let's be honest, it was going to happen eventually, now it's about how the players react. I don't think there's any need to panic, we just need to keep doing what we are doing and stay focused on second place in the league. With Rangers also dropping points, it doesn't make things feel so bad. A win against Hibs midweek and all will be forgotten.

Kieran: Shinnie looked very slow, getting caught with the ball too often, bad day for the defence as well. In the January window we need an experienced centre back and a central midfielder.

Jim: Really disappointed but it was going to happen eventually. Just glad it wasn't Rangers or Celtic that ended the run to be honest. I think we got a little unlucky at times, but completely and utterly failed at defending their goals, so cannot really complain about the result on the night. Onwards, still eight points clear of third.

James: The Dons still have a soft centre at the back. The first goal was not the first time a long punt bounced past our two central defenders. This needs to be addressed in the next transfer window as the marking at St Mirren's second goal was the same as when we lost against Celtic. We cannot keep giving free headers to the opposition.

Dave: It's one game. St Mirren are tough at home so it was always going to be difficult. Our defence never really got to grips with the challenge in front of them, neither full back managed to impact in forward areas as much as usual and the passing wasn't as sharp as it has been. Dust ourselves down and back at it against Hibs.

Chris: I think there are similarities to this loss and the Celtic loss in the League Cup. Celtic give opponents no time on the ball and that was how it was against St Mirren. We on the other hand don't press in groups only ones and two's, so easy to pass around that type of press. So our chances were limited, we need to learn to do better.

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• St Mirren are undefeated in their last four games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 6th August 2023 to 30th September 2023, a run of seven games.

• Aberdeen attempted 599 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

• Toyosi Olusanya has scored five goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other St Mirren player.

• Aberdeen have scored in their last 17 games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition (since at least 2024/2025).

Aberdeen's unbeaten Scottish Premiership record ended in Paisley as Richard Taylor's towering header earned St Mirren all three points.

It is a first league loss in 12 games for Jimmy Thelin's side, who stay second but could lose ground on Celtic when they visit Hearts later. Rangers also move a point closer, and are now eight points back in third.

St Mirren, too, had been on an unbeaten run - three games before the international break - and raced out of the blocks against their high-flying opponents.

Toyosi Olusanya got in behind the Aberdeen defence from a long punt forward by goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe and kept his cool to slide low past Dimitar Mitov.

The home side were briefly reduced to 10 men when referee John Beaton sent off Alex Gogic for a heavy sliding tackle on Shayden Morris, but after VAR advised Beaton to review the incident, he downgraded it to a yellow card.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin showed his dissatisfaction with a double change at half-time, bringing on Duk and Kevin Nisbet, and it sparked his side into life.

Duk posed problems down the left, and his cross eventually dropped to Jamie McGrath, who swept home to level the scores.

However, St Mirren stood firm, weathered the storm and slowly turned the tide.

Conor McMenamin had a shot well saved by Mitov, Olusanya fired just wide, but on 83 minutes, Taylor found the back of the net from Mark O'Hara's corner.

Duk hit a post with an audacious backheel soon after, but Aberdeen could not find a second equaliser.

Aberdeen fans, were you at the ground or following along from home? Either way, we want your thoughts.

Have your say on the game., external

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Duk's half-time introduction gave Aberdeen some much-needed impetus in Paisley, and the Cape Verde international was unfortunate not to level the scores late on with an audacious backheel.

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Jimmy Thelin's down-to-earth outlook means there will not be an overreaction to Aberdeen's first league loss of the season.

The Swedish manager has stressed the long-term nature of this project since he walked through the doors at Pittodrie, and he will take positives from aspects of his team's performance in Paisley.

Once again, he showed his ability to affect games with substitutions, swinging momentum his side's way with the half-time introduction of Duk and Kevin Nisbet.

Duk in particular was excellent down the left, equally adept at hitting the bye-line or cutting inside, and it was his trickery that led to the equaliser.

Fully reintroducing the forward will undoubtedly prove beneficial in the weeks and months to come, and he almost snatched a point late on with his backheeled effort through a crowd of bodies.

The players went to the away end at full-time to acknowledge their support, highlighting the close bond that has formed this term with the fans. One defeat will not break that connection.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "St Mirren came out in the first half much better than we did. They picked up duels and second balls better than we did which gave them momentum.

"Second half we came out better; in the crucial moments they were better, that's what we have to learn from.

"We have to focus on the right things. We didn't get in behind them as we wanted in the first half and that's why we made changes.

"I haven't seen [the Alex Gogic incident back]. I always trust the referees - they make a decision and we have to adapt to that."

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St Mirren: Balcombe, Bwomono, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Tanser, Phillips, O'Hara, McMenamin, Kiltie, Olusanya.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Kenny, John,Penman, Smyth, Idowu, Scott, Ayunga, Mandron.

Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, MacKenzie, Shinnie, Nilsen, Morris, Clarkson, McGrath, Sokler.

Substitutes: Doohan, Polvara, Nisbet, Duk, McGarry, Besuijen, Palaversa, Milne, Keskinen.

