Aberdeen

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen keeper Dimitar Mitov says they owe it to the fans to have a strong end to the season but admits nothing can make amends for a sub-standard campaign.

A run of just one win in their last 16 league games has seen last season's Scottish Cup winners become embroiled in a Premiership survival battle.

The ninth-placed Dons go into Saturday's visit of Hibs just three points above second-bottom Kilmarnock, who occupy the relegation play-off spot.

When asked what has gone wrong this term, Mitov said, "It is the million-dollar question.

"I think it is a lot of things. Obviously, we as players have to take the blame because it is our responsibility when we pull the shirt on, and we have not done well enough this season.

"Listen, whatever we do for the rest of the season is not going to make amends for how the season has gone because the football club should never be in the position it is right now, especially with the success we had last season, and European football.

"But that should be the standard every season, fighting for titles, fighting for cups, being in Europe, and we have not met those standards this season.

"Hopefully, we give something to the fans to be proud of, maybe it is not enough for them, we know that.'

"It is all good me sitting here saying these kinds of things but people don't want to see players in the media say 'this needs to be better, that needs to be better ' we just need to keep our mouths shut and perform on the pitch."

Mitov's own form has been mixed this season.

The Bulgarian international has flitted in and out of the side since the January arrival of Norwegian goalie Per Kristian Bratveit.

"I think as a goalkeeper you pay the ultimate price when the team is not doing well and you are conceding the goals," he added.

"It is the position of ultimate perfection, and if you are not close to perfection, you will cost your team.''

"I tell you one thing, there is not a worse feeling in the world than costing your team, and nobody has to tell me when a goal is going in that 'oh the keeper should have done better' I know better than anyone."

"You know when you say goalkeepers are crazy, they are crazy because you need to love that pressure, you need to embrace it you need to come out there and say 'I am the man' so you have to have that mentality going into every game and just believe in yourself that you can help the team going forward."

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has revealed that he has had to work to build social bonds between his players as he looks to rescue their season.

The Northern Irishman was appointed at Pittodrie last month with the immediate task of steering the team away from relegation fears but a draw and two defeats since then has seen the team move closer to the play-off spot.

As he prepares the team to face Hibs at home on Saturday, he said that part of the work he's been doing to improve things has been focused on trying to build a togetherness that he thinks is lacking in the squad.

"There's been small little tweaks since I have come in to try and get people to speak more," Robinson said at his pre-match media conference. "We have got 16 different nationalities at this football club, which is incredible, and everyone has got different cultures and different ideas.

"It's been about trying to get people together a little bit more, to put the social area into one place, instead of being in three different places. There wasn't a social area actually, [a place where they can] sit and have a coffee, speak to each other and get to know each other. So we are hoping that will help.

'When you are in the trenches you need to know a little bit about each other and try and fight your way out of it.'

Robinson made it clear there were no cliques or factions within the Dons squad but he wants stronger bonds between players and more cohesion to help build a run of positive results starting this weekend and through the post-split fixtures.

'There are certainly not factions," he said. "When you come from different cultures of course you gravitate towards people you have a little bit more in common with, so it's to get everyone together.

"When things aren't going well if you actually know a little bit about each other, you speak to each other outside of football then you have got a real desire to help each other and we are just trying to create that, trying to create that atmosphere.'

"It is the same at every club, every club I have been to, you try and do that, usually in a pre-season you have a lot of time to do that, here we are trying to fast-track that very quickly."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Scottish Premiership visit of Hibernian.

Here are the main points:

• With the Dons just three points above the relegation play-off spot, Robinson admits Saturday's match is "a huge game".

• But stresses now is not the time to scrutinise, that will come at the end of the season and insists now is the time for "togetherness".

• On the criticism coming his team's way, Robinson says "the players have been ridiculed from pillar to post".

• And amid the pressure, he says "nobody has gone hiding, nobody is looking for excuses" and stresses everyone is up for the fight.

• Robinson was asked if the immediate challenge he faces of trying to guide the Dons to safety, is "one of the biggest" of his managerial career and has vowed to use every bit of experience he has gained as a manager.

• He points out there are other teams in the relegation fight, not just Aberdeen and believes "the positive we have over all the rest of the teams that are down there is our fan base" and stresses "we are all in this together".

• Having been in the job for a few weeks now, Robinson believes he is better equipped to know what is needed to get the team out of this situation than he was when he arrived.

• He says one of the things he has been trying to do is to get everyone together, noting that there are 16 different nationalities in the squad

• Team news: They will make a late call on Dennis Geiger who has a slight hamstring injury. Mats Knoester will resume full training next week and may be available for the second game after the split.

For Aberdeen, the stats are damning.

Eight wins from 32 league games, 18 defeats - the same number as bottom side Livingston - and just one victory in their past 16 Scottish Premiership fixtures.

Those numbers are why the Dons are hovering above the relegation play-off place, level on points with St Mirren and just three above Kilmarnock in 11th.

But abject performances and a non-existent new manager bounce following the arrival of Stephen Robinson are perhaps the biggest concerns for the Pittodrie club.

With Europe-chasing Hibernian travelling north on Saturday, do Aberdeen have the fight in them to drag themselves out of a perilous situation?

Stephen McGowan of The Herald isn't convinced, saying on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast: "I don't think there's any evidence they do at the moment.

"Stephen Robinson teams are always noted for having fight, but these are not Stephen Robinson players.

"It's difficult to see how he can take his preferences for shape and character and inject them into this team in such a short space of time."

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• All four of Ante Suto's Scottish Premiership goals for Hibernian have come as a substitute, the joint-most goals from the bench of any player in the competition this season (Marko Lazetic also four).

• Hibernian have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three league games, last doing so four times in a row in the Scottish Premiership in March 2022 under Shaun Maloney - a run that was ended by a 3-1 defeat at Aberdeen.

• No side has lost more games in the Scottish Premiership this season than Aberdeen (18, level with Livingston), while it's their most league defeats in a single campaign since 2010-11 (22).

• Hibernian have won three of their last five league visits to Aberdeen (D1 L1), and are looking to win there successively for the first time since September 2004.

• Aberdeen have lost both of their two previous league meetings with Hibernian this season, but haven't lost three in a row against Hibs since December 2004, and last did so within a single league campaign in 2002-03.

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

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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.