Aberdeen

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• Aberdeen have won their first game after the Scottish Premiership split in five of the past seven seasons (L2), with two of those wins coming against Kilmarnock in 2017-18 (2-0) and 2018-19 (1-0).

• Kilmarnock have only won their first game after the split in three of their past 18 top-flight campaigns (D2 L13), although one of those was last season, beating Ross County 2-0.

• Aberdeen have won eight of their past nine Scottish Premiership home games against Kilmarnock, losing the other 1-0 in December 2023.

• None of Aberdeen and Kilmarnock's past 15 league meetings have been drawn, with the Dons winning nine and Killie winning six since a 2-2 stalemate in March 2020.

• Kevin Nisbet has scored in his past five home games in the Premiership (eight goals), the first player to do so for Aberdeen since Adam Rooney in December 2015. The last player to score in six successive home appearances for any side in the competition was Kevin van Veen in May 2023, while the last Scottish player to do so was Kris Doolan in May 2017.

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We asked for your views on which Dons player has been the biggest letdown this season.

Here are some of your comments:

Christopher: Jesper Karlsson. A quality player, brought in by a manger that knew how good he was, and never gave 100%. Seemed like he thought he was too good and didn't want to be here.

Alan: Biggest disappointment has to be Nicolas Milanovic. Apparently we fought off big clubs on the continent to get him and it just hasn't happened for him to date. Hoping he can turn out to be the next 'Shady Mo' and can kick on next season.

Ian: Trying to narrow down just one disappointment is too difficult. I think too big a squad for a priority of Europe was a big mistake. Too many gambles across the XI. Formations that didn't suit and forced. Sticking with an interim manager that was poor. Just sub par all round.

Ewen: Millanovic. Came with some fanfare and pedigree regarding his team and player of the year awards in Australia, but has done nothing. Barely looks interested, won't help his team-mates at all. It would be easier to play with 10 men when he's on the pitch.

David: It has to be Milanovic. Signed with significant cost and therefore expectation. It's not easy to adapt from A-League to our league. He looks lost and ill-equipped for the physical side of it so far. A loan to a Scottish Championship side could be what he needs. Otherwise, I had hoped Ante Palaversa would be a mainstay by now. Always looked talented, but again looked distracted and lost at times.

Andrew: Without a doubt it has to be Milanovic. For having paid a reasonable fee for him, he's contributed zilch.

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson lauds the impact of 34-year-old captain Graeme Shinnie, who is out of contract this summer. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

For the 10th time since the inception of the split in Scotland's top flight, Aberdeen will take part in the bottom six.

The fact they are facing a battle to preserve their unbroken top-tier status has almost thrown a cloak over their failure to finish in the top half of the table. They still have bigger fish to fry after all.

However, on Saturday they welcome 11th-place Kilmarnock to Pittodrie knowing a win would surely vanquish all thoughts of being sucked into a play-off against Partick Thistle, Arbroath or the Dons' Scottish Cup conquerors and finalists Dunfermline.

Stephen Robinson secured the services of midfielder Findlay Marshall, who is currently on loan at Arbroath, for next season and beyond as the club signed the Stonehaven youngster on a two-year extension.

It was an announcement the supporters were hoping would be made by the club after his outstanding campaign in the Championship this season where he has scored 15 times and set up four. Marshall's Dons career looked over before it had started under Jimmy Thelin.

It was a smart move and it is now up to Marshall to step up and become a first-team regular next season.

Aberdeen's post-split fixtures look favourable with Killie and St Mirren both due in the Granite City and now Robinson has had more time with the players.

The Northern Irishman is addressing issues within the squad as he seeks more togetherness that seemed to have been lost.

If they can chisel out an eight-point lead over Killie by Saturday evening with an already superior goal difference, he can start planning for next season in earnest.

Last week we asked for your Aberdeen player of the year - and Kevin Nisbet's goals gave him the edge.

Now we want to know the Pittodrie player who has been the biggest disappointment this season.

