Aberdeen could once again close the gap on league leaders Celtic when they take on Motherwell at Pittodrie this evening.
Aberdeen currently sit six points behind the reigning champions but, with Ronny Deila’s men in League Cup duty this weekend, the Dons will move just three points behind with a victory tonight.
Motherwell are fighting their own battle at the other end of the league where they currently sit second bottom, one point ahead of bottom of the pile St Mirren and two behind 10th placed Ross County.
Aberdeen team news
- Andrew Driver could make his Aberdeen debut after joining until the end of the season.
- Winger Jonny Hayes will miss the game with a calf injury.
- Nicky Low (groin) made his development league comeback in midweek
- Russell Anderson (knee) remains out.
Motherwell team news
- Striker Bob McHugh could be in contention for a return after shaking off the groin injury which has kept him out since the end of October.
- Steven Hammell (groin), Iain Vigurs (sciatic nerve), Zaine Francis-Angol (groin), Paul Lawson (calf) and Jack Leitch (knee) will all miss out.
Derek McInnes says
“There will be four or five changes in the Motherwell side from the last time we played them.
“They have been rewarded in their last two games. They have been very positive in their approach, playing 4-4-2.
“They seem to have more energy about them and probably the biggest compliment I can pay to them is that they are looking more like the team that we have played over the past two seasons.
“They have four points from their last two games and they look like a team that has realised the situation they’re in and are determined to do something about it.
“Suddenly, the teams at the bottom of the table are starting to find a bit of form. Having watched Motherwell’s last two games, they look a better side than when we last played them.”
Ian Baraclough says
“We will approach this game the same way we have the last couple.
“We will go to Pittodrie with the belief we can get a result and keep our run going.
“It might only be two games – a win and a draw – but it does wonders for the confidence.
“Aberdeen are doing really well. Derek has spent two years building and he will have seen this year as a breakthrough season with them challenging at the top.
“He will still have a belief that they can challenge for the title right to the death. For us, we have got to go there with no fear. We’ve shown we can beat a top three team with the win over Inverness a couple of weeks back and we will travel up there believing we can do it again.”
The big issue
Coverage
You can keep up with the game online using our live match blog.
Aberdeen provisional squad
Brown, Logan, Daniels, Taylor, Reynolds, Considine, Robertson, Flood, McLean, Robson, Rooney, Pawlett, Smith, McGinn, Goodwillie, Jack, Masson, Driver, Shaughnessy, Shankland, Wright, Langfield.
Motherwell provisional squad
Long, Reid, Ramsden, Watt, Kerr, O’Brien, Laing, McManus, Ainsworth, Sutton, Law, Erwin, N Thomas, Cadden, Carswell, Straker, Moore, McHugh, Lasley, Pearson, Grant, D Thomas, Johnson, McDonald, Twardzik.