Preview: Aberdeen vs. St Mirren - prediction, team news, lineups

Aberdeen will be looking to end a run of four games without a win when they welcome St Mirren to Pittodrie in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday afternoon.

Dons boss Derek McInnes is under significant pressure right now, while the Saints will be eyeing this fixture with confidence after some good recent results.

Match preview

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Aberdeen are now fourth in the league table and the gap between them and third-placed Hibernian has grown to five points, the same gap that is between the Dons and fifth-placed Livingston.

Saturday's opponents St Mirren are not that far behind either, with their recent run of form having brought them within 12 points of the Dons.

No wonder that the pressure on Derek McInnes's shoulders continues to mount, with former Aberdeen striker Frank McDougall stating in the Scottish media this week that he believes that the Dons boss has lost the dressing room.

Scoring goals has become a huge issue for the Dons, as they have not just gone four games without a win, they have also failed to score in all four of those games.

Goalless draws away at St Johnstone and Livingston have been followed up with 2-0 defeats away at Livi and at home to fierce rivals Hibs.

McInnes managed to secure the signings of three strikers on deadline day in the form of Fraser Hornby, Callum Hendry and Florian Kamberi all arriving on loan at the club.

He will hope that those additions to his attacking ranks will provide the team with the boost that they need in front of goal.

The Dons have scored at least two goals against the Buddies in their last nine meetings in all competitions, so they should feel optimistic.

St Mirren head into this game on the back of a disappointing 4-0 defeat at Celtic in midweek, but the Paisley outfit have still enjoyed a pretty decent 2021 so far.

Their recent 5-1 win at Dundee United and 2-1 home win over Celtic have helped to propel the Saints to sixth in the Scottish Premiership table, and Jim Goodwin's side are not an easy team to beat these days.

Youngsters like local Paisley product Ethan Erhahon have stepped up and produced mature and confident displays that have helped the team collect vital points.

The chances of a top-half finish are now good, and the Saints certainly have all the tools available to cause the Dons' season more damage on Saturday.

Goodwin was disappointed with the way his players performed in the second half on Wednesday night at Parkhead and he will want to see more resilience this weekend.

They are likely to need it if history is anything to go by as they have failed to beat the Dons in 24 out of the last 26 meetings in all competitions.

Aberdeen Scottish Premiership form: LWDDLL

St Mirren Scottish Premiership form: LWWLWL
St Mirren form (all competitions): LWWLWL

Team News

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Former Rangers and Hibernian striker Florian Kamberi has signed on loan for Aberdeen from Swiss outfit St Gallen until the end of the season.

The Dons are hopeful that he will be ready to play against St Mirren this weekend, and he could be joined in the squad by other additions Fraser Hornby and Callum Hendry.

Michael Devlin is still out of action with an ankle injury and Ryan Hedges is sidelined until the end of the season with a muscle problem.

For St Mirren, Kristian Dennis has an Achilles tendon problem that will keep him out for a week or two yet, while Collin Quaner is still absent with a knee problem.

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Lewis; Hoban, Taylor, Considine; Kennedy, McGeouch, McCrorie, Leigh; Ferguson, Hayes; Kamberi

St Mirren possible starting lineup:
Alnwick; Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy; Connolly, Flynn, Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon, Durmus; McGrath; Brophy

We say: Aberdeen 0-0 St Mirren

The Dons' new signings need to gel and the Saints have shown recently that they they can pose problems to any side on their own soil.