Aberdeen Faces Challenge to Improve Away Record in Paisley

With the pause in international football now firmly in effect until March, attention shifts to the return of the Premiership. Jimmy Thelin’s Aberdeen is scheduled to travel to Paisley this Saturday, commencing what is anticipated to be an intriguing week. The SMISA stadium has historically proven to be a difficult venue for Aberdeen in recent seasons, with their last league victory there dating back to December 2018. Their record in the last eight league visits to Paisley includes three draws and five defeats, highlighting a challenging pattern. The most recent encounter at the venue was particularly disheartening, as it effectively concluded the brief tenure of Neil Warnock following the concession of two goals deep into injury time. This outcome resulted in Aberdeen losing three potential points, contributing to a period of instability for their campaign. Despite St Mirren’s current decent form, Thelin is expected to approach the match with quiet confidence in securing three points. This optimism stems from St Mirren’s recent defensive vulnerabilities and struggles against swift counter-attacks, areas where Aberdeen has demonstrated strength this season. The demanding schedule continues with two consecutive away fixtures in the capital. First, a midweek trip to Easter Road to play beleaguered Hibernian, followed by a weekend visit to Tynecastle, concluding November’s fixtures. Similar to their experiences in Paisley, trips to Edinburgh have presented significant difficulties for Aberdeen in recent years. Notable past results include a disastrous Scottish Cup exit to Darvel in January 2023, a 5-0 defeat in Gorgie, and a six-goal loss at Easter Road, which ultimately led to Jim Goodwin’s departure. Should Thelin successfully guide his team through these next three matches while maintaining the Dons’ unbeaten league record, confidence in achieving a top-two finish is anticipated to grow considerably, potentially influencing an active January transfer window.