Aberdeen

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Aberdeen have had to take advantage of new Uefa regulations to make a late change to their Conference League squad after defender Kristers Tobers was likely ruled out for "a significant part of the season".

The January signing has been replaced with on-loan Tottenham Hotspur centre-half Alfie Dorrington as Jimmy Thelin's side prepare to host Shakhtar Donetsk in Thursday's competition opener.

Latvia international Tobers had been making his first appearance at the weekend since a 2-1 defeat by Dundee United in May, but the 24-year-old only lasted 61 minutes of their 2-0 defeat by Motherwell before being forced off with a knee injury.

Aberdeen say: "Medical staff are working closely with specialists to determine the full extent of the injury, but it is anticipated Kristers will be out for a significant part of the season.

"Under new Uefa regulations, clubs are permitted to replace long-term injured players with one not previously registered in the Uefa squad list.

"On this basis, on-loan Tottenham Hotspur defender Alfie Dorrington has been added to our European squad."

Dorrington had been a surprise omission from the original squad after the 20-year-old Englishman's return to Pittodrie following his loan spell last season.

Tobers played 12 times last season after arriving from Grasshoppers of Zurich.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin told his club website: "We are all hugely disappointed for Kristers, particularly as he had worked so hard to return to the squad last weekend."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin says Thursday night's visit of Shakhtar Donetsk is a chance to "show everybody we are a good team".

The Dons take dismal form in the Conference League opener as they languish bottom of the Scottish Premiership with one point from six games and no goals scored.

"I know you are coming back to the start of the season, it is no secret, but we also have to be strong in our conviction that we can turn things around," said Thelin.

"This is another chance for us tomorrow to get the team going in the right direction and compete and show everybody we are a good team and that we are going to every week hopefully get another step to the performance we want to show and hopefully get the results."

The visit of the expensively-assembled Ukrainian league leaders represents a tough assignment for Aberdeen.

But it is also an opportunity to surprise those who have written them off before a ball is kicked at Pittodrie.

Thelin said: "I can only speak for myself, I always thinks you should believe in things you are doing. Always stay together and take the steps and never give up, always have this focus that you can improve yourself.

"That is the only way for me to work and we always have to take the challenges. You talk about the pressure, in life and football sometimes it is challenging and you have to find the solutions and be strong in this moment and sometimes the togetherness gets even stronger."

Aberdeen appeared to be heading for a creditable point at Motherwell last weekend before being undone by two added-time goals.

Thelin says the "good" thing about that game was "no player hid, they tried to take responsibility and help each other and they pushed for a win".

"We know the end of that game, but over the performance it was a step in the right direction," he added.

"Of course it is a different kind of opponent tomorrow but I also see that our team is growing and our players are growing so hopefully we can keep working on this now and believe in our own performance and also fight for a good result."

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Shakhtar Dontesk manager Arda Turan is refusing to underestimate struggling Aberdeen, describing them as a club that has "football in their DNA".

The Ukrainian league leaders are huge favourites to prevail against the out-of-form Dons in the Conference League curtain-raiser at Pittodrie on Thursday night.

Former Barcelona and Turkey midfielder Turan said: "We are expecting a difficult game and that is because Aberdeen have football in their DNA, they have a great culture and they have a football history that we should show respect for.

"They have many players with national team background. Against such a club with such a history and experience, you should be very careful."

He added: "In football one 90 minutes are not equal to other 90 minutes. We have a system and we have a quality we rely on, but we also have players that are 18, 19 years old who are coming down here after a trip of 10 hours, passing two borders.

"They might have difficulties adapting to this level. So for tomorrow I believe both sides have equal chances."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Thursday night's Conference League opener with Shakhtar Donetsk at Pittodrie.

Here are the key lines from the Dons boss:

• He says Shakhtar are a "really good team" but Aberdeen are "optimistic" of causing an upset, with the Swede adding: "It is football, 11 v 11, one game."

• On people perhaps writing off the struggling Dons' chances: "They should always have the belief... we believe we can get a good result."

• Asked if this European game could be the catalyst for an Aberdeen revival, Thelin says: "We have to be strong in our conviction that we can turn things around and this is another chance for us tomorrow."

