Aberdeen

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

"Aberdeen Football Club's overarching mission is to achieve Uefa top-100 club status, establishing themselves as a consistently successful European side through a modern stadium, world-class training facilities, and a highly successful squad."

Since that statement almost a decade ago, much of what Aberdeen have done off the pitch has been positive. Crowds are consistently high, work in the north-east community has been diligent, the training centre was opened with plans to expand, and the club is debt-free.

But on the pitch, outwith their Scottish Cup win last May, the more things change, the more they stay the same. For now.

Major disequilibrium may lie just around the corner as the Dons struggle to cling on to top-12 status in Scotland, never mind top 100 in Europe.

Aberdeen are on the brink and nobody seems to have an answer.

In 1995, when the Dons came perilously close to being relegated, the fans and the city came together to support the team and that was a huge advantage for the likes of Duncan Shearer, Eoin Jess and Theo Snelders, who were mainstays of that side.

How the Dons supporters wish they had players of that calibre these days.

The fact is Stephen Robinson, who was appointed last month as the spectre of demotion suddenly became a real-life prospect to the club's board, is the third man this season who is struggling to get any sort of tune out of this squad of players.

They are easy to score against, they never seem to have control of football matches and they rarely score goals. It is a lethal combination, borne out by collecting just six points from the last 48 available.

The state they are in is not on Robinson, who is in the infancy of his tenure, it is those higher up the food chain who will have to answer should the worst happen.

The stakes were high in Paisley on Saturday, yet despite that the Dons failed to register a single shot on target - they are averaging just three per game across the season - and were behind in every department, with the most stark of those being the determination and fight that St Mirren appeared to have from the off.

It was an 18th league defeat of the season for Aberdeen, the same number as bottom side Livingston, and their latest blank on the road means they have failed to score in an incredible 11 of their 17 away league games this campaign.

Hibernian visit Pittodrie in the final pre-split fixture on Saturday but home advantage hasn't been a huge help to a Dons side who have the second-worst Premiership record in their own stadium this season.

In what could be an historic season at the top of the league, unwanted history could also be made by Aberdeen at the other end if they don't get their act together.

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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Regardless of this weekend's result when Aberdeen host Hibs, they face five monumental post-split games.

Killie up first, at Pittodrie, is a must-win right out of the gate.

Should the Dons beat Hibs and Killie lose to Dundee this weekend, Stephen Robinson's side could open up a nine-point gap on Neil McCann's side with just four games to go.

With bottom side Livi away from home following Killie's visit, the Dons should look to attack the next three games and all but secure their top-flight status.

However, this is an Aberdeen side low on confidence and showing no signs of life.

If top-six Hibs beat them and Killie turn them over, it will be break glass in case of emergency time, and with Robinson just in the door, there's little room for consequential change.

Fans and pundits alike have been tipping Aberdeen to continue their downward trajectory.

Speaking after their defeat by St Mirren at the weekend, Robinson was confident, yet fully aware of the mire the Dons are in.

"Of course it's a hard job, there's no hiding away from that," he said.

"I'm up for that challenge.

"I found out a lot in the second half about the character, about people who will really run and try to give us a platform to play from.

"What I see in training isn't what I saw in the first half or a practice match last week. We changed that second half and got a response, that's a positive I have to take."

Should Aberdeen wind up in the play-off spot, character, and a lack thereof, may well be the reason why.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

I write this week's piece from a sun lounger in sunny Portugal.

Unfortunately, it seems too many of this playing squad already have one mind on their summer holidays rather than rescuing the mess they have plunged Aberdeen Football Club into.

While the players take a large responsibility, let's not beat about the bush here.

Every member of that Pittodrie board needs to take a long, hard look at themselves for allowing us to get into this state.

Our January transfer dealings look even more galling now. The radio silence from senior figures is deafening. When's the next club interview, Dave Cormack?

Reflecting on Saturday, Stephen Robinson again threw players under the bus.

One of those was Topi Keskinen, and given that he travelled to New Zealand during the international break, I felt the criticism aimed at him in particular was harsh when he could have started Toyosi Olusanya instead.

Yes, the players need to look at themselves, but so does Robinson. That team selection was baffling, and he still doesn't know his best team.

We are staring down the barrel right now.

This Saturday, we celebrate Dons legend Joey Harper as we welcome Hibs, and hopefully he is bringing his boots along.

