Aberdeen

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin was delighted with the late winner in Paisley that lifts his side off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

"I am proud of the team today," he told BBC Scotland.

"We started the game really well and then St Mirren did well to create some corners and throw-ins around the box, which they are good at.

"So I am proud at the way we managed different areas of the game and they were resilient to the end and the amount of shots we had, we just have to be a little better when we get the chances.

"Sometimes you need someone to step up and Marko's goal was incredibly good - it was magnificent.

"The team spirit, a clean sheet and then the goal at the end.

"Two wins in a row, two clean sheets, but we have to stay humble and keep pushing to get better."

What a finish!

St Mirren's Alex Gogic thought he had given the hosts the lead but had his headed goal ruled out for offside, home full-back Jayden Richardson was sent off against his former club, Marko Lazetic scored in stoppage time for the Dons and Jimmy Thelin's side are off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

Read Martin Dowden's match report.

Give us your thoughts.

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St Mirren pair Marcus Fraser and Mark O'Hara are back in contention but Richard King and goalkeeper Shamal George are doubtful due to illness.

Aberdeen have some unnamed fitness concerns on top of long-term absentee Kristers Tobers (knee).

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Aberdeen defender Jack Milne says he's "never looked back" since swapping midfield for centre-back.

A midfielder by trade, the 23-year-old has been playing as a centre-back in a back three for the Dons.

"I think those years are behind me," Milne said when asked if he had any desire to swap back to the middle of the pitch.

"I love defending. I think ever since I changed to centre-back, I've never looked back really.

"I don't mind covering the odd position here and there but I think centre-back is the main one."

After a dismal start to the season Aberdeen picked up their first victory before the international break in a 4-0 win over Dundee.

If they want to pick up another three points this weekend they'll have to beat St Mirren in Paisley, a feat they haven't achieved since 2018.

"We've got to win the fight first and then show our quality after that," Milne added.

"But we know they're a good team, a good manager and they've got a great record at home, not just against us, but against a lot of teams.

"We just want to go there and hopefully get three points.

"I think it is about just matching them in terms of winning the duels and being aggressive and we know they're good at that but I think in football nowadays, you've got to do that side of the game.

"And then the quality comes through after that and we'll back ourselves to go and beat them tomorrow."

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Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to visit St Mirren on Saturday.

Here are the main points:

• The Aberdeen manager insists the "spirit has always been high" among the squad despite several "setbacks and disappointments" so far this season.

• Thelin feels St Mirren are "a solid team, clear in what they're doing" but also believes Aberdeen are ready to "make it a really good game" on Saturday.

• Despite "tough times", Thelin stresses his players haven't "panicked".

• The Swede says his side will do "everything they can" to change the Dons' poor record away to St Mirren.

• Thelin stresses he has no plan to rest players ahead of their European game next midweek.

• On links with the Sweden national job, the Dons boss says that while "it's an honour to be mentioned", he is "really happy" in the north east and stresses "my focus is 100% here".

• On Jack Milne's new deal, Thelin says the defender's development is "going in the right direction".

• No fresh injury concerns, albeit some small issues which they will wait until Saturday to assess.

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• St Mirren have won five of their last six league meetings with Aberdeen (L1), as many as their previous 31 beforehand (W5 D14 L12).

• Aberdeen are winless in their last 10 league visits to St Mirren (D3 L7) since a 2-1 victory in December 2018. They have lost six of their seven trips since the start of 2021-22 (D1).

• St Mirren are unbeaten in eight home league games (W4 D4), and have kept three clean sheets in their last five on home soil – as many as their previous 23 beforehand.

• Having not scored in any of their opening six Scottish Premiership games of the season, Aberdeen beat Dundee 4-0 last time out. It was the first time a side ended a 5+ game scoreless streak by scoring four in the competition since St Mirren beat Kilmarnock 4-1 in April 2015 (5 games without a goal before).

• Aberdeen have had 21 direct attacks in the Scottish Premiership this season – at least six more than any other side.

A good season on loan at Aberdeen for Jesper Karlsson can revive his career at Bologna, reckons the Swedish forward's former coach Pascal Jansen. (Daily Record), external

Aberdeen forward Nicolas Milanovic has won the Harry Kewell Medal as the best Under 23s player in Australia. (The Herald), external

Robbie Boyle
BBC Scotland

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There are likely "four or five candidates" in front of Jimmy Thelin as Sweden search for a new head coach, according to journalist Joel Besseling.

