Aberdeen FC V United

The tables have turned somewhat on the two clubs form from last season with United storming in the SPL. The Dons are seven points behind their North east rivals and need to start pagging Levein’s boys back.

Vital Quotes:

Jimmy Calderwood to Reds Online about the player crisis:- ‘Darren Mackie and Steve Lovell are out and Derek Young is injured so we will have to think of something else up front, but I am sure we will come up with something.

‘It will be a bit of a balancing act. Jamie Smith and Derek Soutar are definitely out. Sone Aluko asked to come off against Inverness as he was struggling, while Lee Miller, our best player in the last six matches, was dead on his feet after the League Cup game. Chris Clark, Zander Diamond and Jackie McNamara are suffering a wee bit – as are Richie Byrne, Richard Foster and Barry Nicholson. Scott Severin has a chest infection, but hopefully he will rejoin the squad in the morning.

‘Dundee United are a good team and it will be very difficult, but it is important not to let them get too far away.

‘They are playing with a lot of confidence and I can see a lot of parallels with what Craig Levein has done and what we did in my first season here.

‘They are a team who win if they get their noses in front and that’s why the first goal will be so vital on Saturday.

‘They are playing with confidence and they are playing a system which suits them. The problem for us is we are missing our attack-minded players.’

Aberdeen Team News:

Scott Severin is doubtful, while Chris Clark and Zander Diamond could miss out as the heavy match schedule bears down the players legs.

Darren Mackie, Steve Lovell, Derek Soutar and Jamie Smith are definitely sidelined, but Derek Young is fit to play after recovering from a knock.

Player to watch: Barry Nicholson

The wee Fifer scored a hat trick midweek, although two were penalties, which may point to him returning to his best form of last season when he was integral to the clubs success.

Dundee United Team News:

The Arabs have no new injury worries but will be without Craig Conway, Lukasz Zaluska, David Robertson and Keith Watson.

Player to watch: Barry Robson

He’s without doubt the man to shackle but Jordan Robertson is also getting amoungst the goals and he may prove to be more of an unknown concern for the Pittodrie patchwork defence.

Match Facts & Stats

Calderwood’s Dons have not beaten Levein’s Terror’s in a match yet a fact that must change sooner or later or the Dons are facing a dsappointing season.

Ref Watch:

John Connolly takes charge of this potentially explosive encounter.

Next Fixtures:

The big matches keep coming for this skeleton squad as Calderwood prays for some respite to get his injured players back. He won’t get it from Lokomotive Moscow who fly to Aberdeen looking to all but end our UEFA hopes.