Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has emphasized the need for his side to “be true to our identity” after their 1-1 draw with St Johnstone at Pittodrie, extending their winless run to five matches. Despite the draw, Thelin acknowledged that his team must improve mentally and physically to cope with the challenging schedule.
St Johnstone took the lead in the first half when Makenzie Kirk capitalized on a mistake by Aberdeen defender James McGarry, who attempted to clear Matt Smith’s cross but accidentally sclaffed it into the path of the visitors. However, Aberdeen responded after the break with substitutes Ante Palaversa and Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes combining to create an equalizer for Leighton Clarkson.
Thelin highlighted that, despite the heavy fixture congestion, his side needed to stay true to their identity and maintain their belief. He told BBC Sport Scotland, “It’s not only about fitness, but mental capacity. We need to keep believing and being strong in our conviction in how we want to play.”
Aberdeen were unable to find a winner in a match where both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances. Their goalkeeper Ross Doohan made a quick save to deny Nicky Clark, while Nicky Devlin blocked a dangerous effort from Adama Sidibeh. On the other end, St Johnstone’s Josh Rae denied Duk with a strong save. With the draw, Aberdeen remain nine points behind Celtic, who sit at the top of the league, having played a game more.
Aberdeen’s Momentum Stalls
Aberdeen started the season with a brilliant run, winning 13 consecutive matches. However, the energy and style that made them so dangerous in the early season have slowed, with injuries and a demanding schedule taking their toll.
In defense, Aberdeen have been shaky, with key players like goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov and left-back Jack MacKenzie sidelined. Centre-backs Slobodan Rubezic and Gavin Molloy have looked uncertain at times, leaving gaps that St Johnstone exploited. Midfield has also seen a drop-off in creativity, and Aberdeen’s attacking play has become less fluid.
Despite this, Thelin made successful changes at halftime, with Palaversa’s key assist helping Duk set up Clarkson’s equalizer. However, slow starts remain a concern, as Aberdeen have scored 70% of their goals in the second half. The team could benefit from a reset during the break next weekend, with no match scheduled.
St Johnstone Show Promise but Need Wins
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari will take positives from the draw, especially considering it was only Celtic who had won at Pittodrie this season. St Johnstone shaded the game in terms of chances, with Lewis Neilson hitting the crossbar when the score was 1-0.
Valakari has changed the team’s style, making them a more dynamic side that plays forward quickly and looks to combine in tight spaces. Nicky Clark has been instrumental in linking play, while Kirk continues to show growth. Young forward Kimpioka, though explosive, could have been more composed in front of goal, but his pace posed problems for Aberdeen.
St Johnstone have conceded just twice in their last three matches, which represents a significant improvement defensively. However, Valakari’s side has yet to turn these good performances into enough wins, managing only two victories in seven matches since he took charge.
Looking ahead, St Johnstone have several winnable games before facing Celtic on 29 December, and they will need to capitalize on these opportunities to climb the table.
What They Said
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: “Our performance was not the level we want. We did not come out with the same intensity we did against Celtic. We need to find a way back to being more stable in our performances between games because we have been a bit up and down now.”
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: “A good performance from our boys against a very good team. Excellent first half, we created good moments and were solid. Credit to Aberdeen for how they scored, but the rest of the match we kept them from being as dangerous.”