• Despite losing to two added-time goals, the Pittodrie boss insists the performance at Motherwell last weekend was a "step in the right direction", adding that no one hid and the team are growing.

• Thelin says in challenging times "you have to find the solutions and you have to be strong in this moment and sometimes the togetherness gets even stronger".

• Team news: Alexander Jensen is suspended and there are "some small issues from the last game but hopefully everybody is fine tomorrow".

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

It's difficult to second guess the tipping point for the Aberdeen board after yet another defeat left them four points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership.

On the one hand, they have financially backed a manager like no other in the club's history. On the other this malaise has yielded a points return over the past 10 months of 23 out of a possible 99. If that's played out in a single campaign it is clearly relegation form.

Jimmy Thelin's start as Dons boss, something that feels like a lifetime ago for the supporters, is doing some seriously heavy lifting when it comes to his overall record, but that sort of points haul in a sample size of near enough a full season has alarm bells ringing.

In Thelin's defence, it was not his fault Topi Keskinen decided to go for glory himself at a tight angle with options waiting for a tap-in near the end of their latest soul-sapping loss at Motherwell.

Nor was it Thelin's fault Marco Lazetic took the ball for a walk instead of lifting it into an empty net not long after.

The on-pitch decision-making at times this season has been unfathomable.

Also, opposition goalkeepers have been doing their job on the rare occasion they do get a shot on target and once again the goal frame kept them out at Fir Park. There are factors other than poor performances at play here.

The first half was more promising for Aberdeen than in recent weeks, although the half-time changes seemed to have a negative effect on what they had produced while Motherwell were better after the break.

And having spurned their chances, Aberdeen paid a heavy price in stoppage time with Dimitar Mitov meekly letting in the first before a late penalty rubbed salt in the wounds.

On Thursday, Aberdeen open their Conference League campaign against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Ukrainians will be the best side the Dons have faced so far this season and perhaps in many years.

It is an ominous task and despite the excitement of qualifying for Europe initially, it has sadly come to be a game that Thelin could do without, particularly given clubs in Scotland outside of Celtic and Rangers toil domestically with the added burden of continental competition.

Much more important will be the home league game with Dundee on Sunday where anything other than maximum points could spell serious trouble with a natural break for the World Cup qualifiers following it.

If Aberdeen are not the crossroads yet, you get the feeling it isn't far away.

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Jimmy Thelin says a loan move to Ross County can be the "perfect platform" for Aberdeen winger Ryan Duncan to progress his career.

The 21-year-old, who has made 53 Dons appearances including his debut in 2020, will spend the season with former Pittodrie assistant Tony Docherty's relegated side.

It is a second successive year in the Championship for Duncan, who scored four goals in 39 appearances for Queen's Park last term.

"Ryan is entering the final year of his contract and so it's vital he gets consistent game-time", said Dons manager Jimmy Thelin.

"He's moving to a good club we know well, and he is obviously familiar with Tony Docherty, so we believe this will be the right environment for Ryan's continued development.

"He'll also gain exposure to a challenging league, playing alongside experienced professionals and we hope it is the perfect platform for him to push on at this crucial period in his career."

Calum Wright
Fan writer

Aberdeen's performance at Motherwell showed signs of improvement – though it would have been difficult to do otherwise after Tannadice – but the final exchanges were the perfect summary of the season so far.

The team moved the ball better, progressing through midfield with wing-backs Emmanuel Gyamfi and Nicky Devlin providing width which has been lacking for the most part.

Ultimately, however, the Dons failed to score once again, making it six games without a goal, compounding the misery of our worst start to a league campaign since 1999 – before I was even born.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between until the verge of added time when poor decision-making led to Topi Keskinen finding the side-netting despite having men in the middle in support.

Marko Lazetic was next to fluff his lines as he charged through on goal, electing to delay and not take the shot early, before ignoring team-mates wide of him and dragging an attempt wide.

Just moments later, Dimitar Mitov failed to gather Johnny Koutroumbis' shot and the ball squirmed over the line for the hosts' opener.

