Well-stocked but shot-shy Aberdeen seek another catalyst to justify progress claims

Languishing in 33rd place with just two points to their name, the Dons cannot finish in the top 24 of the 36-team Conference League following their 1-0 defeat by Strasbourg on Thursday night. While there remains one more match to play, away to Sparta Prague next week, there is nothing riding on it.

The hope was that this Aberdeen team could trouble the knock-out stages. The reality is somewhat different. They have faced three of the top six in a gruelling campaign and the defeats by Shakhtar Donetsk, AEK Athens and Strasbourg bring no shame, as well as the goalless stalemate at AEK Larnaca. Drawing at home to Noah was the most damaging result, but the Armenians defeated Legia Warsaw and are on eight points with a great chance to advance to the play-offs. They are no mugs. This was a tough draw.

Especially when the start to this season is factored in. One victory in ten matches – against Morton in the Premier Sports Cup – left Aberdeen at the bottom of the William Hill Premiership by the start of October. Thelin was under mounting criticism and pressure from sections of the fanbase. The team looked spineless, toothless – and at times hopeless.

The defeat by a handy French Ligue 1 outfit ended a run of eight games without defeat. Last weekend’s 3-1 win over Dundee moved Aberdeen into the top six of the Premiership for the first time this season. They are only three points behind fifth-placed Hibs – and with a game in hand – and the general sentiment is that the Dons are heading in the right direction.

While defensive stability has been found, a cutting edge in attack probably remains the biggest concern for Aberdeen fans. Thelin has assembled a hefty armoury in strikers Marko Lazetic, Kevin Nisbet and Kusini Yengi, supported from out wide by Jesper Karlsson, Topi Keskinen and Nicolas Milanovic. Behind them, Adil Aouchiche is charged with bringing gains from attacking midfield. The Dons don’t lack options, that’s for sure.

The game against Strasbourg summed up Aberdeen. Goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov made some excellent saves, including one from a penalty, to keep the hosts in the game. Further up the pitch, too many chances went abegging. Against better teams, they are not ruthless enough.

‘You need to take your chances’

“I felt we had chances, especially in the first half, to go ahead,” said Mitov afterwards. “When you play against opposition like this, a really good football team, you need to take your chances.

“It is really disappointing, but at the same time it is also really positive. If we manage to create chances against a team like that then it shows we are going in the right direction. We are working in the right way and it is definitely more positive than negative, to be sure.

“We could have done better in some areas of the pitch but in 90 minutes of a game you can’t be perfect. Nobody is perfect. They managed to take their chance and we didn’t. That’s football. The main thing is we need to be positive but there were a lot of good things there.

“Listen, I am really proud of the boys because we have really grown so much as a team. We have shown resilience and we are much harder to beat than before. That is something that we have to give credit to all the boys, including the boys who have come off the bench and put in a shift. It is a good sign that the team is improving.”

That last point is very true. Aberdeen are unrecognisable from the side that was devoid of confidence and cohesion at the start of the season. Their new signings appear more settled. Centre-half Jack Milne is emerging a dependable centre-half, so much so that some observers are touting the 22-year-old for a Scotland call-up. Young right wing-back Dylan Lobban has emerged in recent weeks.

The midfielders are stepping up, although getting the right blend remains a challenge for Thelin. He did not start Dante Polvara against Strasbourg, preferring to keep the American fresh for tomorrow’s Premiership game against Kilmarnock at Pittodrie. Thelin admitted he needs to manage his squad’s minutes over a hectic spell.

The visit of out-of-form Kilmarnock presents an opportunity. “We now need to focus on the league,” continued Mitov. “This game is gone and we will look at the positives, look at where we could have done better and where we have done well. It is another game on Sunday at Pittodrie against Kilmarnock and it is going to be a game where we need to be at our best to be victorious.”

Aberdeen eked out a 1-0 win at Rugby Park at the end of October, with Stuart Armstrong scoring, to commence that eight-game unbeaten run. A similar catalyst would be welcomed once again.