Aberdeen

Cal Gilkison
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Aberdeen visit Dundee United in the Premiership on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from the Aberdeen boss:

• The squad have been hit with a virus this week with multiple players impacted. Robinson says a few players have returned to training but "it will depend how certain players wake up tomorrow".

• Team selection will be a "last-minute decision" and Robinson adds: "I've got an idea of how I want to set up, but that has already changed today so we'll see where we are tomorrow morning. I believe we have a good squad. Sometimes someone's misfortune gives somebody else an opportunity. We'll pick a team that we believe can win the game."

• Robinson revealed Kristers Tobers' recovery has been disrupted by the virus after the defender had hoped to play in a reserve game on Wednesday.

• Robinson was "really pleased" with his side's second-half reaction in their 3-1 win over St Mirren last weekend and praised his substitutes for making a "real impression".

• On the game at Tannadice, the Dons boss says: " A result for either team will be really important. Dundee united have had a brilliant start to the season, but yet we're only one point behind them. It's an opportunity for both clubs to be in the top six by the end of play on Saturday. Certainly, that's what we aim to do."

• Robinson stressed the importance of securing back-to-back league wins for the first time this season: "We haven't been able to follow up a really good result with another really good result. Momentum's everything. It's now trying to get a couple of wins in a row and that's not easy. When you do that in the Premiership you cement your place and get that momentum going so it's a very important game."

• Robinson believes it's all about "getting the balance" right between the Dons being defensively solid and a potent attacking threat: "We've conceded the joint least goals in the league outwith Rangers and Celtic. It's getting that balance right and we're still trying to tweak that and still trying to find that balance."

Aberdeen great Joe Harper wants to see Ayoub Mouloua unleashed against Dundee United on Saturday. (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)

Friday's Scottish gossip

• Lyall Cameron has scored (2) or assisted (1) in his past three league appearances for Dundee United, just the third time he has recorded a goal involvement in three successive Scottish Premiership outings, also doing so in both December 2024 and May 2025 for Dundee.

• Aberdeen have kept a clean sheet in the past two league games against Dundee United (W1 D1), as many as their previous 11 prior.

• Dundee United have only suffered one defeat in their past nine home league games against Aberdeen (W6 D2), losing 3-1 in March 2023.

• Dundee United are unbeaten in four league games (W2 D2); only once since the start of last season have they gone 5+ without defeat, doing so in December last term (5).

• Aberdeen have picked up four points in their past two away league games (W1 D1), twice as many as their previous 14 beforehand (D2 L12).

Manager Stephen Robinson takes responsibility for Tony Yogane's slow start at Aberdeen but feels the winger is now getting into dangerous positions. (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

One of the standout fixtures in the Scottish Premiership calendar takes place this weekend as Aberdeen make the short trip down the A90 to face Dundee Utd at Tannadice.

Dons fans love an away day in the City of Discovery, home before the Green Final, anyone?

It is a fixture that will forever bring back memories of the clubs' 1980s heyday when it was often a battle for title race points.

That may be a pipe dream these days but it is the clear match of the day on Saturday with the sides separated by a single point going into this one.

With a League Cup semi-final on the horizon, Stephen Robinson will have been relieved to have got over the line against St Mirren because it was threatening to turn into another difficult afternoon for the Dons.

Their second-half performance secured a victory the manager absolutely needed going by the reaction at half-time and coming after the powderpuff defeat to St Johnstone six days prior.

It won't have been often St Mirren went in at the break at Pittodrie having enjoyed almost 70% possession. Brad Lyons' spectacular opener aside, it was a grim watch for the home fans.

Aberdeen have lost just one of their past six games and yes, there are caveats such as failing to score and picking up just one point in two home matches against Kilmarnock and St Johnstone while surrendering a lead against a toiling Hibernian in among that, but Robinson will continue to accentuate the positives with that Hampden date against Rangers rapidly roaming into view.

But up first it's Tannadice as the Dons look for just a second away league victory of 2026 against a United side that is beginning to look a well-oiled machine under former Pittodrie boss Jim Goodwin.

Stephen Robinson says striker Ayoub Mouloua's ruthless Aberdeen impact in the win over St Mirren - after a week where he was only allowed to train on a static bike - has given him "food for thought". (Press and Journal), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish football gossip

Saturday's win over St Mirren was a vital victory for under-pressure Stephen Robinson, says Sportscene pundit Richard Foster, but the former Aberdeen defender believes Dons fans will still "want to see a better product on the pitch".

Watch Sportscene highlights of the weekend's top-flight action

Nesta Guinness-Walker is determined Aberdeen now power their way into the Premiership top-six, believing they could have scored "four, five or six" in their vital weekend victory over St Mirren. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

Watch all the highlights as Aberdeen inflicted a fifth successive defeat on St Mirren with their second Premiership victory at Pittodrie. Available to UK users only.

