Aberdeen

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Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson has told his wingers he wants more end product.

The Dons boss has been utilising wing-backs and more central attackers in recent games, but his side lacked creativity in Sunday's 1-0 home defeat by St Johnstone, which left them eighth in the Scottish Premiership.

Lewis Smith played most of the game after striker Ayoub Mouloua suffered an injury, while wingers Tony Yogane and Hicham Mahou came on in the second half.

"I need more out of the wingers. I've told them that," Robinson said.

"I thought Lewis, up to a point, was good. And then it's the end product, which we see every day in training from him.

"Tony's just turned 21. He's a baby. He's a kid. He's a project. We're going to have up-and-down moments with him, but I know they've got the quality. I've got the belief in them."

Frenchman Mahou made his debut as a 68th-minute replacement for defender Nesta Guinness-Walker.

"Hicham is not fully fit yet," Robinson added. "It was a case of getting as many creative players on the pitch as we could to see if we could break them down, but we didn't manage to do that."

Aberdeen fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's 1-0 defeat at home to St Johnstone.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Peter: Any form/momentum we had prior to international break has gone. Stephen Robinson managed to get results at St Mirren but whatever is happening at Aberdeen, he's not getting the same effect. Poor result and never a penalty.

Atulan: Very disappointing. We had a month to prepare and gel as a team and it looked like a team of strangers. No movement off the ball and no clear plan. The coaches are clearly either not getting their message across or hopelessly out of their depth, I think it is probably the latter. Won't be long until the Dave Cormack merry-go-round starts again.

Andy: Yet another extremely disappointing result, all huff and puff but no reward. The manager suggests that it all looks good on the training pitch however, as he well knows, there is nobody seriously trying to frustrate your efforts on the training pitch.

David: No fight, no desire and no leadership on or off the park. Players played out of position. We were at home game against a team in the bottom six and Robinson plays five at the back. We were promised free flowing, attacking football. I'm very worried for this team.

Malcolm: Once again people were carried away with one performance against Motherwell before the international break, back to normal against St Johnstone. If Robinson sees so much in training apparently then why can't it be replicated when it matters? Poor attack against poor defenders in training perhaps. Tired of the excuses, time for change.

Simon: Aberdeen take underachieving to a new level. I feel disenfranchised with the club, I'm not alone, we expect better with our budget. The stewardship of the club seem to have different ideas, I cannot listen to our manager's post-match interviews anymore as they are not based on reality. Everything about our club is third rate. No direction, lack of quality throughout the squad and everyone except those at the club can see it. The new CEO has some big decisions to make. Crowds will start to dwindle and who can blame them.

Watch all the highlights as St Johnstone narrowly defeat Aberdeen at Pittodrie to move into the top six of the Scottish Premiership. Available to UK users only.

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson: "Disappointed in the result, frustrated with our end product. First half, we moved the ball too slowly, backwards and sideways.

"We rectified that in the second half, got into very good positions. But ultimately didn't have the final decision to win, or get back into, the game.

"The pitch is the same for both teams. We dominated possession, had 22 shots. We can't have excuses, the pitch can be better but that's not the reason for today.

"We need to be finishing teams off, making better decisions. What I see in training is that we have that quality. We've not been able to convert that.

"It's the hardest bit of the game. You see teams like Rangers and Celtic struggling to break down teams that sit deep. We're no different.

"There's no hiding place. Our last pass, last decision, wasn't what I know it can be today.

"We have to give them belief and confidence. That final action is the million dollar question because it wins football matches. Outwith Kevin Nisbet, we're not scoring enough goals. We need people to step up.

"Do I believe they can? Yeah, but we have to be brave to do that."

St Johnstone rose into the Scottish Premiership top six with a rare away victory over Aberdeen as Josh Fowler's early penalty proved decisive.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say on the game via this link.

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Aberdeen pair Brad Lyons and Emmanuel Gyamfi are both back in contention so Kristers Tobers (knee) is the only definite absentee.

On-loan Saints defender Zach Mitchell has returned to Charlton with a season-ending knee injury and Cheick Diabate is suspended after his red card against Falkirk before the international break.

