Dundee, aiming to build on their Scottish Cup victory against Airdrieonians, will host struggling Aberdeen at Kilmac Stadium at Dens Park on Saturday afternoon in the Scottish Premiership.
The hosts are 10th in the table with 27 points from 25 matches, while the visitors are fourth in the standings with 35 points from their 25 games played.
Match preview
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Dundee secured an impressive sixth-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership last season, their first year back in the top flight after earning promotion in 2022-23, but the Dee have failed to reach those same heights this term.
Tony Docherty's side are currently embroiled in the relegation battle, sitting 10th in the table with 27 points from 25 matches, leaving them just a point above 11th-placed Ross County in the relegation playoff place.
After winning just five of their first 18 league fixtures, alongside nine defeats and four draws, Dundee had appeared to hit form as they won two, drew two and lost one of the next five.
However, the Dee suffered back-to-back humiliating losses in their last two Scottish Premiership outings, as Hearts and Celtic both claimed 6-0 victories over Docherty's men.
Dundee did bounce back with a commanding 4-0 win against Airdrieonians in the Scottish Cup last weekend, and Docherty will be hoping his side can build on that result with a league win on Saturday.
The Dee may fancy their chances given the form of their opposition, with Aberdeen heading into the match having failed to win in the Scottish Premiership since early November.
The Dons started the campaign in fantastic fashion, winning 10 and drawing one of their first 11 league outings, leaving them joint on points with Celtic at the top of the table.
Jimmy Thelin's team have, however, endured a sharp decline in form over the subsequent matchdays, falling to 10 defeats and managing only four draws in the last 14 league games.
Those results have seen the Dons slip to fourth in the league standings, and they now hold just a five-point lead over eighth-placed St Mirren, leaving Aberdeen in desperate need of three points to start defending their top-six status.
Aberdeen did win their Scottish Cup match, a 3-0 triumph against Dunfermline, and Thelin will be hoping his side can build on that with another positive result on Saturday.
Team News
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Dundee are expected to be without Billy Koumetio (unspecified) and Scott Fraser (groin) due to ongoing injury issues, though both are likely to return later this month.
Having recovered from back-to-back 6-0 defeats with a commanding win in the Scottish Cup, Docherty could decide to name a similar starting team for this one.
As for Aberdeen, Dante Polvara (leg), Dimitar Mitov (hamstring), Ester Sokler (hamstring), Gavin Molloy (shoulder), Jack Milne (ankle), Jamie McGrath (shoulder) and Vicente Besuijen (unspecified) are ruled out with injuries.
Kevin Nisbet and Pape Habib Gueye formed a strike partnership in their 3-0 win against Dunfermline, and after both scoring in that match, the duo could retain their places in attack for this one.
Dundee possible starting lineup:
McCracken; Donnelly, Portales, Robertson; Mulligan, Cameron, McGhee, Larkeche; Adewumi, Tiffoney; Murray
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Doohan; Devlin, Tobers, Dorrington, Mackenzie; Keskinen, Palaversa, Shinnie, Okkels; Nisbet, Gueye
We say: Dundee 1-1 Aberdeen
Both teams are enduring difficult periods heading into this match, which suggests a hard-fought encounter between the two, leading us to expect this one will end in a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