Aberdeen fans, we asked for your views after Saturday's victory over St Mirren.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Richard: Serious questions needs to be asked about why Stephen Robinson persists with this mindless hoofing of the ball up to Toyosi Olusanya. It's contributing to our poor starts within games. Robinson's bought himself a very temporary reprieve but fans don't want to win ugly. Football is supposed to be entertainment, not a form of torture.

Struan: Hats off to Mr Robinson. Going in at half time many a Pittodrie, myself included, had that familiar sinking feeling. St Mirren had totally outplayed us and another home loss beckoned. His half time subs were strong and set the foundation for Ayoub Mouloua to come on and make the difference, he may be the one to drive us up the league. Also that was a great goal by Brad Lyons and an even better call to sub him at half time.

Scott: I just don't know how good a win that was. Were we good in the second half, or were St Mirren poor? One thing is certain, Mouloua has to be starting every game, as he's the one piece of class we have up front. I remain far from convinced by Robinson. We have another international break coming up, and for me, results between now and then will determine his fate.

Graeme: Three points, but still this is not a convincing team. It will take a lot more than this to get me believing that Robinson has what it takes to manage Aberdeen

Neil: The proverbial game to two halves. After a flying start we slipped back to default settings and invited all the pressure that came our way, a better team than St Mirren would have buried us by half time. Having said all that a much improved second half I don't think anyone saw coming. Happy to get three points at home and surely Mouloua has to start against Dundee United next week

Richard: Not quite as big a steal as against Hearts but result hugely flatters us. Mouloua was great (and should start), Mats Knoester as ever a rock. Other than that only highlight was it was sunny. We are still a woeful team.

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Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson: "We had to dig deep for it.

"We started really well with a great goal and then we sat back and were way too cautious and played with little bit of fear. Credit to St Mirren, they played some really good stuff.

"In the second half we were very, very good. Showed real bravery and we could have had more goals as well. We had numerous chances when we were through on goal and didn't take them.

"You go in at half time a little bit disappointed and you get a reaction - they either hide or they come out and fight and show their quality and they certainly did that second half.

"I think we've lost one in six now so we have positivity in the camp and there's belief in the staff and the players.

"Sometimes there's the fear factor and you take a step back, but when we took a step forward in the second half we showed we can be really aggressive and a good side with good players."

Aberdeen ended their recent home goal drought to overcome St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership and ease some of the disquiet surrounding manager Stephen Robinson.

Read the match report.

Have your say on the game.

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Aberdeen captain Kevin Nisbet is a doubt with a hamstring issue, while Ayoub Mouloua will be assessed as he recovers from a head knock sustained last weekend. Hicham Mahou is set to miss out due to illness, while Kristers Tobers is still out.

St Mirren forward Nikolas Agrafiotis (calf) is a doubt while Keanu Baccus, Jonah Ayunga and Malik Dijksteel are out, but Richard King and Jayden Richardson are in line to return.

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has called on his side to show more bravery and determination in the final third as their dismal run continues.

The Dons have only won once since mid-August, but could climb into the top half of the table this weekend if they beat visitors St Mirren and other results fall their way elsewhere.

Josh Fowler's early penalty proved decisive for Simo Valakari's side at Pittodrie last time out, with a Martin Boyle penalty denying them all three points in the game prior to that too.

Robinson wants his side to make their dominance count going forward.

"We're getting into lots of areas with 22 shots, it was 65% possession or something close, loads of corners, loads of entries into the box," Robinson said.

"But I'd say a little bit more quality is needed with that final decision and that final pass.

"As I say, that's what we've worked on, maybe try and encourage more people to get into the box, which is something we've continually tried to do, and being brave in possession of the ball.

"As there has been since I came in the door, there's a lot of positivity, and as I say, we have got wingers in the building."

The Dons' profligacy in front of goal means they are the joint-lowest scorers in the top flight, along with Kilmarnock and Falkirk, who are the bottom two sides in the league.

Aberdeen have failed to score in each of their last three home league games, attempting 43 shots without finding the net.

They haven't drawn a blank in four successive home league matches since September 2012, when there was a run of four goalless draws in a row, two of which were against this weekend's opponents, St Mirren.

"It's something we've looked at, something we may have to tweak," Robinson added.

"Certainly, the big thing is trying to get more numbers into those areas, because we've had a lot of domination of the ball.

"So that's something about belief and confidence and that's what I've tried to give the boys. "

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premiership visit of St Mirren.

Here are the key points:

• Robinson says the task for his side is simple, they must get back to winning ways: "We were disappointed with the result last week. We have to win on Saturday. We're really determined to do that, and that's what we'll set out to do. We have to be the best version of ourselves."

• Quality in the final third is something they have been keen to emphasise in training this week too: "But I'd say a little bit more quality is needed with that final decision and that final pass. As I say, that's what we've worked on. Encourage more people to get into the box, which is something we've continually tried to do."

• On the opposition manager Craig McLeish this weekend, and St Mirren's recent form, Robinson said he admires the work he's done and doesn't expect a much-changed side to line up at Pittodrie: "I think he's done a really good job and recruited really well, of course, you have spells in the season where things don't go your way, and he'll learn from that. But as I say, he's a very confident coach, very confident in his ability. So, no, I don't envisage loads of changes."

