Mark O’Haire expects a tight and turgid affair for Aberdeen’s trip to McDiarmid Park
New Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass remains in quarantine ahead of the Dons’ latest outing following his arrival from the US. The Former Atlanta United 2 coach was forced to watch the Granite City club take on third-tier Dumbarton on television and is unlikely to have been impressed by what he saw.
The Premiership outfit had 26 shots at goal against a part-time Sons side playing their fourth match in just a week, but could only net one of those opportunities, continuing Aberdeen’s desperate streak in front of goal.
The Reds have now scored just twice in 11 matches, and clear chances being missed has very much been the tale of recent months.
After the Dons sold Sam Cosgrove, the deadline day swoop for three strikers made by previous boss Derek McInnes, released Curtis Main and loaned out Bruce Anderson, has not paid dividends. Callum Hendry is the only new arrival to have notched and the on-loan St Johnstone forward is ineligible against his parent club this Saturday.
Aberdeen’s attack is very much looking for a kick start!
Hendry’s goal against Dumbarton last weekend was the first time an Aberdeen player had scored away from home this year. The Reds had netted once on the road since mid-December, but it was an own goal in a 4-1 loss at Ross County with both McInnes and interim boss Paul Sheerin struggling to get a tune out of the Dons.
Aberdeen, therefore, appear overrated for the trip to Perth against a defensively sound St Johnstone side.
Saints achieved League Cup success earlier this year and have a penchant for keeping contests tight, particularly at McDiarmid Park under Callum Davidson.
The hosts have lost just twice in 12 of late and should be capable of pinching at least a point here.
However, I prefer to oppose goals with No in the Both Teams To Score column trading at 1.75.
St Johnstone’s home outings have averaged only 1.31 goals this term with 69% of matches featuring Under 1.5 Goals and 13 of 16 producing Under 2.5 Goals – two of the three that broke that barrier were against the Old Firm.
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson has made his side tough to beat at McDiarmid Park.
Similarly, a hefty 13/16 of those Saints showdowns saw BTTS No pay-out with the hosts silencing half of their McDiarmid Park visitors in 2020/21. Meanwhile, in two previous encounters here against Aberdeen this season, games have ended 1-0 and 0-0.
Aberdeen have delivered 1.56 goals-per-game on average when playing away with 13/16 fixtures also rewarding Under 2.5 Goals backers, and the same return for BTTS No supporters. The Dons too have kept clean sheets in half of their 16 away dates.
To add further credence to the wager, the Reds’ last 10 Premiership results at any venue have ended 0-0, 0-0, 0-2, 0-2, 0-0, 0-1, 1-0, 0-1, 0-0, 0-1 with a goals-per-game average of only 0.80.
Desperate stuff.
So I’ll happily snap up 1.75 quotes, knowing this selection has banked in 26/32 (81%) of the duos combined home/away Premiership outings thus far.
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