The Bulgarian goalkeeper has been a shining light in a miserable start for Aberdeen, but to concede like that so soon after fantastic chances to take the three points back north was, unfortunately, incredibly typical.

And the implosion got even worse with Motherwell's 97th-minute penalty doubling their lead.

Calum Wright can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

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Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack is flying back to Scotland this week in an urgent bid to help manager Jimmy Thelin turn around the club's fortunes. (Aberdeen Live), external

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Senior figures at Aberdeen are believed to still be "all in" on Jimmy Thelin, despite the club finding themselves in what has been described as an "awkward and difficult" position.

Thelin made changes to his system during Saturday's Premiership match against Motherwell as his side searched for their maiden league goal of the season, but nothing came off as the Dons suffered a miserable 2-0 defeat.

Aberdeen remain at the bottom of the table with just one point from six games and some fans have called for Thelin to leave the club.

But The Herald's Stephen McGowan believes they'll likely "hold on" until at least the international break as the club view the manager's appointment as a "three-year project".

"I think Aberdeen are all in on Jimmy Thelin. If you speak to senior people at the club they'll tell you to see it as a three-year project," Scottish football writer McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"We keep repeating ourselves in these situations. Ultimately patience can never be limitless. There has to be a point where they decide that they're in a grave situation.

"They haven't scored a goal, they only have one point, they are rooted to the bottom of the league, even Rangers are streaking ahead of them now.

"It's a really difficult and awkward place to be.

"The game against Motherwell, it was individual mistakes and bad decision-making.

"They went from 4-2-3-1 to more of a 4-3-2-1 to try to get more goals into the team, but failed to make the decisive final pass. Some of the finishing was ropey and the chances didn't quite come off.

"My instinct, my suspicion, is they'll try to hold on until the international window. They've got Shakhtar Donetsk coming up, then a home game against Dundee.

"I imagine they'll want to limp through to that point and then assess it from there."

Watch Sportscene analysis as a mistake from Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov proves costly in their defeat at Motherwell.

After scoring his second goal of the season, Aberdeen teenager Alfie Stewart says he is enjoying a "fun" loan spell at Inverness Caley Thistle. (Press & Journal - subscription required), external

Watch all the highlights as Motherwell secured a dramatic late victory over Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Sorry to rub salt in the wound, Aberdeen fans, but it turns out no team has failed to score in their first six league games since the Dons themselves, back in the 1999-2000 season.

What might frustrate even further, is that there have been chances.

Jimmy Thelin's side have an xG of 6.4 in the league this season, meaning they should have scored six goals. Yet, they have none.

That difference of -6.4 between xG and actual goals is, comfortably, the worst in the league. The next worst offenders are, surprisingly, Celtic (-3.6).

That xG of 6.4 also ranks at eighth highest in the league. That means they are far from the worst attack in a creative sense, but they are easily the least clinical.

That might be typified by the fact that they only have 2.5 shots on target per game, the second-worst in the league.

Their xG per game isn't even much worse than last season - 1.20 in the last campaign as compared to 1.07 this year.

Even their total shots per game isn't far off what it was.

At the other end, the defensive stats are actually an improvement on last season - a campaign which, we should remember, included a record-breaking winless run.

The 'expected goals against' stat contrasts at 1.61 (24-25) to 1.22 (25-26), and on average they've faced one shot less than they did last year.

From out wide, they only make 2.5 accurate crosses per game - again, the second worst record in the league.

They've also won possession in the final third just 1.8 times per game, the worst in the league. That means that if there is a high press, it isn't working.

There's plenty to conclude from all that. One thing that is inarguable is that their attack is blunt.

Kusini Yengi was the starting striker at the beginning of the year. That looks to have changed already. Kevin Nisbet and Marko Lazetic are still getting up to speed.

Defensively, it's much the same as it was last year - but the argument could be that large parts of last season weren't good enough either.

An optimist might see encouragement from these stats. At least they're making chances. At some point, the lack of luck in front of goal has to change, right?

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 2-0 defeat against Motherwell.

