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St Johnstone logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 2
Aug 20, 2020 at 7.30pm UK
McDiarmid Park
Aberdeen logo

St Johnstone
0 - 1
Aberdeen


Craig (88')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Hedges (82')
Ferguson (53'), Hedges (88'), McCrorie (89')

Preview: St Johnstone vs. Aberdeen - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Scottish Premiership fixture between St Johnstone and Aberdeen, including team news and predicted lineups.

Aberdeen return to action on Thursday evening after being forced to reschedule their last three fixtures due to issues relating to positive coronavirus cases.

Meanwhile, St Johnstone head into the Scottish Premiership encounter having recorded four points from their opening three fixtures of the new campaign.


Match preview

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes pictured in April 2019© Reuters

Having watched his players suffer an opening-day defeat to Rangers, Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes would have been eager to bounce back in their following game.

However, those plans were thrown into disarray when eight of his first-team squad attended a bar in the city, a decision which led to two positive tests for coronavirus and each player being told to isolate.

Three postponed games later and Aberdeen find themselves only off bottom spot on goal difference, seven points adrift of a place in the top four.

Being forced to play four games in 11 days, a run which includes a qualifying fixture in the Europa League, is not ideal for the Dons, but McInnes will be relieved that his squad are in a position to continue with their campaign.

With each of the 12 teams in the division having already dropped points, Aberdeen can move as high as eighth position if they can overcome their next opponents.

As far as St Johnstone are concerned, they are looking to build on last weekend's excellent comeback victory away at Kilmarnock.

After heading into the final five minutes trailing by a goal, efforts from David Wotherspoon and Michael O'Halloran earned Callum Davidson his first win in charge.

With their only setback thus far coming against Rangers at Ibrox, the recently-appointed boss will be satisfied with beginning the week in seventh position with a game in hand.

A second triumph in succession would take the Saints level on points with third-placed Ross County.

St Johnstone Scottish Premiership form: DLW

Aberdeen Scottish Premiership form: L


Team News

Callum Davidson pictured in 2018© Reuters

Ahead of his side's first home game of the season, Davidson will be contemplating a recall for Wotherspoon in midfield.

The remainder of the first XI could remain the same, with O'Halloran and Callum Hendry continuing to lead the line.

Having signed from Rangers earlier this week, Ross McCrorie could go straight into the Aberdeen starting lineup.

The eight players who have been self-isolating are unlikely to be considered for a place in the team, while Andrew Considine is serving a suspension.

Tommie Hoban and Shay Logan may be handed a start in defence, while Bruce Anderson is in line to feature in attack after a recent injury to Ryan Edmondson.

St Johnstone possible starting lineup:
Parish; Rooney, Gordon, Kerr, Tanser; McNamara, Craig, Conway; Wotherspoon; O'Halloran, Hendry

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Lewis; Hernandez, Taylor, Hoban, Logan; Ferguson, McCrorie, Ojo; McGinn, Anderson, Hedges


SM words green background

We say: St Johnstone 1-1 Aberdeen

With St Johnstone struggling for goals and Aberdeen short of match fitness, everything points to this game ending in a low-scoring draw. However, if Aberdeen find themselves trailing heading into the closing stages, the home side will be favourites to hold on for a narrow win.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win 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.Away Win:data


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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Aberdeen win with a probability of 44.41%. A win for St Johnstone had a probability of 28.59% and a draw had a probability of 27%.

The most likely scoreline for an Aberdeen win was 0-1 with a probability of 12.14%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.8%) and 0-2 (8.38%). The likeliest St Johnstone win was 1-0 (9.25%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.75%). The actual scoreline of 0-1 was predicted with a 12.1% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted a 0-1 win for Aberdeen in this match.


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Game History

Who will win Thursday's Scottish Premiership clash between St Johnstone and Aberdeen?

St Johnstone
54.5%
Draw
12.7%
Aberdeen
32.7%
55
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Callum Davidson pictured in 2018
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic109102932628
2Aberdeen109102091128
3RangersRangers10613158719
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd114431513216
5Motherwell105141313016
6Dundee113351720-312
7St Mirren123361521-612
8Kilmarnock113351523-812
9Ross County122641018-812
10St Johnstone123181525-1010
11Hearts122371419-59
12Hibernian111551016-68


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