However, the Gothenburg Post writer believes the Aberdeen manager would be more interested in the role now than he was when linked with it two years ago.

Sweden are seeking a replacement for Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was sacked following a poor start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

But Besseling, who reported on Thelin during his time in charge at Elfsborg, does not think he would be the right man for the job at the moment.

"If I can speculate, I would say that maybe if the federation is calling him about this job, I think he's more interested now than he was two years ago," he told BBC Scotland. "At that time, there were several clubs abroad that wanted him.

"But now he knows it's been a tough period for him at Aberdeen, so maybe this is his way out.

"Right now though it is just about getting to the World Cup. If they were about to hand out a four-year contract to someone, he would be higher up."

Sweden must win their remaining games away to Switzerland and home to Slovenia to have any chance of finishing second in Group B. However, they are well placed to take one of the four play-off places reserved for Nations League group winners.

Former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter has been linked with the post, as has Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

"I'm sure he's on the list," Besseling said of Thelin, who led Aberdeen to Scottish Cup glory last term. "It is natural his name comes up again.

"When they were looking for a manager back then, Jimmy was one of a number they spoke to because he'd just had a successful season at Elfsborg but he wanted to continue in club football.

"It has now been a tough run since November for him so I am not sure the federation will choose him at this point. There's maybe four or five candidates ahead of him."

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin is on the list of possible replacements for the sacked Jon Dahl Tomasson as the new head coach of the Swedish men's national football team, having been in contention before the Dane's appointment. (SVT - in Swedish), external

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

On Saturday 23 November 2024, Aberdeen headed to Paisley as Storm Bert hit the country.

Volunteers swept the snow from the pitch, everyone from the match day stewards to St Mirren club staff, it was all hands to the pump to get the game on.

At the time, Aberdeen had won 10 of their 11 opening league matches with the only blemish being a 2-2 draw at Celtic Park, a game they had trailed 2-0 in. They were level points with Brendan Rodgers' side at the top of the table.

The headlines and speculation being enjoyed by Hearts this year were being afforded to the Dons this time last season.

The arrival of that storm ultimately coincided with the collapse in Aberdeen's form as they lost a Premiership match for the first time under Jimmy Thelin.

They have won just six since.

It may have been a surprise to some at the time, but Dons teams have struggled in that nook of Renfrewshire for a while now as they prepare to resume their league season there on Saturday.

It is almost seven years since they won a league game there, Sam Cosgrove was the last Aberdeen player to score a winning goal for them in a top flight encounter in Paisley when he did so in December 2018.

Since then, 11 league visits and not a single victory.

St Mirren moved into their current stadium in 2008 and Aberdeen have only tasted victory six times there out of their previous 26 trips there.

Last time out, a 4-0 home hammering of Dundee eased manager Thelin's stress levels but there are tougher challenges on the horizon, starting at one of their least favourite venues and against a Saints' team that seems to have their number and who haven't lost at home since the start of March.

Boss Jimmy Thelin has revealed contract talks with Graeme Shinnie and Dante Polvara will only open when Aberdeen are firmly back on track. (Press & Journal)

Icon Willie Miller says Aberdeen have to prove they can match St Mirren's desire to banish their long winless run in Paisley and continue their revival. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Bologna winger Jesper Karlsson reveals he spoke to both Lewis Ferguson and Ylber Ramadani before agreeing to join Aberdeen on loan and reunite with Jimmy Thelin. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

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When Nicky Devlin arrived at Aberdeen over two years ago, he had a fair bit of football behind him.

Despite being in the game long over 10 years, nothing could've prepared him for pulling on the red jersey.

The Scotland defender has now done that 102 times after hitting the century at Motherwell last month.

The high of his two-year spell so far no doubt was the Scottish Cup win. The release of a 35-year wait for such win for not just a club but a city epitomised the pressure players at Pittodrie face.

"The truth is that I don't think you can ever really prepare yourself for how big and how demanding this club is until you live in the middle of it," the 31-year-old told club media.

"Until you probably move up here and fully experience that and understand what happens around the city with regard to the club on a day-to-day basis, you don't get the full picture.

"For example, it's very different from other places in the way that everyone that follows football in Aberdeen is very much an Aberdeen supporter.

"I've never been at a club where it's been like that, where everybody supports that club. I've been at sides where there might be five or six clubs nearby.

"The fact that it's a kind of one club city, it obviously makes it a lot more intense.

"I don't think you can ever really understand just what that's going to be like until you're actually here."

