Aberdeen vs St Johnstone
18 September 1500hrs
Football – Scotland – Premiership
Pick Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Betvictor
Odds: 1/2 odds taken 2000 GMT, Wednesday 8 September
Two teams in desperate need of a win go head to head on Saturday with Aberdeen taking on St Johnstone at Pittodrie.
Table of Contents
Aberdeen Preview – Will Aberdeen return to form and collect their first win in seven games?
There has been a significant buzz around Aberdeen from the beginning of this season as Steven Glass set out to transform the club’s playing style in his first full season. The early signs were extremely positive as the Dons progressed in the early rounds of European qualification and won their first two Premiership matches. It’s now over a month since they won a game, though, and they have been eliminated from two competitions in that time.
A surprise defeat away to Raith Rovers in the League Cup was the first major setback and that was quickly followed by 4-1 aggregate defeat to Qarabag in the Europa Conference League playoffs. In total it’s now six matches without a win and taking just two points from their last three league games.
A point away to high-flying Hearts is a decent things all things considered but salvaging a draw at home to Ross County and a really disappointing defeat against Motherwell at Fir Park last time out means the need for a win in this game is much greater than would have been predicted a couple of weeks ago.
There has been no shortage of backing for Glass who has brought in virtually a whole new team’s worth of players. Performances have been decent enough but he knows himself that they now have to be turned into victories starting with this game.
St Johnstone Preview – Can Saints find their first win of the new season?
Callum Davidson could not have written a better first season as a head coach as he led St Johnstone to both the League Cup and Scottish Cup in the last campaign. It was a feat nobody thought possible beforehand and one that will be incredibly difficult if not impossible to repeat. European football has come and gone but the Saints equipped themselves well despite that exit.
Davidson is beginning to experience the other side of management, though. St Johnstone are yet to win a game within 90 minutes this season. Their only victory has come against Arbroath in the League Cup and that was after penalties. Saints have still had strong performances, particularly the draws away to Galatasaray and LASK in European competition.
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In terms of their Premiership form St Johnstone have taken three points from five games. There has been some misfortune and poor finishing in draws against Ross County, Motherwell and St Mirren whilst they held their own against Rangers last time out – eventually losing 2-1. The major disappointment was a 2-0 defeat at home to Tayside rivals Dundee United.
Scoring goals was an issue last season and it could well be the same this time around. Two goals in five matches is an underwhelming return and something they’ll have to improve on going forward.
Aberdeen vs St Johnstone Betting Advice
It’s still very early in the season and you sense both of these teams will enjoy productive seasons. Aberdeen are still attempting to find the end product with a lot of new players in a different style of play. St Johnstone, on the other hand, are attempting to stave off the hangover following such a successful campaign in the previous term.
This is not a fixture which produces goals, though. Just one of the last 11 meetings have had more than two goals.
Key Facts – Aberdeen vs St Johnstone Betting Tip
- Aberdeen are now six games without a win in all competitions after a strong start
- St Johnstone remain in search of their first league win (three draws and two defeats so far)
- 10 of the last 11 meetings between the teams have ended with two or fewer goals in them
Considerring St Johnstone’s style of play and Aberdeen being out of form in front of goal I expect this to be another low-scoring affair so take under 2.5 goals in this one.
Best Betting Odds for Aberdeen vs St Johnstone
