Aberdeen

• Two of the top three players for true tackles attempted in the Scottish Premiership this season are St. Mirren's Ryan Carr (46) and Aberdeen's Afeez Aremu (39, level with Dylan Tait).

• St. Mirren have lost each of their last four Scottish Premiership games, last losing five in a row in the competition in October 2020 (6).

• Aberdeen have failed to score in each of their last three home league games, attempting 43 shots without finding the net. They haven't drawn a blank in four successive home league matches since September 2012 – a run of four goalless draws in a row, two of which were against St. Mirren.

• St. Mirren have won four of their last seven league visits to Aberdeen (D1 L2), after having been winless in 15 beforehand (D8 L7).

• Aberdeen have won just one of their last seven league meetings with St. Mirren (D1 L5), a 1-0 away victory in October 2025.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Any horror movie buffs who have dragged themselves to the cinema to watch the seventh Scream movie, the 10th Saw film or the 13th Halloween flick, in the hope of salvaging something from the respective franchises, are probably the same people who part with money to watch Aberdeen play at home against sides they are favourites to beat.

Aberdeen v St Johnstone matches wouldn't look out of place at your local multiplex during the October period, and Sunday proved no different.

It is far from a vintage fixture at the best of times.

Of course, Simo Valakari and the Saints' fans won't see it that way, given their 1-0 victory was a superb three points for the visitors.

They executed their gameplan perfectly, but for the home supporters, it was the same ghoulish tale they have grown accustomed to witnessing in recent years.

One of Aberdeen's biggest shortcomings over the last half-decade has been their inability to win games of football when they have been asked to break down a team with vastly inferior resources, and once again they came a cropper.

When Josh Fowler stroked home his first-half penalty, harshly yet correctly awarded, you got the sense that Stephen Robinson's side could have played until Christmas and not scored against a side who won away in the top flight for the first time since March 2025 and kept their first clean sheet of the season.

It was like watching an unneeded and unwanted sequel for the Pittodrie faithful; they'd seen it all before.

Loose passes, shots slashed at, unforced errors. It was all there in abundance.

After a relatively promising run-in to the international break, this is a huge setback for Robinson, with chairman Dave Cormack and new chief executive Adrian Bevington in the stand and subjected to what was a toothless display.

Just two wins from their opening eight league games, including this latest defeat to the newly promoted side, is a worrying statistic for Robinson, who has only won five of his 17 Premiership games since being appointed in March.

They have a chance to bounce back immediately against the Northern Irishman's former side, St Mirren, this weekend, but if he doesn't win that one, Halloween could come early.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

Well, congratulations Stephen Robinson. That was one way to kill the enthusiasm of club football returning.

Just when we thought we might be turning a corner after cup progression alongside points on the road at Motherwell and Hibs, it turns out the corner led to a dead end.

The lack of creativity is alarming as St Johnstone earned their first clean sheet of the season and all three points at Pittodrie on Sunday.

It's now three games without a goal at home for the Dons, and no goals from open play this term on their own turf.

Robinson spoke about players feeling pressure and apprehension - you could apply both to the fanbase towards the manager after yet another damaging result to his tenure.

The excuses keep rolling out. They preform in training. Well, we need to see it when it matters, starting this weekend.

Sadly I have little faith, and I think the rest of the support's faith and patience is as low as our threat on the opposition's goal this season.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

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Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson has told his wingers he wants more end product.

The Dons boss has been utilising wing-backs and more central attackers in recent games, but his side lacked creativity in Sunday's 1-0 home defeat by St Johnstone, which left them eighth in the Scottish Premiership.

Lewis Smith played most of the game after striker Ayoub Mouloua suffered an injury, while wingers Tony Yogane and Hicham Mahou came on in the second half.

"I need more out of the wingers. I've told them that," Robinson said.

"I thought Lewis, up to a point, was good. And then it's the end product, which we see every day in training from him.

"Tony's just turned 21. He's a baby. He's a kid. He's a project. We're going to have up-and-down moments with him, but I know they've got the quality. I've got the belief in them."

Frenchman Mahou made his debut as a 68th-minute replacement for defender Nesta Guinness-Walker.

"Hicham is not fully fit yet," Robinson added. "It was a case of getting as many creative players on the pitch as we could to see if we could break them down, but we didn't manage to do that."

Aberdeen fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's 1-0 defeat at home to St Johnstone.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Peter: Any form/momentum we had prior to international break has gone. Stephen Robinson managed to get results at St Mirren but whatever is happening at Aberdeen, he's not getting the same effect. Poor result and never a penalty.

Atulan: Very disappointing. We had a month to prepare and gel as a team and it looked like a team of strangers. No movement off the ball and no clear plan. The coaches are clearly either not getting their message across or hopelessly out of their depth, I think it is probably the latter. Won't be long until the Dave Cormack merry-go-round starts again.

Andy: Yet another extremely disappointing result, all huff and puff but no reward. The manager suggests that it all looks good on the training pitch however, as he well knows, there is nobody seriously trying to frustrate your efforts on the training pitch.