Image source, SNS

Leighton Clarkson has praised the "healthy competition" in the Aberdeen squad, saying they "are all best mates" in the dressing room.

The Dons are looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the Scottish Premiership season when they travel to play St Mirren on Saturday.

And the former Liverpool midfielder believes the tight-knit nature of the playing group has been a key factor in their early season form.

"The good thing about this year is we have got that squad depth," he said. "It is about individually playing as well as you can and staying in the team.

"It is healthy competition, we are all best mates in there and we are happy if other people are playing.

"If I am on the bench one week I know that I have got to come on and make an impact and that is something this year - the subs have definitely made an impact in the majority, if not all of the games."

Aberdeen will be hoping to fare better than they did on their last trip to St Mirren, under Neil Warnock back in March.

On that occasion, the Dons lost 2-1, despite taking a one-goal lead into second-half added time.

"That is the past now," Clarkson added. "At the time we were going through a sticky spell and that was just one of those games where we just couldn’t see it out and sometimes football is like that," Clarkson added.

"But we are going down there really positive and really confident. We know it is a tough place to go, we know the way they want to play. I have played against them enough times to know how their manager likes to play and it will be a really tough game.

"We are not going to change the way we play for anyone really."

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Recent St Mirren signing Declan John could be in the squad for the first time. Defenders Charles Dunne and Alex Iacovitti are still out with hamstring injuries but midfielder Caolan Boyd-Munce could return after missing the win at Hibs before the break.

Aberdeen midfielder Dante Polvara is back in the squad after a lengthy hamstring lay-off but Angus MacDonald drops out with a minor injury. Pape Habib Gueye (quad) remains out.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has welcomed the long-awaited return of midfielder Dante Polvara, saying he offers something different to his in-form side.

The American has yet to kick a ball this term after tearing his hamstring during pre-season, an injury that required surgery.

But Polvara, 24, is back in the squad for Saturday's Premiership trip to St Mirren.

Thelin said: "I can’t remember exactly how many weeks he was training before he got the injury, so I didn't see him so much.

"But he started well in the training camp and his last part of last season he did really well so it is good to have this quality.

"He has different characteristics than the other players so I think it is a good weapon for us to use in different positions on the pitch when we can.

"It is good to have as many players as possible available, also different qualities, and to keep the intensity high inside a team and make some changes when we can. That is good to have the options."

With 31 points from a possible 33, Aberdeen are behind leaders Celtic on goal difference and travel to Paisley looking to continue their best-ever start to a league campaign.

Thelin has been praised for many things since he arrived at Pittodrie in the summer, the impact his substitutes have made being one.

"I think the good part of this is the players stay connected," said the Swede.

"That is the thing about being a team, you need everyone. I like the spirit the players share between them. Sometimes they only play five minutes but still they make important things on the pitch."

Striker Kevin Nisbet is a case in point. After a spell out injured, the Millwall loanee marked his return by coming off the bench to score in the 4-1 win over Dundee last time out - his fourth goal of the season.

"I think the last game, the 20 minutes he played, was his best part so far this season if you think about the intensity, how he moved, but also his decision-making, so I think he is on the right track," added Thelin.

"Sometimes when you come on loan it takes some time for adaptation. He is really connected with the team now and that is good for him to feel like he can express himself in a good way."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Saturday’s Premiership trip to face St Mirren.

Heere are the key points from the Dons boss:

• On Dante Polvara, who returns from a hamstring injury to make the matchday squad for the first time this season, Thelin says: "He has different characteristics than the other players so it is a good weapon for us to use in different positions on the pitch when we can."

• Thelin praised striker Kevin Nisbet, saying the 20 minutes he played against Dundee last time out was his best of the season, and adds the striker has "really connected with the team now".

• On the challenge St Mirren will pose, Thelin says they are a good team and "you always have to respect the opponent and the manager" but the "main focus is on ourselves".

• With Aberdeen having three games in seven days, Thelin is relishing an "exciting week" but is not looking beyond the trip to St Mirren.

• On the Dons now being seen as a potential scalp, the Swede say "it is not a pressure we feel is negative".

• Angus MacDonald misses out with a "small issue" while Pape Habib Gueye remains sidelined.

We asked you what's the one thing nobody is talking about in relation to Aberdeen - good or bad.

Here's what some of you said:

Andy: Emir Bajrami, our first-team coach, was an accomplished winger who won 18 caps for Sweden. His one-to-one work with Shayden Morris, Vincente Besuijen, Duk, Pape Gueye, Jamie McGrath and Topi Keskinen has produced transformational results this season. Massive credit to Emir.

Gregor: How do we keep this going when the inevitable happens? A team down south coming for Jimmy Thelin...

Richard: No one is talking about how Ante Palaversa has so much quality that he'd stroll into any other SPFL team apart from perhaps Celtic, yet is struggling to break into the Aberdeen XI.

Jack: Neil Warnock.

Cameron: You don't hear any more that we can't compete against the Old Firm, which had been the mantra that ran through Pittodrie. Thelin has washed that away. Believe!

