After yet another damaging defeat last weekend, Aberdeen find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle – and anyone who fails to recognise that is living in fantasy land.
It is something Jim Goodwin is well aware of and he is going to have his work cut out reviving his faltering team if the threat is to be eased.
The likelihood is Aberdeen have enough leeway to retain their Premiership status, but that can in no way be guaranteed and, if results go against them this Saturday, the cushion will be a worrying two points.
With trips to McDiarmid Park and Easter Road to come, the position would then be perilous.
It was no surprise that Livingston won at Pittodrie last Saturday; it will be no surprise if Dundee do likewise. That is how bad the situation currently is.
As P&J Sport revealed, Aberdeen are the only team across the British leagues to have failed to record a clean sheet in 2022. That embarrassing statistic has played a major part in the Dons slumping to the bottom of the form guide.
Aberdeen the ONLY senior team in UK not to register a league clean sheet this year.#aberdeenfc @AberdeenFC
Across 10 divisions in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Thoughts?. https://t.co/lJ6NCV3Dum— Sean Wallace (@EESeanWallace) April 24, 2022
They have amassed fewer points – nine in fourteen games – than all their rivals. Even Dundee have gained 10 points since the turn of the year.
St Mirren may be on a worse run right now, but they’ve picked up 17 points, as have St Johnstone, and the Perth side have Goodwin’s men in their sights.
The first thing Jim must do is sort out the defence. It is still very early days in his reign, but I would have expected to see an improvement by now. And, without reopening that particular can of worms, it remains a source of frustration to see Andrew Considine sitting on the bench watching inferior defenders continually making mistakes and conceding preventable goals.
The manager also has to find an answer to issues further up the pitch.
Since exiting the Scottish Cup in mid-February, the Dons have scored nine times in as many league matches. Four of those have been penalties, another was an own goal.
Getting it so badly wrong at both ends of the park is a recipe for failure, and that is why a first relegation in the club’s history cannot be discounted.
It was hardly the best circumstances for the Player of the Year Dinner which was held at P&J Live on Thursday. I was disappointed not to be able to host the event as I have for years; Rangers’ surprise run to the Europa League semi-finals meant I had other work commitments, but despite the doom and gloom, I hope it was a good night.
📸 Tonight's award winners. 👏🏽
🔴 For a full round up of the evening // https://t.co/f3dXkeBjLo pic.twitter.com/tFKGcKV3tK
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) April 28, 2022
Congratulations to the winners, particularly Ross McCrorie, who deservedly scooped the main prize.
Without in any way denigrating his achievement, it is a measure of how bad the campaign has been that Ross had little in the way of competition. Lewis Ferguson was his only serious rival, Christian Ramirez and Calvin Ramsay having faded in recent months.
There has to be a vast improvement in form in the remaining games, and the cloud hanging over the club can be cleared with one good result this weekend.
A win would alleviate fears of the drop, and I sincerely hope that’s what happens, but I fear it might be a nervy 90 minutes.
🔴⚽️🇺🇸 Mood around Aberdeen darkens as Christian Ramirez’s Pittodrie future called into question
This week's Northern Goal podcast is available now!
Click here to listen:https://t.co/7lxnporBc6 pic.twitter.com/IgcOPLnHZ8
— P&J Sport (@PandJSport) April 28, 2022
Why I’m joining Cove Rangers
The scenes at Balmoral Stadium last week were a joy to behold.
After a sensational last few years, Cove Rangers clinched a second SPFL title in three seasons and are now preparing for another step up.
An unbeaten run of 25 matches propelled them to promotion, and the celebrations which went on long into the night were a release from the pressure which had been mounting.
I had a personal interest in the story, because, as has now been made public, I am joining the club in the summer to try to play some small part in their adventure.
The opportunity fitted in perfectly with my decision to step aside from Saturdays on the radio – although I will still be doing Sundays and midweek programmes – and move back home to the north-east.
It is a challenge I am excited about, and very much looking forward to.