Aberdeen go into Saturdays game against Falkirk on the back of a solid performances against defending champions Rangers and a narrow defeat against Motherwell in the League Cup. The Dons where perhaps unlucky to drop two points at home last Sunday to title chasers – and once title favourites – Hearts, a deflected goal sparing new manager Graeme Rix’s blushes in a game that Aberdeen for the most part dominated.
Falkirk are finding life in the SPL hard going. Currently in 9th place, they’ve have yet to win an SPL game at home this season (their only home win so far coming against Partick in the League Cup) so this should give Aberdeen the confidence to go and get a good result against John Hughes’ men. However, we should take nothing for granted; following Falkirk’s excellent win against Hibs (a team to which Aberdeen lost only last month following a horrendous blunder by Scotland U-21 defender Zander Diamond ) they’re on a high and will be out looking for another big scalp.
We can take comfort in the fact that games against Falkirk have traditionally been in Aberdeens favour. In past games, Aberdeen recorded 58 league wins against Falkirks 42 over the same fixture. The last time these teams met back in August, Aberdeen came away with a comfortable 3-0 win with all the goals coming in an action packed first half, Jamie Smith scoring twice before Clark added the third just before half-time. The last time these two met in Falkirk was back in February, Aberdeen this time winning 2-0 in a Scottish Cup game. For the last time Falkirk beat Aberdeen at home, we have to go back to 1994!
However, Aberdeen’s form away from the North East has not been great this season, winning twice, drawing twice and losing twice, in the process scoring only 7 goals whilst conceding 6. Falkirk, for their part have conceded 11 goals at home whilst only scoring 7.
Falkirk Team News:
No new injury worries for Falkirk who will have an unchanged squad from last week. They are still without midfielder Jack Ross and striker Andy Thomson.
Player to watch: Russell Latapy
The little midfielder has found a new lease of life since moving to Falkirk from Rangers and is the key man for Falkirk. He helped his country Trinidad and Tobago qualify for the World Cup recently.
Aberdeen Team News:
Good news for defenders Russell Anderson and Zander Diamond, both of the key defenders have shaken off injuries in time for this game.
Kevin McNaughton should be back in the squad.
Player to watch: Stevie Crawford
The former Dunfermline striker can still bang in a goal or two and is always dangerous.
Match Facts & Stats
Last meeting: Aberdeen 3 Falkirk 0, SPL, Aug 27th
Aberdeen have not lost to Falkirk since 1994
Falkirk have not won in their 5 previous home games
Aberdeen have not won in their previous 4 away games
Ref Watch:
The ref for this game will be John Underhill.
Match Prediction:
It’s going to be tight!
Aberdeen are on poor away form, Falkirk on poor home form. With Falkirk probably fielding the same team that got the result against Hibs last Saturday, and Aberdeen getting points from a game many predicted they’d lose both teams will be up for this one.
But the Dons have to stop the inconsistent trend where good results against top teams are followed by dropped points against teams they should beat. The history books are in our favour for this one, but given the recent form of both teams, it’s too tight to call: I predict a 1-1 draw.
Next Fixtures:
Falkirk v Rangers (away) Dec 3rd
Aberdeen v Celtic (home) Dec 4th
