Aberdeen v Dundee United

Dundee United went desperately close to completing an away victory at Hibernian on their return to action in midweek and will have another opportunity at Aberdeen on New Year’s Day. But the Dons come into the contest with successive victories at Hibernian and Hamilton Academical to their credit under new manager Craig Brown.

Vital Quotes:

“A home game puts a greater expectation on the team and on everyone therefore what we have got to do is ask them to play at home the way the play away from home with the same assurance and same determination and to not be too cavalier,” manager Craig Brown told Aberdeen’s oficial website. “We want to please the home support even more. It’s easier said than done. You don’t become a wonderful team overnight. We hope we have become a slightly better team at the moment. Dundee United are very good but they are not invincible. I think we know them well enough to be able to have a strategy that is suitable for the match against them. I have experienced success against them this season and hopefully we can repeat that.”

“Aberdeen have a new manager so it’s going to be tough,” Dundee United skipper Jon Daly told the Daily Record. “When a new man comes in it gives the place a lift. Craig Brown did well at Motherwell and I’m sure he’ll instil the same spirit at Aberdeen. I suppose if you look at it, Wednesday was out first game in five-and-a-half weeks and Easter Road is a difficult place to go to so maybe a point isn’t so bad. But after being 2-0 up we came off the pitch feeling like we’ve lost. We had enough chances in the first half to be three or four up but maybe there was a bit of rustiness and we sort of killed ourselves in the end. But I suppose after being down to 10 men for the last 10-15 minutes we were quite happy to take the point.”

Aberdeen Team News:

Nikola Vujadinovic misses out for the home side after damaging a hamstring during the midweek win at Hamilton. Striker Darren Mackie and midfielder Fraser Fyvie also remain on the sidelines with knee injuries.
Aberdeen (from): Langfield, Diamond, Ifil, Considine, McArdle, Folly, Young, Aluko, Magennis, Hartley, Vernon, Maguire, Pawlett, McNamee, Howard, Paton, Jack, Robertson

Player to watch: Paul Hartley

Skipper and driving force in midfield for Aberdeen.

Dundee United Team News:

Dundee United will definitely be without midfielder Danny Swanson after being sent-off in midweek at Hibernian. Meanwhile, Craig Conway, Scott Severin, Mihael Kovacevic and Darren Dods are also ruled out. But in better news key defender Garry Kenneth comes back from suspension.
Dundee United (from): Pernis, Dillon, Watson, Dixon, Douglas, S. Robertson, D. Robertson, Kenneth, Gomis, Buaben, Shala, Cadamarteri, Goodwillie, Daly, Russell, Dow, Armstrong, Mentel, Banks

Player to watch: Garry Kenneth

His return will be key in a defence already short of numbers.

Match Facts & Stats

Aberdeen have recorded consecutive away victories under new manager Craig Brown. Dundee United finally returned to action in midweek after a succession of postponements to earn a draw at Hibernian.