Aberdeen are in a dog-fight to finish third in the Premiership and boss Jimmy Thelin’s players must rise to the challenge – and there’s so much at stake.
Creative players must step up to the plate and begin engineering chances for the strikers.
And the strikers have to consistently deliver goals.
Aberdeen are now in the high-pressure, high-stakes finale to the campaign and there can be no room for flat performances like the recent 0-0 stalemate at St Johnstone.
There is so little separating the teams fighting it out for third, it is likely to be decided by fine margins.
Aberdeen cannot set their sights on anything less than third – that has to be the target.
A third-placed finish could bring guaranteed league level football in Europe next season.
That would deliver a massive financial boost to the club and also really excite the supporters.
Aberdeen board backed Thelin
A lot of funds has been expended on the squad since Jimmy Thelin came in last summer as manager.
The Pittodrie board have backed their manager to the hilt and it has cost a lot of cash.
That considerable outlay cannot be dismissed, so having the financial boost of European qualification would be a tremendous positive.
European football can also help manager Thelin attract players during the summer transfer window.
A club involved in European competition is always an attraction for players looking for a new club. Performing at that high level of competition is important for players.
Rollercoaster season can still end on a high
It has been a rollercoaster season for Aberdeen with the high of an 11-game unbeaten start to the Premiership campaign, with 10 wins.
Then there was the dramatic low of the 14-game winless run in the league.
Yet, the Dons can still finish the season on a high.
But they will have to deliver vastly-improved performances from the one against St Johnstone in Perth.
When you look back to the Reds’ sensational start, when taking 31 points from the first 33, it seemed a minimum of a third-placed finish was going to be secured.
Hearts and Hibs were both well out of the picture at that early stage following their slow starts to the Premiership campaign.
Aberdeen must find attacking edge
The start to the season even ignited talk of Aberdeen potentially finishing above Rangers in the Premiership table, and that being a possibility was the mood among fans and some commentators.
However, the damaging slump in league form has seen the Dons pulled into a scrap for third that they will have to show the fight to win.
In the draw against St Johnstone before the international break, Aberdeen looked solid at the back.
But they were solely lacking in creativity or attacking cutting edge.
The two strikers Kevin Nisbet and Oday Dabbagh have to be better when playing together.
That creative and scoring side needs to be sharpened up and improved.
If they can do that then Aberdeen have a good chance of finishing third – but they cannot afford more lacklustre performances like the one against St Johnstone.
Injury blow to keeper Dimitar Mitov
Aberdeen’s bid to finish third has been hit with an injury blow to keeper Dimitar Mitov.
Bulgarian international Mitov is set to be ruled out for a month with a shoulder injury sustained in a 2-1 Nations League play-off first leg loss to Republic of Ireland
Mitov had only recently returned from injury and got that synergy with the defence working again.
Keeper Ross Doohan has already played 15 times for Aberdeen this season.
He has been an able stand-in for Mitov – however, Mitov is the number one keeper, so when he is ruled out by injury, there is no doubt it is a blow.
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