It could be a new signing who has underwhelmed or an existing squad member who has failed to kick on.

Share your thoughts here.

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson backs striker Kevin Nisbet for a Scotland World Cup call-up. (Record - subscription required), external

Robinson challenges 11-times capped Nisbet, 29, to make a late push for the World Cup. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Aberdeen could look into extending defender Liam Morrison's loan deal from Queens Park Rangers if it was an option for next season, says Robinson. (Aberdeen Live), external

Captain Graeme Shinnie is happy for Aberdeen to win ugly so long as they win. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Tom McIntyre, who joined Aberdeen in February, has played his last game on loan to the Scottish Premiership club after the defender returned to Portsmouth for treatment on a hamstring injury that has ruled the 27-year-old out for the rest of the season. (Press & Journal), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Aberdeen are weighing up whether to make a summer transfer move for Granite City-raised Hibernian attacker Martin Boyle, with the 32-year-old set to leave Easter Road at the end of the season. (Press & Journal), external

Hibs forward Martin Boyle is among a number of forward options being considered by Aberdeen but has lucrative options in Australia and Asia, while there is also interest from English clubs. (Daily Record), external

Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has confirmed he is considering moving to extend 23-year-old centre-half Liam Morrison's loan deal from Queens Park Rangers. (Press & Journal), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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We asked for your views on who deserves to be Aberdeen's player of the year.

Here's what you said:

Justin: It has to be Kevin Nisbet, without his goals god knows where we'd be.

Marty: Its a tough one to call. Regardless of our defensive frailties, Jack Milne has stood out. He is still young but I see a great prospect in him. That said, I think it has to go to Nisbet, he seems to be the only one that can score, which is an area we are poor in. Give him the service, and he will give us the goals.

Ross: Dylan Lobban is the player of the year. His attitude towards getting forward and taking men on is not only encouraging but it's entertaining. Scotland loves wing play, this kid has it!

Chris: Mats Knoester was solid and we'd likely be in a better place in the table if he'd been here the last 11 games. That said, Nisbet is my pick. Give him service and he'll score. Some cracking goals scored and likely a few more before the season end. I'd have him as my fourth-pick World Cup striker as with better players around him he is quality.

Andy: That's a hard one, it was a collective failing in my opinion. The one player I would pick out is Nisbet. He did his best despite the dreadful service he received. No other pass marks I'm afraid.

Marc: After many gutless performances, not one of those players really deserve to win POTY. If I had to pick one, it would be Knoester. He plays for the badge.

David: Player of the year has been Jack Milne. Shouldering responsibility when he should be learning from somebody beside him.

Evan: In a season where at some point I've thought ever single player should be paid off and never play another game for Aberdeen FC again... the goals of Nisbet may be what saves us from a relegation play-off. Notable mentions to Mitchel Frame and Dylan Lobban, but neither played enough to clinch it.

Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson will ban mobile phones at the training ground from next season as he tries to improve squad harmony. (Press and Journal), external

BBC Sport Scotland commentator Liam McLeod has been answering more of your Aberdeen questions.

David asked: What key player positions should Aberdeen strengthen in the summer and what names have you in mind to fill them?

Liam answered: Unfortunately, it appears Aberdeen need to strengthen most areas of the squad. I personally think the likes of Dimitar Mitov, Mats Knoester, Dennis Geiger - currently on loan but with a purchase option - and Kevin Nisbet are assets and I think Topi Keskinen, Findlay Marshall - assuming they can tie him down on a new deal - and Gavin Molloy can all make an impact.

However, there is going to have to be another busy summer and Stephen Robinson, along with returning head of recruitment Darren Mowbray, will have an idea of who they want to bring to the club.

Their ability to plan for next season has been affected by the fact a relegation play-off is still a possibility in mid-April.

Players like David Watson at Kilmarnock, Ben Stanway at Partick Thistle and Andrew Tod at Dunfermline should be on the radar though they may have missed the boat with the former given the clubs now allegedly interested at home and abroad.