Results need to come now, but we need to get a shot on target to achieve that.

It's a big week ahead.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Image source, SNS

Stephen Robinson faces six games that will decide his future as Aberdeen head coach, says Ryan Flynn, who played under the Northern Irishman with St Mirren.

The Arbroath midfielder thinks the Dons "have enough" in their squad to steer clear of relegation trouble but fears they are not the kind of players who fit the style of play Robinson would want to adopt.

Flynn points out "it would be massive national news" if Aberdeen were to be relegated for the first time ever and that so far there has been "no manager bounce" and "no good performances" in the three games since Robertson was appointed.

Their only point came in his opening game against Falkirk and was thanks to a mistake from visiting goalkeeper Scott Bain.

"You just feel in interviews there's something just not right," Flynn told BBC Scotland's Scottish Football Podcast.

"His style of play needs a certain group of players, but can he get a tune out of those players at Pittodrie?

"If Aberdeen had came for Stephen Robinson in January, for me it would have been a perfect fit. He would have had time to recruit some players, he would then get a bounce and implement his style of play with the players that he needs.

"He's done it at Motherwell and St Mirren. When he has time to really get his philosophy over - exactly what he expects on the park - he has success."

However, Flynn recalled when Robinson took over from Jim Goodwin in Paisley.

"Initially, we had some poor form," he said. "We were pushing for top six and it ended up that the season just petered out and at the start of the next season it started going well and he did a fantastic job."

Flynn said the performance in Aberdeen's latest defeat by his former side in Paisley "was inept" and they now face "a massive home game before the split" against Hibernian on Saturday.

"The one thing you are not going to get at Aberdeen is time," he added. "When you're at a big club, it has to be now or never.

"These six games will dictate how it goes for Stephen Robinson."

Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson says it would have been unfair to stand in the way of Sivert Heltne Nilsen being sold to Haugesund because the 34-year-old midfielder was not in his plans for the rest of the season and was being offered a seven-year playing and coaching contract back in his homeland. (Press & Journal), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full

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Aberdeen are the clear favourites to end up in the relegation play-off spot after their latest defeat, according to Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday.

A 2-0 loss to St Mirren made for an unhappy return to Paisley for Dons boss Stephen Robinson, just weeks after he took on the job in Aberdeen, and the performance underlined just how big a task he has to turn around their form.

Though the Pittodrie side still remain in ninth, St Mirren's victory drew them level with their rivals on 30 points, with Kilmarnock just three behind.

Halliday believes recent results show some momentum for the other sides, while Aberdeen are continuing a long spell of underachievement.

"It's got to be Aberdeen," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "The last 48 points that's been available to them, they've picked up six.

"I think [bottom side] Livingston have got more than that in the last 10 games. On form alone, you've got to say Aberdeen [are favourites for the play-off].

"I don't think there's anything Aberdeen have got going for them at the minute. They've only scored one goal away from home this calendar year. Defensively, they look suspect.

"I don't think they look very well organised, something you thought Stephen Robinson would initially bring to that team. It doesn't look as if that's happening.

"I just don't see what's going to get them an upturn in form. They've not got a player that they can really rely on, who can score seven or eight goals throughout the rest of the season.

"So I think it's worrying signs for Aberdeen, especially given the fact that St Mirren have just had back-to-back wins and Kilmarnock under Neil McCann look as if they can get results at any given moment."

Watch all the highlights as St Mirren score two against Aberdeen.

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 2-0 loss to St Mirren in Paisley. Here's what some of you said:

Graeme: No fight, no passion, we were very poor defensively, we looked disjointed all over the pitch. We need a clear out from top to bottom. If we are in the relegation playoff, I doubt very much if we would beat a Championship team.

George: Same old, same old. Why do professional footballers fail to pass to one of their own team? Lyall Cameron did more in 45 minutes than the entire team did, as did Stuart Armstrong. Why were they not on from the start? You get the feeling this team are overpaid and don't care. Can we survive? Time will tell.

Andy: I'm afraid you couldn't print my thoughts on Aberdeen's performance. It was abysmal at best. What is going on with these players? Second best all over the park and not a single shot on target. Dave Cormack needs to come out and give an analysis of where it has gone wrong and what he intends to do about it.

David: What was Stephen Robinson thinking about with his starting line-up? Lunacy. Marko Lazetic leading the line? Crazy. Alexander Jensen at wing back? Nuts. No playmaker? Madness. We never stood a chance. He's got to get real - and quick.