Croatian centre-back Bozo Mikulic could make a return from his lengthy injury lay-off, having come through two closed-doors matches.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Stephen Robinson has urged his Aberdeen side "to capitalise on those home games" as they look to continue their improving form.

Four of the Dons' past five fixtures in all competitions have been on the road. Despite that, Robinson's side, who are seventh in the Scottish Premiership, have turned their fortunes around.

Four of their next five league games are at Pittodrie, starting with Sunday's visit of St Johnstone.

And Robinson said: "It was a tough start, we can't deny that. We find ourselves in an OK position and now we have to capitalise on those home games.

"We want to win both games [against St Johnstone and St Mirren] and I believe we have got the squad to do that. I believe the squad is now starting to get fitter, to get an understanding and whatever team I put out, my changes."

Nevertheless, Robinson is under no illusions about the challenge they face against a Saints side that have adapted well to life back in the Premiership.

He said: "Simo [Valakari] has done a fantastic job, a really good job.

"Obviously, they got promoted and they have caused every team problems and I think that is just the nature of the league now - there are no games where you turn up and think, 'Aberdeen should win this game'. Everything is tough.

"Simo has put a really good squad together, he has kept a lot of boys from last year as well and they have lots of threats but we have to concentrate on us, our good points, what we can bring to the pitch and I believe we have got a lot of options to do that now."

Chris Cadden believes Aberdeen have shown character to overcome boos during their early season struggles. (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)

Saturday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Chris Cadden insists there is still plenty of improvement to come from Aberdeen as they bid to build on their upturn in form.

After a bumpy start to the campaign the seventh-placed Dons go into Sunday's home game against St Johnstone on a four-game unbeaten run.

So has a corner been turned?

"We are on a journey, we are on a process here, and we understand it is going to take time," said defender Cadden.

"There has been a lot of change at the club but winning games helps, the feelgood about the place coming into your work is better.

"It was a really positive week but we know that there is still a lot to come from us, there is still a lot to improve on. Every day in training, especially the last two weeks, the standard is brilliant.

"People coming back from injury, the standard of player is really good, so we know the capabilities we have in this dressing room.

"We know the level is there that we can go and produce right good performances and results, so that is what we are working towards."

• Prior to the international break, St Johnstone recovered more points from losing positions than any side in the Scottish Premiership (5), drawing 1-1 with Falkirk despite conceding first last time out.

• Only bottom side Kilmarnock have had fewer shots (69) than Aberdeen (70) in the Premiership this season, with the Dons' 7.16 xG the lowest of any side.

• Aberdeen have only lost one of their past 14 home league matches against newly-promoted opponents (W7 D6), a 1-0 defeat to Falkirk last season.

• St Johnstone have only won one of their past 10 league meetings with Aberdeen (D4 L5), a 2-0 away victory in February 2024.

• St Johnstone have won one of their past 16 away games in the Premiership (D3 L12), beating St Mirren 1-0 in February 2025.

Former Aberdeen youth defender Timothy Akindileni, now 19, says he moved to Queens Park Rangers 18 months ago because he did not feel there was a clear plan for his progression to the first team. (Press & Journal, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson says he has the "good problem" of picking from an almost fully fit squad for the first time since taking over in March.

With Brad Lyons and Emmanuel Gyamfi available, Latvia defender Kristers Tobers - who has been sidelined for over a year but is back training - is the only absentee for Sunday's Premiership visit of St Johnstone.

"It creates a problem - but a good problem as well because people want to play football," Robinson said.

"There are going to be boys that miss out on the bench, I think picking my bench will be the hardest thing for Sunday because there are boys that I really like and have done well that won't be involved because we need to balance that squad up and balance the bench up."

Aberdeen went into the international break unbeaten in four matches, and are now looking to advance up the table from their current place in seventh.

"There has been a lot of positivity," added Robinson. "We did have a hectic start, a lot of games, so I think the break also helped reset everybody and refocus everybody.

"They have come back very fresh and it gave me time to get minutes and running and fitness in to the legs of the boys that just arrived at the last minute as well.

