Aberdeen v Hearts
Saturday 22nd December 1500hrs
Football – Scotland – Premiership
Pick: Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker: Marathon Bet
Odds: (odds taken 18.30 GMT, Thursday 20 December)
Scottish Premiership Betting at Marathon Bet
The Scottish Premiership is fast becoming one of the most competitive leagues in Europe with just eight points separating the top eight clubs. It would have been hard to imagine this at the beginning of the campaign due to the dominance of Celtic for so long but it’s certainly refreshing if nothing else to see so many teams jostling for position. Two of the top five meet at Pittodrie on Saturday with a chance to close the gap on the teams above them. Continue reading for a match preview of Aberdeen against Hearts with a selected best betting tip.
Aberdeen Preview
Aberdeen are one of those clubs who people continually write off only for them to keep proving people wrong – and they love doing it. Derek McInnes has never been the most popular manager of the club but it’s hard to argue with his consistency year after year. Despite a relatively poor start to this campaign, by their own standards, the Dons have moved into fourth spot and are just three points off the top, albeit they have played a game more. Add to that another appearance in a national cup final and McInnes will be content with how this first half of the season has went – but there are plenty of challenges on the horizon. Aberdeen have three games left in 2018 and all are crunch encounters, starting with this game against Hearts. They warmed up for Saturday’s game in good fashion with a thumping 5-1 win at home to Dundee on Tuesday, a victory that means they have won four of their last five since losing to Celtic in the cup final at the start of this month. It may be a big ask but should they manage nine points to close out this year then there is every chance they could be top of the pile to welcome in 2019.
Hearts Preview
Hearts were the early pacesetters this season and there was one point where Craig Levein, his players and most definitely the supporters would have been dreaming of pulling off something remarkable. A collection of injuries to key players has put paid to that, though, and Hearts now find themselves in fifth with only one win in nine games. It’s a diabolical record that the injuries can only account for somewhat. Players missing was certainly no excuse for their capitulation away to Livingston last weekend where they lost 5-0. It was reverting back to performances of last year when they were so disappointing. Like Aberdeen they have three games and need to use them to begin putting things right. They’ll be severely tested, though, firstly with this trip north to face Aberdeen before closing out their 2018 with a massive derby game away to Hibernian a week on Saturday. It’s no exaggeration to suggest that if the team’s form doesn’t pick up and they get results in those matches, that Levein could come under pressure. His style of football has not been overly popular with the club’s supporters but it was bringing wins, now that it isn’t then his job could be in jeopardy.
Aberdeen v Hearts Betting Advice
Considering their respective starts to the campaign, it’s pretty remarkable that Aberdeen are three points ahead of Hearts heading into Saturday’s game. It’s a stark contrast to the situation the ahead of the first meeting of the season between these clubs back in October, when Hearts won 2-1 at Tynecastle. There can be no doubt, however, which of the teams are in better form approaching this game and Aberdeen will be absolutely desperate to make that count for something. Only St Johnstone have beaten them at home since the start of September, winning the other six matches in that run and keeping three clean sheets. Hearts have particularly struggled on their travels of late and their last win on the road came away to lowly Dundee which is approaching two months ago now.
Last week’s humiliation away to Livingston will be fresh in the memory of the whole Hearts camp, especially with Aberdeen hitting five in their last game. Levein will take every precaution possible to shore up his defence and although it will come at the expense of an attacking threat from his team, it’s understandable. The Dons will have to be patient unless they can sneak an early goal but this is traditionally a fixture which brings with it few of them. Eight of the last 10 have seen two or fewer goals and that trend can continue.
