Aiming to get their pursuit of a top-six finish back on track, Aberdeen will welcome strugglers St Johnstone to Pittodrie Stadium on Wednesday night for a Scottish Premiership clash.
The Dons were defeated at the home of Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon, while the Saints were unable to collect any points from their visit to St Mirren on the same day.
Match preview
© Reuters
Neil Warnock is yet to taste victory in the Scottish Premiership as Aberdeen manager after his side lost 2-0 away at Europe-chasing Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon, meaning that the Dons have only collected two points from four league matches since the former Huddersfield Town boss joined at the start of February.
Following back-to-back home draws against Motherwell and Hibernian, the Dons travelled to the BBSP Stadium with hopes of earning a first win in the league since January 2, but goals either side of the half-time whistle from Corrie Ndaba and Matthew Kennedy gave Derek McInnes's men maximum points.
Apart from Scottish Cup successes over lower-league outfits Clyde and Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic, Aberdeen have won just once since Christmas Day, meaning that they have slipped to eighth in the Scottish Premiership standings, five points behind Dundee who currently occupy sixth place.
Assuming the responsibility of chief goalscorer once again this season, the towering Bojan Miovski currently leads his side's Golden Boot race with 13 goals in 26 top-flight matches, with the 24-year-old averaging just shy of a goal every two games since arriving from MTK Budapest in the summer of 2022.
The Dons will quickly need to address their form at Pittodrie in order to finish on the right side of the post-season split, with Warnock's charges winning just three of their 13 Premiership home matches this term - only relegation-threatened duo Ross County and Livingston have managed fewer points in front of their home faithful.
© Reuters
St Johnstone are sliding towards serious trouble at the foot of the Premiership table after they extended their losing run in the division to four matches with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at St Mirren on the weekend, when the visitors at the SMISA Stadium failed to create many clear-cut chances.
The manner of the Buddies' opener was fortunate, though, as Mikael Mandron's strike ricocheted off goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov and into the Saints' net, however the 29-year-old was able to get onto the scoresheet in the second period, doubling the hosts' advantage and securing three points.
Enduring their longest losing run of the 2023-24 campaign, Craig Levein's men have dropped down to 10th in the Scottish Premiership standings, sitting a sizeable eight points behind sixth-placed Dundee and just two ahead of Ross County who lie in the relegation-playoff spot.
Like the vast majority of teams in Scotland's top flight - excluding Rangers, Celtic and Hearts - the Saints have struggled somewhat on their travels this season, winning just one of their 13 outings away from McDiarmid Park, meaning that the visiting supporters at Pittodrie will gather more in hope than expectation on Wednesday night.
Levein's charges are the lowest scorers in the Premiership after 27 matches, making the net ripple on just 17 occasions, one fewer than bottom side Livingston who appear destined for relegation under the faltering reign of David Martindale.
Team News
© Reuters
Aberdeen remain without the services of centre-back Slobodan Rubezic, who suffered a knee injury in January and is not expected back until late April.
The Dons could make some alterations to their forward line after drawing a blank at Kilmarnock last time out, with the likes of Ester Sokler and former Cardiff City man Junior Hoilett pushing for starts.
St Johnstone are fighting on without goalkeeper Ross Sinclair, who has only featured four times for the Saints since arriving last year due to a multitude of injury issues.
The visitors are light on options in the advanced-midfield role due to the absences of Alistair Crawford and Cameron MacPherson, with both scheduled to return in early March.
Levein could continue with a five-back system considering that right-winger Drey Wright remains sidelined because of a knee injury, with the 28-year-old expected back next month.
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Roos; Devlin, Gartenmann, Jensen, MacKenzie; Barron, Shinnie, Hoilett, McGrath, Sokler; Miovski
St Johnstone possible starting lineup:
Mitov; K Smith, Gordson, Considine; Gallacher, M Smith, Phillips, Carey, Robinson; Clark, Sidibeh
We say: Aberdeen 2-1 St Johnstone
Despite failing to win under the stewardship of Warnock, Aberdeen have edged closer to victory during their last two home matches, and we feel that Wednesday night could see a victory for the Dons at Pittodrie.
St Johnstone are in the midst of a rut that threatens to end their stay in the Premiership, and we cannot envisage the Saints earning anything from a clash with the Dons.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