Darren Mowbray was responsible for the signings of Ylber Ramadani, Bojan Miovski, Duk and Leighton Clarkson so he has set the bar high.

Martin asked: Every commentator I hear say the Dons need a clear out/rebuild in the summer. Do Aberdeen need a quieter summer with some consistency in playing squad and perhaps only a few tactical signings?

Liam answered: They need a big clear out again unfortunately.

A quieter summer can only be attained if the player/trading model that Dave Cormack is using is working and, despite some excellent relatively recent transfer dealings, the last year to 18 months has been poor in that respect. No one in the current squad is going for the sort of figures they brought in for the likes of Ramadani, Miovski, Ross McCrorie and even Lewis Ferguson to go back a few years. They need a rethink.

Jack asked: How would you assess the handling of Jimmy Thelin's departure and the recruitment process that followed to source his eventual replacement?

Liam answered: I think even the club would have played it differently in hindsight but make no mistake, they were desperate for Thelin to turn the ship around.

Stephen Robinson's stock when Thelin was fired was as high as it's ever been having just lifted the League Cup off the back of three successive top six finishes with St Mirren. If Robinson was the man they truly wanted, they should have made their move for him in January. The fact they didn't tells its own story.

Thelin was dumped on the fourth day of the January transfer window, the timing was bad in that respect but that was down to the fact he'd delivered the Scottish Cup last May. They let it go as long as they feasibly could.

When Robinson was appointed, he was on a run of one win in 13 league games, although he did take Saints into the Scottish Cup semis just before he left, so the timing of their move for him was questionable but Cormack is a long-term fan of his so it didn't come as a massive surprise.

After Scottish Cup glory at the end of last season, this campaign has fallen well below expectations for Aberdeen.

The Dons find themselves in trouble at the bottom end of the table and, although they are eighth in the Scottish Premiership, they are only five points above Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off spot.

Who has stood out on the field of play despite all that? We want to know your Aberdeen player of the year. Tell us here.

BBC Sport Scotland commentator Liam McLeod has been answering some of your Aberdeen questions.

Richard asked: Do you think sacking Jimmy Thelin was a mistake? It seems like he is the fall guy for the way they have handled recruitment since Darren Mowbray left. Stephen Robinson is not a popular appointment given his teams are awful to watch.

Liam answered: I think everyone connected with Aberdeen was willing Thelin on, but the deeper into the rut he went, the clearer it became that something wasn't working. The fact is the form under Thelin, generally, for almost 14 months was pretty dreadful and but for that Scottish Cup win buying him time, the decision to pull the trigger may have come sooner.

You can't say the Swede wasn't backed, indeed no Dons' boss in the club's history had such a generous transfer budget yet for whatever reason it didn't work out.

I would be interested to know the effect losing assistant Emir Bajrami had on Thelin's management when he went back to Sweden around the time the form fell off a cliff in winter 2024, as he was the animated one on the touchline during that superb start to last season which was in stark contrast to Thelin and Christer Persson.

Brian asked: Does Liam feel there are 'too many cooks' at Aberdeen and does he feel they need clarity and streamlining with Robinson making the key footballing decisions?

Liam answered: It is pretty clear there are issues at boardroom level when you see how the club's bid to replace Jimmy Thelin played out and the club's failure to build on the Scottish Cup win.

Sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel was charged with finding a new head coach and some exotic names were mooted, with some even given the guided tour and presented to the TV cameras in Sandro Schwarz's case which was unusual.

Having had a look under the bonnet, he and his assistant didn't fancy it and it wasn't just last month's Scottish Cup defeat at Dunfermline that had chairman Dave Cormack reaching for the panic button, it was the diabolical performance that night that saw interim Peter Leven replaced by Stephen Robinson. Cormack, who was in the stand that night, felt the uncertainty could go on no longer. It would be no surprise if he has restructuring on his mind.