David: No fight, no desire and no leadership on or off the park. Players played out of position. We were at home game against a team in the bottom six and Robinson plays five at the back. We were promised free flowing, attacking football. I'm very worried for this team.

Malcolm: Once again people were carried away with one performance against Motherwell before the international break, back to normal against St Johnstone. If Robinson sees so much in training apparently then why can't it be replicated when it matters? Poor attack against poor defenders in training perhaps. Tired of the excuses, time for change.

Simon: Aberdeen take underachieving to a new level. I feel disenfranchised with the club, I'm not alone, we expect better with our budget. The stewardship of the club seem to have different ideas, I cannot listen to our manager's post-match interviews anymore as they are not based on reality. Everything about our club is third rate. No direction, lack of quality throughout the squad and everyone except those at the club can see it. The new CEO has some big decisions to make. Crowds will start to dwindle and who can blame them.

Watch all the highlights as St Johnstone narrowly defeat Aberdeen at Pittodrie to move into the top six of the Scottish Premiership. Available to UK users only.

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson: "Disappointed in the result, frustrated with our end product. First half, we moved the ball too slowly, backwards and sideways.

"We rectified that in the second half, got into very good positions. But ultimately didn't have the final decision to win, or get back into, the game.

"The pitch is the same for both teams. We dominated possession, had 22 shots. We can't have excuses, the pitch can be better but that's not the reason for today.

"We need to be finishing teams off, making better decisions. What I see in training is that we have that quality. We've not been able to convert that.

"It's the hardest bit of the game. You see teams like Rangers and Celtic struggling to break down teams that sit deep. We're no different.

"There's no hiding place. Our last pass, last decision, wasn't what I know it can be today.

"We have to give them belief and confidence. That final action is the million dollar question because it wins football matches. Outwith Kevin Nisbet, we're not scoring enough goals. We need people to step up.

"Do I believe they can? Yeah, but we have to be brave to do that."

St Johnstone rose into the Scottish Premiership top six with a rare away victory over Aberdeen as Josh Fowler's early penalty proved decisive.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say on the game via this link.

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Aberdeen pair Brad Lyons and Emmanuel Gyamfi are both back in contention so Kristers Tobers (knee) is the only definite absentee.

On-loan Saints defender Zach Mitchell has returned to Charlton with a season-ending knee injury and Cheick Diabate is suspended after his red card against Falkirk before the international break.

Croatian centre-back Bozo Mikulic could make a return from his lengthy injury lay-off, having come through two closed-doors matches.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Stephen Robinson has urged his Aberdeen side "to capitalise on those home games" as they look to continue their improving form.

Four of the Dons' past five fixtures in all competitions have been on the road. Despite that, Robinson's side, who are seventh in the Scottish Premiership, have turned their fortunes around.

Four of their next five league games are at Pittodrie, starting with Sunday's visit of St Johnstone.

And Robinson said: "It was a tough start, we can't deny that. We find ourselves in an OK position and now we have to capitalise on those home games.

"We want to win both games [against St Johnstone and St Mirren] and I believe we have got the squad to do that. I believe the squad is now starting to get fitter, to get an understanding and whatever team I put out, my changes."

Nevertheless, Robinson is under no illusions about the challenge they face against a Saints side that have adapted well to life back in the Premiership.

He said: "Simo [Valakari] has done a fantastic job, a really good job.

"Obviously, they got promoted and they have caused every team problems and I think that is just the nature of the league now - there are no games where you turn up and think, 'Aberdeen should win this game'. Everything is tough.

"Simo has put a really good squad together, he has kept a lot of boys from last year as well and they have lots of threats but we have to concentrate on us, our good points, what we can bring to the pitch and I believe we have got a lot of options to do that now."

Chris Cadden believes Aberdeen have shown character to overcome boos during their early season struggles. (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)

Saturday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Chris Cadden insists there is still plenty of improvement to come from Aberdeen as they bid to build on their upturn in form.

After a bumpy start to the campaign the seventh-placed Dons go into Sunday's home game against St Johnstone on a four-game unbeaten run.

So has a corner been turned?

"We are on a journey, we are on a process here, and we understand it is going to take time," said defender Cadden.

"There has been a lot of change at the club but winning games helps, the feelgood about the place coming into your work is better.

"It was a really positive week but we know that there is still a lot to come from us, there is still a lot to improve on. Every day in training, especially the last two weeks, the standard is brilliant.

"People coming back from injury, the standard of player is really good, so we know the capabilities we have in this dressing room.

"We know the level is there that we can go and produce right good performances and results, so that is what we are working towards."

• Prior to the international break, St Johnstone recovered more points from losing positions than any side in the Scottish Premiership (5), drawing 1-1 with Falkirk despite conceding first last time out.

• Only bottom side Kilmarnock have had fewer shots (69) than Aberdeen (70) in the Premiership this season, with the Dons' 7.16 xG the lowest of any side.

• Aberdeen have only lost one of their past 14 home league matches against newly-promoted opponents (W7 D6), a 1-0 defeat to Falkirk last season.