Andrew: I don't think enough has been made of the importance of Peter Leven staying on and providing Thelin with perspective on the SPFL. When you see the touchline discussions, Jimmy always seems to discuss changes with Peter before he makes them. Great combination!

John: One thing no one's talking about is the return of Pape Gueye, or at least not talking enough about it. He was tearing it up before the injury and his goal at Pittodrie v Motherwell is still one of the goals of the season. If they can get through the next three away games, a few clever signings and bringing him back in, it's game on.

Scott: Nobody talks about Jimmy's hair. It's perfect. I don't see why it's never mentioned when it's obviously a huge contributing factor to our form this season.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

After Aberdeen substitutes Kevin Nisbet and Vicente Besuijen made instant impacts from the bench to seal the points against Dundee last time out, Dons legend Willie Miller told the nation he wanted Jimmy Thelin to pick his lottery numbers.

The tongue-in-cheek comment during the commentary at Pittodrie in the 4-1 victory, during which Nisbet set Besuijen up for the third before scoring the fourth, came as the former captain and manager enthused about the impact Thelin's in-game changes have had on the outcome of Aberdeen matches this season.

In each of the club's last five league games, substitutes have got on the scoresheet after entering the fray, with Ante Palaversa, Peter Ambrose and Shayden Morris scoring winners against Hearts, Dundee Utd and Rangers respectively.

Ester Sokler, too, scored a crucial goal off the bench at Celtic Park, beginning an incredible comeback against the champions to salvage a point from 2-0 down.

A Nisbet cameo in Dingwall also turned one point into three at the end of August and there is no doubt Thelin's game management has made a huge impact and is a big reason why the Dons head into a sequence of tough assignments on the back of their best-ever start to a top-flight season.

The Dons now face three away games over the course of eight days as they try to keep pace with Celtic at the top of the table, starting with a trip to Paisley to face St Mirren before visits to Hibernian and Hearts.

The club's record there and at Easter Road and Tynecastle leaves a lot to be desired - and these three dates will provide a stern test of their credentials.

St Mirren picked up before the international break and are unbeaten in three, indeed they have won two of those, so it represents their best points haul in successive games this campaign.

With Celtic visiting Hearts, the scene of their last domestic defeat, later on Saturday evening, the Dons have their latest chance to go top of the table and it would be no surprise if Thelin's magic dice-rolling is required again.

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• St Mirren are unbeaten in eight home league games against Aberdeen (W5 D3) since a 2-1 defeat in December 2018 under Oran Kearney.

• After their 3-1 win in August, Aberdeen could defeat St Mirren twice in a row in the league for the first time since December 2018, when they won four on the bounce.

• St Mirren have won two of their last three league games (D1), as many as their first 10 of the season before this (W2 D2 L6). The Buddies are looking to win back-to-back Scottish Premiership matches for the first time since February last season.

• Aberdeen have won 10 of their 11 league games this season (D1); it took the Dons 35 league matches to reach 10 wins last term.

• No side are on a longer ongoing unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership than Aberdeen (20, level with Celtic). Aberdeen and Celtic's current such runs are the longest without defeat by any side in the competition since Celtic went 27 without losing from October 2022 to May 2023.

Gary Scott
Fan writer

With international football now firmly on the backburner until March, all eyes are on the return of the Premiership which sees Jimmy Thelin's Aberdeen head for Paisley on Saturday to kick off an intriguing week.

The SMISA has not been a happy hunting ground for Aberdeen in recent seasons. You have to go all the way back to December 2018 for our last league victory there. Three draws and five defeats in our last eight league trips to Paisley makes for brutal reading.

The most recent visit was perhaps the most chastening as the dismal Neil Warnock experiment was basically ended thanks to the concession of two goals deep into injury time. That saw three points turn into none as Aberdeen's campaign lurched from one crisis to another. How quickly things have turned.

While St Mirren come into this one in decent form, Thelin will feel quietly confident about picking up three points against a Buddies side who have been uncharacteristically generous in defence and struggled with swift counter-attacks – areas that Aberdeen side have excelled in this season.

The games continue thick and fast with two visits to the capital back-to-back to come. First, a midweek visit to Easter Road to face beleaguered Hibernian before a weekend trip to Tynecastle rounds off November.

Similar to Paisley, trips to Edinburgh have been fraught with difficulty for Aberdeen in recent years. The disastrous Scottish Cup exit to Darvel in January 2023 was sandwiched by a 5-0 defeat in Gorgie and a six-goal thumping at Easter Road which ultimately did for Jim Goodwin.

If Thelin can guide his side through the next three games with the Dons' unbeaten league record intact, belief of a top-two finish will begin to grow significantly, which may lead to an extremely interesting January transfer window.

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

Aberdeen have made a dream start to life under Jimmy Thelin and are keeping pace with Celtic at the top of the Premiership.

Plenty has been said and written about the Swede's early impact, but what is the one thing regarding Aberdeen - good or bad - that no one is talking about?

Let us know., external