"We know we have to play to the best of our ability to win every match and we are looking to take things forward and keep progressing."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premiership visit of St Johnstone (14:00 BST).

Here are the key points:

• Emmanuel Gyamfi and Brad Lyons could return after injury lay-offs.

• Robinson says it is the first time since he arrived at the club he has a full squad, apart from Kristers Tobers who is still a few weeks away from being available for selection.

• The Dons boss welcomes the tough selection decisions: "I think picking my bench will be the hardest thing for Sunday."

• He said the three-week break from playing has been "really positive" after a "hectic start" to the season and has "helped reset and refocus everybody".

• With Aberdeen unbeaten in four games, Robinson says "we have to try and continue that". And he is urging his side to "capitalise" on having four of their next five league games at home.

• Robinson has praised St Johnstone, saying their manager Simo Valakari has done "a fantastic job", and points out they have caused problems for every team they have played.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Are underlying numbers from the start of the Scottish Premiership season suggesting a refreshed approach could be taking hold across the league?

Well, the success stories at Motherwell and Falkirk last season seem to have had an influence.

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin was humble enough to reveal that Jens Berthel Askou - now head coach at Toulouse in Ligue 1 - has inspired him to change his ways after more than 15 years as a player and manager in Scotland.

Goodwin's side are one of a number of Premiership teams to have undergone a stylistic shift this term, and that is reflected in the league's overall numbers, albeit the sample size remains small after just seven matches for each club.

Compared with the previous five Scottish top-flight seasons, passes per game have soared to 886. That is an increase of 58 on last term. Five years ago, the average was 795.

Passing accuracy is also at a high of 81%, which is quite a remarkable increase on the 73% recorded in 2023-24.

That is down to more short passing. The percentage of long passes across the league (13%) is now at its lowest level of the past five years. Perhaps surprisingly, Hearts and Rangers go long more than any other teams.

Goodwin's United, meanwhile, have gone from average possession of 42% last term to 50% this season. Their accurate passes per match have rocketed from 219 to 320.

It is a similar story for St Mirren under Craig McLeish and Neil McCann's Kilmarnock, while league leaders Celtic and Alfred Johansson's Motherwell are locked at the top of the possession chart on 61%.

The promotion of St Johnstone back into the league, replacing Livingston, has added another side who aim to play a more expansive brand.

The recent appointment of Dutch head coach Marink Reedijk at Hibernian will only enhance that.

Read more: Why early-season data points to Premiership style shift

Aberdeen defender Kristers Tobers, 25, will not be rushed back after a lengthy injury absence. (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip column in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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BBC Sport Scotland has been taking a look at away ticket pricing in Scottish football.

It is an issue which has been tackled at the highest level south of the border, with a £30 away ticket cap having been in operation in the Premier League for a decade.

Is anything similar on the agenda north of the border?

While it doesn't appear to be at the moment, we have been canvassing the thoughts of fans across the Premiership.

An adult away fan going to a league game at Aberdeen will pay between £27-£36 depending on the fixture, with concessions ranging from £6 to £28.

Dons fan Glen Schreuder, of the Red Tinted Glasses Podcast, says: "I think certain clubs are better than others at addressing this but what we need to be careful of or avoid is tit for tat retaliation in terms of pricing.

"We need clubs to come together and address this and work collectively on making football affordable for fans, especially when it comes to away fixtures.

"I would like to see an away ticket cap brought in. One of the reasons I don't do much away travel any more is because it is becoming unaffordable with the rise in not just ticket prices but general prices.

"So if they could look at a way of capping ticket prices - I know £20 has been spoken about, even £25 doesn't seem unreasonable - but the thought of paying in excess of £35 to attend some of these games just isn't appealing."

Read more: Are SPFL away tickets too expensive?

Alex Briedl views manager Stephen Robinson's unwavering belief as key to Aberdeen's recent revival. (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Ayoub Mouloua scored twice as Aberdeen beat Dunfermline Athletic 4-1 in a friendly on Saturday.

The Moroccan also set up a goal for Lewis Smith, while Jack Milne headed in the opener at East End Park.

Goalkeeper Daniel Klein made his first start, wing-back Hicham Mahou got his first run out as half-time substitute and Brad Lyons returned from injury - also from the bench.