Captain Graeme Shinnie praises Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin's calmness amid their early season form. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Hearts' squad market value has risen by £1.75m in the past year, while Aberdeen's has dropped by £0.95m. (Transfermarkt), external

Scotland have been handed a bad omen for the World Cup qualifier against Greece after controversial Norwegian referee Espen Eskas, who has already been in charge of dismal European nights for Celtic and Aberdeen this season, was appointed. (The Herald), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Maybe, just maybe, Jimmy Thelin can turn the tanker round.

No goals in 549 minutes and then five come along in the space of 115.

A first Premiership goal was followed by a convincing maiden Premiership win of the season and clean sheet against Dundee, hot on the heels of a spirited performance against Shakhtar Donetsk.

There are real signs of life that simply weren't there a fortnight ago.

The eye-catching displays of Jesper Karlsson and Stuart Armstrong are certainly proof of that with the switch in system also paying dividends. Jack Milne also deserves praise for the way he has played over the last two matches.

However, this is just a first league win since April against a disjointed looking Dundee. It is a baby step towards where the club not only wants to be but where it has to be.

They have a few acid tests to come after the pause for the international break, which has probably come at a bad time for Thelin with momentum key.

Trips to St Mirren and AEK Athens await before Hibernian go to Pittodrie with a visit to Kilmarnock after that. We will know after that quartet of games if the Dons have indeed turned the corner.

The good news for them is, despite remaining bottom of the pile, they are only six points off third and positive results in their next three league games will hoist them up the ladder.

For now, Thelin can take a breath knowing the pressure on him and his position at the club has been eased slightly as a result of their thrashing of Steven Pressley's team.

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Topi Keskinen is on part of the Finland squad as they face Lithuania and the Netherlands in World Cup qualifiers.

Dimitar Mitov joins Bulgaria to take on Turkey and Spain in World Cup qualifying.

Aberdeen winger Jesper Karlsson is confident Sunday's 4-0 win over Dundee is a sign of things to come. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Dylan Lobban can become "a key player for Aberdeen in the years to come", says manager Jimmy Thelin, after the 20-year-old defender signed a new deal.

Academy graduate Lobban is part of the club's Conference League squad this season and has captained the development side, which last week won the Aberdeenshire Cup for the first time since 2003.

Lobban, who was the Dons' development player of the year last term, has spent time on loan at Formartine United, Forfar Athletic and Cove Rangers since signing his first professional contract in 2021.

"He continues to impress in training, learning from some of the more experienced players in the first team squad, and we look forward to working with Dylan on his continued development," added Thelin.

Calum Wright
Fan writer

Jesper Karlsson and Stuart Armstrong's class shone through as Aberdeen demolished Dundee to finally secure a league win.

When the pair arrived at Pittodrie at the beginning of September we all thought they'd come in and improve the side massively.

The weekend's victory was clear evidence of that being the case, with hopefully plenty more performances like that to come.

Aside from the Swedish loanee's brace – the second of which displayed incredible footwork and composure – his performance was outstanding.

So much of what was good about the Dons' play went through Karlsson as he found the half spaces and took the game to the visitors.

Armstrong showed drive from midfield that we had seldom seen prior to Jimmy Thelin's change in formation.

The former Southampton man consistently ran at – and through – Dundee, displaying a sense of urgency that's been lacking.

If the two can perform like they did on Sunday consistently and the rest of the team continue their improvement, the tide should turn for Aberdeen and hopefully we'll start to climb the table.

Calum Wright can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Lutz Pfannenstiel, who recently left St Louis City and is also wanted by Borussia Monchengladbach, leads Aberdeen's three-man director of football shortlist after speaking with the club over the weekend, but two other candidates will be interviewed before a decision is made. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Aberdeen finally picked up their first Premiership victory of the season with a comfortable win over Dundee, they've got three players in my team of the week.

Emmanuel Gyamfi came through the youth ranks at Schalke and looks like he has plenty of potential. Gets forward and reaped the rewards with a goal against Dundee.

Jesper Karlsson is one of the most exciting signings of the summer in the Scottish game, albeit a loan move from Bologna. The Swedish international joined the Italian club for a reported £10million from AZ Alkmaar and his undoubted class was on display as the Dons dam burst in the 4-0 annihilation of Dundee. His second was a sublime example of solo virtuosity, bamboozling a posse of Dundee defenders before firing into the top corner.

Stuart Armstrong has always had class in abundance and showed that against Dundee. His assist for Gyamfi's goal was football perfection.

Watch all the highlights as Aberdeen recorded their first Premiership win of the season and put four goals past Dundee.

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