Preview: Dundee vs. Aberdeen - prediction, team news, lineups

Two Scottish Premiership sides struggling at the wrong end of the table do battle at Dens Park on Saturday afternoon, when Dundee host Aberdeen.

Both sides have claimed just two points from a possible 18 available, conceding a combined 17 goals in the process.

Match preview

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Dundee suffered their third successive league defeat when they were beaten 3-1 away against St Johnstone before the international break.

A first-half brace from Chris Kane as well as Stevie May's 46th-minute strike put the hosts into a comfortable 3-0 lead, before Dundee defender Ryan Sweeney headed in a consolation goal in the final 15 minutes.

James McPake will have been pleased to see his side finally find the net last time out, ending a run of five games without scoring. However, the Dark Blues are still searching for their first Premiership win since their promotion last season and remain rooted to the foot of the table with just three points.

A win for Dundee on Saturday would be their first on home soil in the top flight against Aberdeen since December 2004, and would see them climb up to 10th in the table if both Ross County and Livingston were to lose.

Like Dundee, Aberdeen have endured a difficult start to the new campaign, though expectations for the Dons are much higher so the pressure is now beginning to mount on head coach Stephen Glass.

An 84th-minute winner from Celtic forward Jota condemned Aberdeen to a 2-1 loss on home soil and to their fourth successive league defeat before the international break.

The Dons have slipped to ninth in the Scottish Premiership, six points behind the top four and are seven points worse off compared to this stage last season.

With challenging encounters against the league's current top four – Hibernian, Rangers, Hearts and Motherwell – to come, Glass will be desperate to secure all three points against basement club Dundee, who they have an impressive record against.

Aberdeen have won each of their last 13 meetings across all competitions against Dundee by an aggregate score of 32-5, so they should be confident of ending their poor run of form at Dens Park on Saturday.

Team News

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Dundee will still be without experienced midfielder Charlie Adam and forward Danny Mullen, as the pair continue to recover from respective groin and ankle injuries.

Paul McGowan is set to keep his central midfield role in Adam's absence, while Paul McMullan and Jason Cummings are expected to lead the line in attack as Mullen watches on from the sidelines.

As for Aberdeen, goalkeeper Joe Lewis was dropped to the bench against Celtic, but the 34-year-old will be hoping he can reclaim the number one jersey ahead of Gary Woods this weekend.

With Andrew Considine ruled out with a knee injury, Ross McCrorie and Declan Gallagher could start at centre-half, while Austin Samuels and Ryan Hedges are expected to support central striker Christian Ramirez in attack, as Marley Watkins is ruled out with a hamstring issue.

Dundee possible starting lineup:
Legzdins; Ashcroft, Fontaine, Sweeney; Kerr, McGowan, Byrne, McGhee, Marshall; McMullan, Cummings

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Lewis; Ramsey, Gallagher, McCrorie, McKenzie; Longstaff, Brown, Ferguson; Hedges, Ramirez, Samuels

We say: Dundee 0-1 Aberdeen

A closely-fought contest between two sides desperate to claim all three points is set to be played out at Dens Park this weekend.

Aberdeen have been well below par so far this campaign but they do have an exceptional record against Dundee and we expect that run to continue with a slender victory.