Here's what some of you said:

Garry: What's going on with the collective mentality at this club? The constant chopping and changing of line-ups, the lack of any identity as to style of play and poor decisions top down, just add up to an appalling mess with predictable outcomes. Never experienced this in all my days as a Dons fan. Not a smile or joyous moment from any of the players is telling. Jimmy Thelin can't be blamed for individual mistakes but his tactics and obvious lack of inspiration have ground the joy out of this club. He has to go. Thanks for the cup but that's history now.

Justin: Total sickener. We definitely played better and on another day we'd have scored two. Dimitar Mitov can be given a pass because he's saved our proverbial bacon many times, not to mention the cup win. It's hard but I think it'll turn around very soon. It simply must for the whole club and city.

Martin: Keep saying it's a three-year plan. Nearly half way through and we are bottom of the league with no goals. If the plan is the Championship we are well on our way. Good players with no direction.

Bruce: On any other day, a draw at Fir Park would be a decent result, but the result and performance have been obscured by recent form. We played a decent game and could have scored two or three. Feel for Mitov, who's been playing well. Confidence will only grow when hard work yields a result. This was a positive step, despite the result.

Craig: Frustrating and upsetting, however we were better, much more disciplined, the formation largely worked, we created several good chances, but how can Thelin legislate for Kevin Nisbet, Topi Keskinen, Marko Lazetic, etc missing golden chances? We'll get our Rocky Bushiri moment and come out of this.

Donald: If it wasn't clear before it must be crystal clear now, Thelin is NOT the problem! His players are not taking their chances. We should've buried Motherwell, from the first couple of minutes right through to the end of the match, Aberdeen should have had a comfortable win. Fate decided differently from a Dons point of view. The Scottish football scene will continue to scorn the Dons, and probably ridicule my club, but life was harsh on the Dons and Thelin. Motherwell got a victory that they didn't deserve, Aberdeen still need to be more clinical though! Onwards and upwards!

Aberdeen endured another miserable day in their wretched season when Motherwell scored twice in stoppage-time to record their first Scottish Premiership win of the season.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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James McFadden on BBC Sportsound: I think the manager, his instruction, his belief of how he wants to play, the belief he's given to the players, is massively key for Motherwell.

It's all well and good, but the players still need to step up and it's credit to them because they are willing to take the risk.

Not an outstanding display from Motherwell, but a very good one and finally a victory on the board.

Willie Miller on BBC Sportsound: It wasn't just better, it was much better. Aberdeen in the first half created a number of chances but didn't take them. I think over the course of the 90 minutes, if you take away the two goals at the end, it's a very even game.

I'm sure Jimmy Thelin will be in a situation where Aberdeen fans are not pleased with the result tonight, but I can assure you it was a much better performance.

If this type of performance had been earlier in the season, you'd be hopeful it would turn round. It's cruel for Aberdeen but magnificent for Motherwell.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "Before Tuesday I don't think we performed well enough to deserve results but today the performance was much better.

"The energy was there, the players were fighting in duels. I hope the fans feel the connection with the team again. We tried, we had some good chances at the beginning and end of the game but we need to find the last pass to find that goal.

"The chances we've had this season, to have not scored a goal is quite incredible. Sometimes you need luck to get out of this, today we didn't have any luck.

"It's a difficult game to lose. Sometimes it's not easy to be positive when you're on this run but you have to believe and we have to build on this performance now.

"We have to be even stronger now because to get that setback in the 95th minute is super tough. I have strong belief we can do it, if you keep pushing sometimes the luck comes in your favour.

"Sometimes to turn things around you need some lucky moments when you are struggling like we are right now.

"It's still early in the season. We need to turn things around, if we win games now we will catch up quickly but we need to start winning.

"We're focused on the next game on Thursday but it's a hard hit today."

Full-back Alexander Jensen feels "pressure from myself" to perform amid Aberdeen's current slump. (Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Paul McGinn and Elijah Just are the likeliest candidates to return for Motherwell but they will have a similar squad to the one that triumphed at Pittodrie last weekend.

Callum Slattery, Tom Sparrow and Callum Hendry are expected to return after the international break, while Sam Nicholson, Filip Stuparevic (both knee), Eseosa Sule, Jordan McGhee (both thigh) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) are long-term absentees.

Aberdeen have a full squad to choose from with the exception of teenager Kjartan Kjartansson.