Stuart: Let's not be too critical of Robinson yet, because he has inherited a team sadly lacking in confidence. Get three points against Hibs then get the remaining games out of the way after the split, then a clear out is seriously needed.

Jim: More of the same. We are worse than with Jimmy Thelin. Honestly what a mess. The one team Robinson should know how to beat and we didn't lay a glove on them in the first half. Better second but not enough. Been going backwards since Cormack took over. Maybe a silver lining of relegation will be ditching him.

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson: "It's not the result we wanted or needed. The first-half performance wasn't good enough, there's no hiding from that. Simply not good enough.

"We got a response in the second half, created chances, could have scored two or three goals. I'm not saying the performance was at a level Aberdeen need to be at, but there was certainly an improvement.

"We've lost to two set-plays, it's been the Achilles heel all season. I wouldn't have got the job if it wasn't a big job. The previous manager would still be here if everything was rosy and going well.

"Of course it's a big job, it's a big job at the best if times. The situation I inherit the job in means I have to keep believing in the players, keep supporting them. Of course it's a hard job, there's no hiding away from that. I'm up for that challenge.

"I found out a lot in the second half about the character, about people who will really run and try to give us a platform to play from.

"What I see in training isn't what I saw in the first half or a practice match last week. We changed that second half and got a response, that's a positive I have to take."

Relegation-threatened Aberdeen's alarming decline continued as they slumped to another abject Scottish Premiership defeat at rejuvenated St Mirren on Stephen Robinson's return to Paisley.

Have your say on the game here.

Read our match report here.

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Saints could have Kion Etete back, while Conor McMenamin has been nursing a groin problem.

Malik Dijksteel (groin), Keanu Baccus (Achilles) and Marcus Fraser (shoulder) are out for the season.

Elvis Bwomono could make his Aberdeen debut, while Lyall Cameron returns after being unable to play against parent club Rangers.

Mats Knoester (concussion) could be back before the end of the season. Nicky Devlin, Kristers Tobers (both knee) and Nick Suman (ankle) remain out.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Captain Graeme Shinnie insists Aberdeen have the qualities needed to get out of relegation trouble - but admits "it is easy saying it, it is about going and doing it now".

The Dons are without a win in eight league games - including six defeats - and are precariously placed just three points above second-bottom Kilmarnock.

On Saturday Aberdeen travel to play St Mirren, who sit above Killie on goal difference.

Shinnie said: "We won 1-0 away on numerous occasions, they have had the fight and the battle. It is easy saying it, it is about going and doing it now.

"There have been a lot of negative moments in the season but there have been results in there that have shown what we can do as a team.

"If you look at the last game away at St Mirren, we managed to win 1-0, a clean sheet, managed to stand up to what they want to do at home so the proof is there that the team can do it.

"But like I said it is not about talking any more, it is about doing stuff on the pitch. It is the business end of the season so it is vitally important that the team do it."

Aberdeen meekly went down 4-1 to Rangers at Ibrox in their last outing, prompting head coach Stephen Robinson to deliver some home truths to the players.

Shinnie said: "I think that is pretty normal when you are at this stage of the season and we are where we are.

"There are a lot words after games like that. It was similar after the Dunfermline game (3-0 Scottish Cup defeat), you don't want to have it but this season it has been a theme that we have had it a lot after games and that is the way it goes.

"You don't take it too personally, it is part of football. We are all using it to try and make things better, that is the whole point of it. It is not just the negatives, you also try and find some positives."

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Craig McLeish aims to turn mentor Stephen Robinson's teachings against him when the former St Mirren boss returns to Paisley with Aberdeen on Saturday.

After a 1-0 defeat by Rangers and 2-1 win at Falkirk, youth coach McLeish's interim stewardship has been extended until the end of the season.

This weekend he goes head to head with Robinson in a massive showdown, with 10th-place St Mirren three points adrift of the Dons.

McLeish, who has also been joined by former St Mirren player Stuart Taylor as part of his backroom team, said: "We had so much success under the manager and he built such a good foundation.

"We all have our own views on football and how we would do things and the manager used to tell me there are only two types of coach.

"You can be a defensive coach who attacks, or you can be an attacking coach who defends, and we used to joke that I was an attacking coach who would sometimes defend. He helped balance me out so much.