Scott asked: What's going so wrong? On paper the team should work excellently, as shown on Saturday but this season has been a banana skin every game.

Liam answered: Bad recruitment and an imbalanced squad. Yes, the individual players all have their attributes but few of the signings from the last few transfer windows have fitted in. They have never really looked like a team this season.

It's not because they're bad footballers, rather they weren't right for the team they were bought for.

Cases in point - Adil Aouchiche was brought on loan from Sunderland and looked lost at times yet has gone on to play a big role in Schalke's bid for promotion in Germany while making his international debut for Algeria, and Jesper Karlsson has moved back to the Dutch top flight and is scoring goals for Utrecht.

Ryan asked: What will be the impact of this horrendous season on the next? Assuming Aberdeen do enough to avoid anything silly affecting their top flight status, what does the summer bring? Will there be major changes throughout the club? We really feel like we're in danger of being Scotland's fifth club now behind the Edinburgh and Glasgow pairs. What do we need to do to keep pace starting from next season?

Liam answered: Firstly, no Europe which means less money despite a higher outlay on the playing squad.

I can understand why some Aberdeen fans will be looking at what has happened at Hearts this season and feel it could be the Dons up there challenging for the title.

Had the house been in order at Pittodrie that could have been the case as all of the top three have regularly dropped points, in Hearts' case they've done so in 12 of their 33 games yet they have been top since September. To put it in context, Aberdeen were only two points worse off than Hearts are after 33 games in 2016 under Derek McInnes.

This summer could be one of the most important Aberdeen have faced if they aren't to be left behind. There needs to be a reset and a new way of thinking. The impact of Tony Bloom and Jamestown at Tynecastle is there for all to see and it's only in its infancy.

I heard Brentford owner Matthew Benham discussing the player model they have, which like Jamestown at Brighton, has allowed the club to prosper and punch above their weight in the Premier League, competing with clubs with higher budgets.

They still use 'old-fashioned' scouting, but their data models are something Aberdeen should be taking an extremely close look at. If a player in his mid-20s doesn't tick every single data box, they don't sign him.

Changes higher up the food chain will be whether Dave Cormack thinks they're needed and that is something that can't be ruled out given how dreadful this season has been across the board.

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It appears as though a big rebuild is "inevitable" for Aberdeen this summer as the club continue to slide down the Scottish Premiership table.

Having won the Scottish Cup less than 12 months ago, the Dons now find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle.

They sacked manager Jimmy Thelin earlier this season and spent months searching for his replacement, with Peter Leven taking charge in the interim period, and eventually ended up with Stephen Robinson - who had been down the road in Paisley the whole time.

Thanks to their 2-0 win against Hibernian at the weekend, Robinson's side now have a bit of breathing space between themselves and the relegation play-off spot. But the Dons could find themselves right back in it if they fail to beat Kilmarnock, currently in 11th, next weekend.

If the Dons can maintain their Premiership status for next term, The Times' football correspondent Michael Grant is expecting a hefty rebuild at Aberdeen.

"They did spend a lot of money last summer," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"There was a lot of hope and expectation on the back of the Scottish Cup win and big investment in players. The recruitment was terrible, really. They got so little return for their money and continue to get so little return for it. So I think a big summer rebuild is inevitable.

"No club can afford to sign what turn out to be poor players or players that aren't a good fit for the club but especially when you're spending a lot of money.

"Aberdeen don't have limitless resources. If they're spending money, they need to get a return for it.

"Darren Mowbray's come back as the head of recruitment and he was probably the most successful head of recruitment they've had in recent years.

"It was him that got Bojan Miovski and Ylber Ramadani, and guys that made them a lot of money when they sold them.

"They've churned through heads of recruitment as well over the last three, four, five years."

Sivert Heltne Nilsen says he left Aberdeen because Haugesund offered him a contract - three years with a potential coaching role beyond that - he could not refuse and it came with the promise of more regular starts and in the 34-year-old's favoured central midfield role. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

What would you like to ask Liam McLeod about Aberdeen?