Keith Bray had levelled for the hosts just before the break in what was a testimonial for Mo Hutton, who served the Fife club for 33 years as a coach and kit man before retiring at the end of last season.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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The Tennent's Sixes returns for the first time in 26 years this weekend, albeit in a legends format.

The original version featured first-team players from the Scottish top flight and ran from 1984 until 1993.

The roll call of sixes medallists is impressive. Quite a few have two, including Davie Cooper for Rangers in '84 and '89, scoring in both finals. Dave McPherson with Rangers in '84 and Hearts in '91. John Robertson, Gary McKay and Henry Smith were two-time winners with Hearts.

John Collins was a winner with Hibs in 1990 and with Celtic two years later. Aberdeen won back-to-back titles in '86 and '87 with similar squads including the likes of Jim Leighton and Neil Simpson.

But only one player has three winners medals. Winger Joe Miller was a winning Don in '86 and '87 as well as a victorious Celt in '92.

His goal for Liam Brady's Celtic in the 4-2 win over St Johnstone in the final is the stuff of sixes legend.

"John Collins or Tony Cascarino tried to play a one-two," Miller tells BBC Scotland. "The St Johnstone goalkeeper came out to tackle me and I just dipped my shoulder and let the ball run through me and into the open net."

The cheeky dummy was Miller's 10th goal of the 1992 sixes. Little wonder he remembers it fondly.

"That was probably my best memory of the sixes as it was my third win," said the 58-year-old who also finished top scorer and won the player of the tournament award.

"I loved the sixes. Current first team players played in it and treated it very seriously.

"Imagine today's players being asked to play in it. They'd be on to their agents straight away."

That was the only trophy Celtic won that year and it was the first they'd lifted since the 1989 Scottish Cup in which Miller scored the only goal of the match against Rangers. They wouldn't win another trophy until 1995.

Miller who'd been a part of the double winning centenary season team in 1988 and won both domestic cup competitions with Aberdeen would taste further glory - sort of.

"I also won a couple of Masters six-a-side titles after that, but that would be milking it," he added.

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We asked you to rate Aberdeen's season and tell us what Stephen Robinson should be focusing on during the international break.

Here is what some of you said:

Ben: 6/10. It was tough opening games, like Robinson said we played five of the top six from last season. We are in the cup semi-finals, that's a job well done in my book.

Joe: Not too much to get excited about so far. One week of mixed results, a lucky cup win, a good win at Motherwell and a draw at Hibs. Did we build on the cup-winning team? No, two players from that team starting so far this season and one of the club's most expensive signings ever, Kristers Tobers, on the treatment table month after month. It feels like a lot of gambles that may or may not pay off. There's a long way to go to reach the standards fans long for.

Dick: It looks as if Robinson is making the best of the poor set of cards he has been given. If you bring in 12 new players, most of whom were released by their clubs, it is likely they won't be the best in the market. On top of that there were no marquee loan signings. It looks as if he is going to require a number of transfer windows to get to where he wants to be.

Malcolm: Pathetic, big build-up, too many average signings, no creativity, no pace. Robinson's desperate excuse of fatigue and travel are laughable, gone by the end of the year. We signed journeymen, not players to improve what we had or needed developed, money wasted again.

Liam: Signs of improvement are there. Let's not forget we've played last season's top four already and beaten two of them. After the 0-0 draw with Killie, even the most optimistic Dons fan was scared looking at the run of three games coming up. To leave with four points and a Hampden trip is brilliant, considering our away form over the last 12-plus months. The break has likely come at a bad time, as we were picking up some momentum, but hopefully it helps recharge the squad.

Luke: Below par, manager was not right for the club and continues to be out his depth with terrible signings. Can only see mid-table end of season looming.

Arch: There can never be anything acceptable about losing at home to Rangers. Results against Dundee, Hibs and particularly Kilmarnock are at best, disappointing. On the other hand it's a new squad. Some players, like Ayoub Mouloua, are clearly talented and should give us a decent season. Should be a bit higher than seventh at this stage but I still expect qualification for Europe.