"He taught me so much, he probably doesn't realise how much I watched and how much I took in of his sessions and he built such a good structure and foundation here. I now just kind of get to take that and put my own spin on it.

"It's not even about the bravery side of it, the change side of it, it's what I know. It's how I know how to coach, how to set a team up and how to try and attack.

"We're nowhere near yet where I want it look, but at the same time it's not about how pretty we look, or the style of play or what I can do as a coach, it is picking up points and winning games."

In tandem with their struggle for league survival, St Mirren also have a Scottish Cup semi-final clash against Celtic at Hampden later this month.

McLeish said: "People keep mentioning the semi-final, we'll deal with the semi-final when that comes.

"Everything right now is just Aberdeen. How do they play? What have they been doing?

"Obviously the manager's gone up there and they've had a couple of games so we're trying to watch what they've done.

"We're trying to just gameplan and prepare ourselves as best we can and once that one's out of the way, we just move on to the next game."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Aberdeen's Premiership trip to St Mirren on Saturday.

Here are the key lines:

• On returning to his former club and the reaction that awaits, Robinson says given his achievements there "you would expect a good one". However, he admits: "This is football... so I can't imagine it will be that good."

• With the nine-place Dons just three points above St Mirren and second-bottom Kilmarnock, Robinson is well aware it is a "huge game" and his side "can't hide away from that".

• Robinson is braced for a battle: "Nobody knows St Mirren better than myself."

• He believes his squad have the grit to get out of their current predicament: "It goes without saying you have to win the fight before you can start to play your football."

• He continues: "This club has been very up and down all the time. These are big big games, we need to get enough points to make sure we are not in a relegation play-off or worse and then we rebuild for next season."

• Robinson called for unity at Aberdeen and says he has several players with big-game experience, adding: "I am confident they will stand up."

• After calling out his players following the defeat to Rangers in Aberdeen's previous game, Robinson says there has been a lot of positivity around the place.

• He adds: "The players have been brilliant. They have been excellent, the response has been very, very good."

• New signing Elvis Bwomono is available for a debut and there are no fresh injury concerns.

Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday expects Aberdeen to finish this season in the relegation play-off spot.

The Dons are currently ninth but only three points above St Mirren - who they play on Saturday in their penultimate pre-split game - and second-bottom Kilmarnock.

Killie are looking to make it three wins in a row when they visit Hibs while the Buddies welcome Aberdeen searching for back-to-back victories.

The Dons, now led by former St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson, haven't won a league game since January.

"At this moment in time if I had to predict anyone to be in that 11th spot at the end of the season it's Aberdeen," Halliday told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I don't think they've been a great side throughout the season but I think they've saved their worst period until the last six, seven, eight weeks.

"I make St Mirren favourites going into this game at the weekend. I think momentum is huge at this stage in the season.

"I don't think Aberdeen know their best team, Stephen Robinson doesn't know the players he can trust yet, whereas St Mirren and Kilmarnock have a much clearer idea, they've shown they can get results.

"It's unbelievable Aberdeen are even down there, the money they're spending on players, the transfer fees they've spent.

"It wouldn't surprise me one bit if they find themselves in that second-bottom spot."

Saturday will mark Robinson's first return to Paisley after leaving St Mirren last month to take over at Pittodrie.

"I think he'll get a hero's welcome from the fanbase, I don't think he'll get the same reception from his players," Halliday said.

"It's been dubbed the Stephen Robinson derby and I think if it turns into a Stephen Robinson type game, St Mirren are better equipped for it."

Image source, SNS

• This will be Stephen Robinson's first Scottish Premiership game against St Mirren since leaving the club for Aberdeen. Robinson has won all three of his managerial games away to the Buddies in the competition, each with Motherwell from October 2018 to December 2019.

• Aberdeen have lost eight of their past nine away league outings (D1) and could go 10+ away games without a win in the Premiership for the first time since July 2022 (11).

• St Mirren have lost their past two home league matches by an aggregate score of 6-0, last losing three in a row in February 2025. The Buddies could also lose three in a row at home without scoring in the top flight for the first time since January 2024.

• Aberdeen's 1-0 victory at St Mirren in October ended a 10-game winless away league run against the Buddies (D3 L7).

• St Mirren have won five of their past eight league meetings with Aberdeen (D1 L2), although are winless in both so far this season (D1 L1).

New Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson is eager to restore 22-year-old forward Marko Lazetic's confidence. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Wednesday's Scottish gossip