• St Johnstone have only won one of their past 10 league meetings with Aberdeen (D4 L5), a 2-0 away victory in February 2024.

• St Johnstone have won one of their past 16 away games in the Premiership (D3 L12), beating St Mirren 1-0 in February 2025.

Former Aberdeen youth defender Timothy Akindileni, now 19, says he moved to Queens Park Rangers 18 months ago because he did not feel there was a clear plan for his progression to the first team. (Press & Journal, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson says he has the "good problem" of picking from an almost fully fit squad for the first time since taking over in March.

With Brad Lyons and Emmanuel Gyamfi available, Latvia defender Kristers Tobers - who has been sidelined for over a year but is back training - is the only absentee for Sunday's Premiership visit of St Johnstone.

"It creates a problem - but a good problem as well because people want to play football," Robinson said.

"There are going to be boys that miss out on the bench, I think picking my bench will be the hardest thing for Sunday because there are boys that I really like and have done well that won't be involved because we need to balance that squad up and balance the bench up."

Aberdeen went into the international break unbeaten in four matches, and are now looking to advance up the table from their current place in seventh.

"There has been a lot of positivity," added Robinson. "We did have a hectic start, a lot of games, so I think the break also helped reset everybody and refocus everybody.

"They have come back very fresh and it gave me time to get minutes and running and fitness in to the legs of the boys that just arrived at the last minute as well.

"We know we have to play to the best of our ability to win every match and we are looking to take things forward and keep progressing."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premiership visit of St Johnstone (14:00 BST).

Here are the key points:

• Emmanuel Gyamfi and Brad Lyons could return after injury lay-offs.

• Robinson says it is the first time since he arrived at the club he has a full squad, apart from Kristers Tobers who is still a few weeks away from being available for selection.

• The Dons boss welcomes the tough selection decisions: "I think picking my bench will be the hardest thing for Sunday."

• He said the three-week break from playing has been "really positive" after a "hectic start" to the season and has "helped reset and refocus everybody".

• With Aberdeen unbeaten in four games, Robinson says "we have to try and continue that". And he is urging his side to "capitalise" on having four of their next five league games at home.

• Robinson has praised St Johnstone, saying their manager Simo Valakari has done "a fantastic job", and points out they have caused problems for every team they have played.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Are underlying numbers from the start of the Scottish Premiership season suggesting a refreshed approach could be taking hold across the league?

Well, the success stories at Motherwell and Falkirk last season seem to have had an influence.

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin was humble enough to reveal that Jens Berthel Askou - now head coach at Toulouse in Ligue 1 - has inspired him to change his ways after more than 15 years as a player and manager in Scotland.

Goodwin's side are one of a number of Premiership teams to have undergone a stylistic shift this term, and that is reflected in the league's overall numbers, albeit the sample size remains small after just seven matches for each club.

Compared with the previous five Scottish top-flight seasons, passes per game have soared to 886. That is an increase of 58 on last term. Five years ago, the average was 795.

Passing accuracy is also at a high of 81%, which is quite a remarkable increase on the 73% recorded in 2023-24.

That is down to more short passing. The percentage of long passes across the league (13%) is now at its lowest level of the past five years. Perhaps surprisingly, Hearts and Rangers go long more than any other teams.

Goodwin's United, meanwhile, have gone from average possession of 42% last term to 50% this season. Their accurate passes per match have rocketed from 219 to 320.

It is a similar story for St Mirren under Craig McLeish and Neil McCann's Kilmarnock, while league leaders Celtic and Alfred Johansson's Motherwell are locked at the top of the possession chart on 61%.

The promotion of St Johnstone back into the league, replacing Livingston, has added another side who aim to play a more expansive brand.

The recent appointment of Dutch head coach Marink Reedijk at Hibernian will only enhance that.

Read more: Why early-season data points to Premiership style shift

Aberdeen defender Kristers Tobers, 25, will not be rushed back after a lengthy injury absence. (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip column in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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BBC Sport Scotland has been taking a look at away ticket pricing in Scottish football.

It is an issue which has been tackled at the highest level south of the border, with a £30 away ticket cap having been in operation in the Premier League for a decade.

Is anything similar on the agenda north of the border?

While it doesn't appear to be at the moment, we have been canvassing the thoughts of fans across the Premiership.

An adult away fan going to a league game at Aberdeen will pay between £27-£36 depending on the fixture, with concessions ranging from £6 to £28.

Dons fan Glen Schreuder, of the Red Tinted Glasses Podcast, says: "I think certain clubs are better than others at addressing this but what we need to be careful of or avoid is tit for tat retaliation in terms of pricing.

"We need clubs to come together and address this and work collectively on making football affordable for fans, especially when it comes to away fixtures.

"I would like to see an away ticket cap brought in. One of the reasons I don't do much away travel any more is because it is becoming unaffordable with the rise in not just ticket prices but general prices.

"So if they could look at a way of capping ticket prices - I know £20 has been spoken about, even £25 doesn't seem unreasonable - but the thought of paying in excess of £35 to attend some of these games just isn't appealing."

Read more: Are SPFL away tickets too expensive?