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Aberdeen logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 29
Mar 18, 2023 at 3pm UK
Pittodrie Stadium
Hearts logo

Aberdeen
3 - 0
Hearts

Lopes (5', 21'), Pollock (28')
Miovski (68'), Ramadani (68'), Watkins (90+3')
FT(HT: 3-0)

Shankland (37'), Hill (68'), Sibbick (68')

Preview: Aberdeen vs. Hearts - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash between Aberdeen and Hearts, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Aberdeen's next Scottish Premiership fixture on Saturday pits them against a Hearts side still smarting from consecutive defeats to Celtic last week.

The Dons defeated bottom side Dundee United in their last league outing, while Hearts suffered a 3-0 reverse at home to Celtic in the Scottish Cup on Saturday, three days after losing to the same opposition in the league.


Match preview

Aberdeen interim manager Barry Robson reacts on February 18, 2023© Reuters

Barry Robson has put forward a strong case for his bid to become Aberdeen's permanent manager with a third victory in four games a fortnight ago.

When Robson was appointed at the end of January after the dismissal of Jim Goodwin, Aberdeen were in the bottom half of the table with a double-digit gap to Hearts in third - yet, if the Dons can claim a victory on Saturday, they would move to within four points of their lofty visitors.

Seven minutes into Robson's reign as caretaker boss, Ross McCrorie was sent off at the start of what would end as a 3-1 reverse at home to St Mirren, but Aberdeen have emphatically kicked on after that false start.

McCrorie scored the goal to put Aberdeen in front against a Dundee United side managed by former Dons boss Goodwin two weeks ago, helping to end the club's seven-game losing run away from home.

Pittodrie has proven to be a much more hospitable venue for the Dons; Aberdeen boast the fourth-best home record in the Premiership and only Celtic and Rangers have a better goal difference in front of their own fans this season.

Hearts' Andy Halliday celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on October 27, 2022© Reuters

Hearts have not fared as well on the road; winning just one of their last seven away league matches - the capital club are one of just three Premiership teams yet to win on their travels in 2023.

Robbie Neilson's side put in an impressive performance in Glasgow against Celtic last midweek, taking the lead through Josh Ginnelly before the reigning champions roared back to win 3-1.

However, Hearts were comfortably beaten 3-0 when the two clubs reconvened at Tynecastle last Saturday, falling behind to Aaron Mooy's second-minute opener as Celtic swamped and swarmed the Gorgie boys with a suffocating display.

Hearts were not the first and nor will they be the last team to get turned over by Celtic, but Neilson's side must rapidly regroup if they are to fend off the challenge from Aberdeen and city rivals Hibernian for third spot with just 10 games of the season left.

Aberdeen were thumped 5-0 when they last faced Hearts in January, but the Dons have not lost at home to the capital club since 2016, winning the last six matches between the pair at Pittodrie.

Aberdeen Scottish Premiership form:

Hearts Scottish Premiership form:


Hearts form (all competitions):



Team News

Hearts' manager Robbie Neilson on January 26, 2022© Reuters

Aberdeen have been without first-choice goalkeeper Kelle Roos since January, conceding 20 goals in the seven league games he has missed with a hamstring injury that is set to sideline the 30-year-old until April.

Academy product Connor Barron is also a doubt while he nurses a groin problem that has limited his playing time in the past month.

Hearts were missing eight first-team players against Celtic last weekend; Craig Gordon (leg), Gary Mackay-Steven (foot) and Craig Halkett (knee) are set to remain sidelined this weekend and beyond.

Beni Baningime and Liam Boyce are targeting returns next month, while Peter Haring is being tentatively eased back into training after a severe concussion.

Despite Neilson's assurances, Robert Snodgrass was not fit enough to appear in either game against Celtic, but the former Premier League regular is on the cusp of recovering, joining Stephen Humphrys and top scorer Lawrence Shankland on the shortlist of potential returnees for Saturday's trip to Pittodrie.

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Gorter; McCrorie, MacDonald, Pollock, MacKenzie; Shinnie, Clarkson, Ramadani; Duncan, Miovski, Duk

Hearts possible starting lineup:
Clark; Hill, Rowles, Sibbick; Smith, Halliday, Grant, Kiomourtzoglou, Kingsley; Ginnelly, McKay


SM words green background

We say: Aberdeen 1-2 Hearts

The uptick in form Robson has been able to coax out of Aberdeen during his interim spell is nothing to sniff at, but the team's recent success has exclusively come against opponents they would reasonably be expected to beat; the Dons have not defeated a team in the top half of the Premiership since the World Cup.

If Hearts can shake off the demoralising defeats inflicted by Celtic, they should underline their status as the best of the rest in the Premiership with a win this weekend.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Aberdeen vs Hearts

Aberdeen
52.4%
Draw
11.9%
Hearts
35.7%
42
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Rangers manager Michael Beale before the match on February 26, 2023
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1110103132831
2Aberdeen11101024101431
3RangersRangers11713168822
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd125431813519
5Motherwell116141514119
6St Mirren134361722-515
7Dundee123361824-612
8Kilmarnock123361525-1012
9Ross County132651021-1112
10St Johnstone133191627-1110
11Hearts132381420-69
12Hibernian121561118-78


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