• Robinson is keen to "change the narrative" around his side and backs them to make a move up the table soon, adding: "We want to win the game. And that changes the narrative completely. We could have gone fourth with a win on Saturday. We didn't. We didn't do enough to win the game, but a win on Saturday can change that whole perspective."

• Despite no wins in the previous two games, Robinson says the performances on the park aren't necessarily an issue, but the fine margins are: "We totally dominated the game, take away everything, we dominated the game from start to finish. St Johnstone had two touches in our box, and one of those was a penalty. We lost the game to a penalty. We lost two or three points at Hibs to a penalty."

• Robinson said players on the periphery of the squad always have a chance to break into the first team, but they have to seize the opportunity when it's presented to them: "But if you're not involved and you're not starting, then of course, you need to do more in training when you get that opportunity every day, and in-game situations when you get that chance."

• Kevin Nisbet is doubt for this weekend due to a hamstring injury and has missed training this week, Ayoub Mouloua will train today for the first time after a head knock. Hicham Mahou is out ill.

Shayden Morris insists he would have been happy to stay at Aberdeen after becoming a firm fan favourite in his final season at Pittodrie, but he says he felt a lack of respect from the club during contract talks before the 24-year-old winger finally joined Luton Town. (Daily Record, external)

Finlay Neat, currently on loan to Swedish second-tier club Norrby, hopes to follow fellow Scottish striker Robbie Ure by making a name for himself with Sirius after the former Aberdeen academy 20-year-old overcame an 18-month battle with a fractured spine. (Press & Journal, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

• Two of the top three players for true tackles attempted in the Scottish Premiership this season are St. Mirren's Ryan Carr (46) and Aberdeen's Afeez Aremu (39, level with Dylan Tait).

• St. Mirren have lost each of their last four Scottish Premiership games, last losing five in a row in the competition in October 2020 (6).

• Aberdeen have failed to score in each of their last three home league games, attempting 43 shots without finding the net. They haven't drawn a blank in four successive home league matches since September 2012 – a run of four goalless draws in a row, two of which were against St. Mirren.

• St. Mirren have won four of their last seven league visits to Aberdeen (D1 L2), after having been winless in 15 beforehand (D8 L7).

• Aberdeen have won just one of their last seven league meetings with St. Mirren (D1 L5), a 1-0 away victory in October 2025.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Any horror movie buffs who have dragged themselves to the cinema to watch the seventh Scream movie, the 10th Saw film or the 13th Halloween flick, in the hope of salvaging something from the respective franchises, are probably the same people who part with money to watch Aberdeen play at home against sides they are favourites to beat.

Aberdeen v St Johnstone matches wouldn't look out of place at your local multiplex during the October period, and Sunday proved no different.

It is far from a vintage fixture at the best of times.

Of course, Simo Valakari and the Saints' fans won't see it that way, given their 1-0 victory was a superb three points for the visitors.

They executed their gameplan perfectly, but for the home supporters, it was the same ghoulish tale they have grown accustomed to witnessing in recent years.

One of Aberdeen's biggest shortcomings over the last half-decade has been their inability to win games of football when they have been asked to break down a team with vastly inferior resources, and once again they came a cropper.

When Josh Fowler stroked home his first-half penalty, harshly yet correctly awarded, you got the sense that Stephen Robinson's side could have played until Christmas and not scored against a side who won away in the top flight for the first time since March 2025 and kept their first clean sheet of the season.

It was like watching an unneeded and unwanted sequel for the Pittodrie faithful; they'd seen it all before.

Loose passes, shots slashed at, unforced errors. It was all there in abundance.

After a relatively promising run-in to the international break, this is a huge setback for Robinson, with chairman Dave Cormack and new chief executive Adrian Bevington in the stand and subjected to what was a toothless display.

Just two wins from their opening eight league games, including this latest defeat to the newly promoted side, is a worrying statistic for Robinson, who has only won five of his 17 Premiership games since being appointed in March.

They have a chance to bounce back immediately against the Northern Irishman's former side, St Mirren, this weekend, but if he doesn't win that one, Halloween could come early.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

Well, congratulations Stephen Robinson. That was one way to kill the enthusiasm of club football returning.

Just when we thought we might be turning a corner after cup progression alongside points on the road at Motherwell and Hibs, it turns out the corner led to a dead end.

The lack of creativity is alarming as St Johnstone earned their first clean sheet of the season and all three points at Pittodrie on Sunday.

It's now three games without a goal at home for the Dons, and no goals from open play this term on their own turf.

Robinson spoke about players feeling pressure and apprehension - you could apply both to the fanbase towards the manager after yet another damaging result to his tenure.

The excuses keep rolling out. They preform in training. Well, we need to see it when it matters, starting this weekend.

Sadly I have little faith, and I think the rest of the support's faith and patience is as low as our threat on the opposition's goal this season.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Image source, SNS

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."