Aiming to extend their flawless start to the 2024-25 season, Aberdeen are set to host Hearts at Pittodrie Stadium in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts sit joint top of the table with six wins from six fixtures, while the visitors are bottom of the standings, having earned just two points from two draws and five losses in seven outings.
Match preview
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Aberdeen endured an extremely shaky 2023-24 season that featured having three managers throughout the campaign (Barry Robson, Neil Warnock and Peter Leven) and finishing ninth in the pre-split standings before a surge in the post-split season saw them place seventh.
Jimmy Thelin was appointed as the permanent boss ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, and the Swede has enjoyed a phenomenal start to life in Scotland, winning all of their opening 12 matches across all competitions.
Those results place them joint top of the table with Celtic, trailing the Bhoys only on goal difference, and their 18 points is already more than half of the total they achieved in the first 33 pre-split fixtures last season.
Thelin's team have yet to face either of the two big teams, Celtic and Rangers, but with both encounters scheduled within their next four matches, Thelin will be eager to maintain their early season momentum heading into those crucial games.
Aberdeen will be optimistic about securing a victory against Hearts on Sunday to carry momentum into their match against Celtic immediately after the international break, especially since their opponents have yet to win a game in the Scottish Premiership this term.
Since securing promotion from the Scottish Championship back to the top division in 2020-21, Hearts have had three fantastic years in the Premiership, placing third, fourth and third.
Steven Naismith, who took over the team in April 2023, led Hearts into the new season with ambitions of attempting to close the gap on the top two, but that has been far from the case as they are yet to win a league match.
Naismith was sacked following eight losses and one draw in their first nine matches, and while interim boss Liam Fox has secured a draw and a win in his first two outings, they remain bottom of the Scottish Championship.
A first win of the campaign against Dinamo Minsk in the Conference League could boost their spirits heading into this match, and with Fox still at the helm while the hierarchy searches for a new permanent manager, they will aim to continue their improved form under their interim boss and claim a surprising first league victory.
Team News
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The hosts will continue without Dante Polvara, who is yet to make an appearance for the Dons in 2024-25 due to a hamstring injury that he sustained in July.
This season's standout performer, Pape Habib Gueye, has been ruled out until the new year due to a muscle injury, presenting a significant setback for Thelin's side, especially considering Gueye has already scored six goals in eight games this term.
Elsewhere, Aberdeen could line up with the same team that defeated Dundee FC 2-1 in their last outing, with Leighton Clarkson replacing Gueye in attacking midfield.
As for the visitors, Calem Nieuwenhof has failed to make an appearance for Aberdeen since March, and the midfielder will remain on the sidelines until later this month.
Gerald Taylor will join Nieuwenhof on the treatment table after picking up a knee injury in the 2-1 loss to St Mirren, meaning Adam Forrester is likely to continue in his place.
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Mitov; Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, Mackenzie; Shinnie, Nilsen; Keskinen, Clarkson, McGrath; Nisbet
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Penrice; Devlin, Baningime, Spittal; Forrest, Shankland, McKay
We say: Aberdeen 2-0 Hearts
Hearts may be in an improved vein of form since Fox took charge of the side, but Aberdeen have been flawless so far this campaign, and we expect the hosts to continue that run with a win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
