Aberdeen are probably one of the sides we'll be battling with to make the top six - or avoid the drop, considering the last few weeks - so a win over them would be a huge boost to our chances. A draw wouldn't be the end of the world, but we desperately need a win after taking nothing from our last couple of matches. It won't be easy, but a sensible system and a lack of stupid mistakes at the back should make it possible.
Pittodrie was the scene of one of the few highlights of last season. We were in danger of a collapse of Morton-esque proportions going there for the penultimate game of the season as Hamilton ate into the lead we held over them. The tenseness of the situation, combined with Aberdeen having nothing to play for, led to a pretty poor game that was won with a rather poor goal from Gareth Wardlaw, which ensured we'd be playing SPL football for at least another season. Incredibly, it was the first time we'd won there for the best part of 25 years!
The chances of us making it two wins in a row in the Granite City are actually reasonably good. We have beaten Aberdeen three times already this year and drawn with them once - although the two defeats did come at their place. Still, they aren't exactly in stunning form - aside from a hammering of Dunfermline a month or so ago - and there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be confident of getting some sort of result there, even with last week in mind. We just need to be positive, play as we can and we could leave with very three handy points.
Our chances will be much better if we actually approach the game with a sensible system. Last week's line-up against Caley Thistle was verging on the insane and it was clear the players didn't really know where they were meant to be playing. Let's go back to basics and revert to a 4-4-2 with either David Barron or David van Zanten at right back. With Marc McAusland struggling recently and Illias Haddad far from convincing last week, I wouldn't be too disappointed to see Barron in the middle of defence - which is where he played in his younger days.
There need to be changes elsewhere in the team too. Gary Teale may have delivered a few decent corners last week but aside from that had a poor day. Graham Carey gives us that and more and simply has to start. Nigel Hasselbaink also had an off day and could probably do with a place on the bench, with his pace being handy to have late in the game. Jon McShane deserves another start and a couple of big strikers could cause Aberdeen's defence problems. Kenny McLean wasn't great last week but the continuing absences of Steven Thomson and Hugh Murray (as well as Darren McGregor) means he'll keep his place.
It's about this time of year Craig Brown usually manages to find himself a new job. Two years ago he got the Motherwell gig at Christmas time and 12 months later left them to replace Mark McGhee at Pittodrie. Initially it looked as if he'd pull off the same trick as Aberdeen enjoyed some good early form under him, but in hindsight it looks as if it was the usual "dead cat bounce" you get when a new manager comes in. They are struggling this season and could well miss out on the top six again. After enjoying two cup semi-finals last season, they were knocked out of the League Cup by East Fife. Going out of a cup to lower league opposition - how embarrassing...
I really don't understand how Aberdeen have gone so downhill since Jimmy Calderwood left a few years ago as they have some fine players in their squad. Injuries to talented youngsters Peter Pawlett and Fraser Fyvie - surely future Scotland caps - have not helped things, while sending Richard Foster on loan to Rangers wasn't exactly the brightest move by McGhee. Amusingly, Brown made him captain when he returned - something that did not go down well with the Dons supporters!
Aberdeen have struggled for goals this season, not surprising when Chris Maguire did one to Derby in the summer and Sone Aluko decided to leave, eventually being picked up by Rangers. Scott Vernon has done fairly well but the other strikers to come in, Mohamed Chalali and Rory Fallon, have been pretty poor and have yet to score a league goal between them. Still, with them being in poor form it is er haps time for reading champion Darren Mackie to get a shot up front - as long as he's finished with those general interest magazines.
Jamie Langfield seemed to make mistakes against everyone but us, but fortunately he made up for that last season with Wardlaw's goal. However, he has been suffering some health problems of late and has been loaned in a bid to get some match fitness. Brown brought in David Gonzalez from Man City on loan and he has been one of his more successful signings to date, along with midfielders Kari Arnason and Iasaah Osbourne. He also still has Andrew Considine at the back and he's scored a few goals, although the brilliantly named Zander Diamond moved to pastures new in the summer.
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