Aberdeen, looking to extend their unbeaten start to the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season, will travel to The Smisa Stadium on Saturday afternoon to face St Mirren.
The visitors are second in the standings with 31 points from 11 games, while the hosts head into this fixture sat sixth in the table with 15 points from 13 outings.
Match preview
© Imago
Aberdeen have made a simply remarkable start to the 2024/25 season, suffering just one loss in their opening 18 matches across all competitions.
They started the campaign with 13 consecutive victories before eventually dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Celtic, but they quickly returned to winning ways against Dundee United and Rangers before finally suffering their first defeat.
The Dons matched up with Celtic once again in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals, but Jimmy Thelin's side were humiliated 6-0 as the Bhoys strolled into the final.
That demoralising result could have derailed Aberdeen's campaign, but the Dons rebounded in their last outing with a commanding 4-1 victory against Dundee in the league.
Despite remaining undefeated in the Scottish Premiership, recording 10 wins and one draw, Aberdeen still come into this game in second place as they trail Celtic on goal difference.
Regardless, Thelin will be hoping his side can continue their phenomenal run of form in the league with another victory against St Mirren on Saturday, a team that they have failed to beat in any of their last seven visits to The Smisa Stadium, losing five in that time.
St Mirren also come into the game having recovered from a slight blip in recent outings, having ended a disappointing run of four consecutive defeats with two wins and a draw.
That run of results mirrors St Mirren's season so far, with the Saints enduring a highly inconsistent start to the 2024/25 campaign, marked by unbeaten runs followed by consecutive defeats.
Stephen Robinson's team started the season unbeaten in their first four matches, followed by four consecutive losses, then rebounded with two draws and a win, lost four more, and have most recently won two and drawn one of their last three.
Those results have left them sixth in the table, holding a three-point lead over seventh-placed Dundee, and they will look to strengthen their place in the top half with a surprise win here.
Team News
![Stephen Robinson of St Mirren during the UEFA Europa Conference League Second Qualifying Round Second Leg match at the SMISA Stadium, Paisley, on August 1, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/stephen-robinson.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Stephen Robinson of St Mirren during the UEFA Europa Conference League Second Qualifying Round Second Leg match at the SMISA Stadium, Paisley, on August 1, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
St Mirren are anticipated to be without the services of both Alex Iacovitti, tendon injury, and Charles Dunne, hamstring injury, for this match, with neither likely to return until at least December.
Elsewhere, Robinson could name a similar side to the one that defeated Hibernian 2-1 in their most recent outing, with Conor McMenamin likely to start for just the second time in the league after scoring both goals in that game.
The visitors will continue without Dante Polvara, who is yet to make an appearance for the Dons this season due to an ongoing hamstring issue, though he is expected to return in December.
Pape Habib Gueye is also out of the side due to a muscle injury that is likely to keep him out of action until the new year, meaning Leighton Clarkson is likely to start behind Ester Sokler in attack.
St Mirren possible starting lineup:
Balcombe; Fraser, Gogic, Taylor; Bwomono, Phillps, O'Hara, Tanser; McMenamin, Olusanya, Kiltie
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Mitov; Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, Mackenzie; Palaversa, Shinnie; Keskinen, Clarkson, Duk; Sokler
We say: St Mirren 1-3 Aberdeen
St Mirren may have a good home record in recent meetings with the Dons, but Aberdeen have been unbeatable in the league so far this season, and we believe that will continue with a victory for the visitors here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