The BBC Sport Scotland commentator is in the hotseat and ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Answers will be provided on this page on Thursday.

Put your questions to Liam here.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Stephen Robinson wasn't the only one breathing a sigh of relief on Saturday as he notched his first win as Aberdeen manager amid a barrage of criticism and pressure.

The Dons were excellent throughout their win over 10-man Hibernian and should have won by more than the final 2-0 scoreline.

Kevin Nisbet finished last season strongly and his brace against his old club could be crucial to Aberdeen's hopes of staving off 11th place with Kilmarnock, who currently occupy that position, at Pittodrie in the first post-split match next Saturday.

The fact is, a second win on the bounce would leave a gap of eight points between the two plus a vastly superior goal difference meaning the Dons could start planning for next season's Premiership campaign should that come to pass.

But as Robinson pointed out after the game, there is still much to do.

Pre-match, Dons legend Joe Harper took the acclaim of the full house with the Aberdeen support unveiling a sensational tifo to celebrate their greatest goalscorer.

Harper etched his name into Pittodrie folklore in a goal-laden career, mainly in the 1970s and across two spells.

He is a Greenock native, but he is an Aberdeen man who also enjoyed a stint at Hibs. It was a pity he wasn't five years younger given he only caught the start of Sir Alex Ferguson's glory years. Harper's 199 goals deserved more silverware than they were ultimately rewarded with.

When Billy McNeill signed Steve Archibald during his short time in charge of the Dons, they went on to form a partnership and Archibald himself credits those times up front with Harper as a big reason why he went on to enjoy a wonderful career at Tottenham and Barcelona.

Harper is a regular at Pittodrie and has watched this season's side go from one slump to another, so it was fitting Nisbet led the team to a first win in 10 games on a day their all-time top scorer was acclaimed.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

lt might only be our second league win of 2026, but the three points against Hibs were gratefully received.

Especially as it was Stephen Robinson's first Reds victory at the fourth attempt.

Were there signs of encouragement from the performance? Yes. Chances created? Yes. Clean sheet? Yes!

All round, then, reasons to be more cheerful for fans who have had to go to work in recent weeks and endure a ribbing over a potential relegation play-off.

Admittedly, the much-needed win was against 10 men and one victory won't make everything better.

However, we have taken a huge step in the right direction towards safety and we can all but secure that with three points against Kilmarnock next weekend.

With two weeks on the training ground to further implement ideas, and build on the confidence beating Hibs has brought, maybe we can end a forgettable season with more victories and more positivity.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson intends to run the rule over some of his fringe players over the next fortnight. (Press and Journal), external

Read more: Tuesday's Scottish football gossip

Watch Sportscene pundit Steven Naismith analyse the decision to award Aberdeen a penalty and Hibs defender Grant Hanley a red card in the Dons' weekend victory.

Naismith believes the good work from Toyosi Olusanya to win the spot-kick and the goal from Kevin Nisbet that followed "set the tone" for Stephen Robinson's side.

Available in UK only

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

Kelle Roos (Kilmarnock): Not the finest all-round performance but came up clutch deep into stoppage time to deny Dundee from the spot and save a potentially priceless point for Killie.

Alexander Jensen (Aberdeen): Pushed back a little bit but impressed at wing-back against Hibernian. Tanked up and down the touchline and coped well when Hibs were trying to put him under pressure.

Krisztian Keresztes (Dundee United): Admittedly, not the finest weekend for defenders, but the substitute hauled United level with an important header to allow them to push on for a late win against Livingston.

Will Ferry (Dundee United): And here's the man who set him up. Ferry also opened the scoring with a superb solo goal at Tannadice.

Hyun-jun Yang (Celtic): Few in green and white impressed in a narrow win over St Mirren at Celtic Park, but the South Korean showed up again.

Nicolas Raskin (Rangers): For his second-half showing at Falkirk. The Belgium international was like a man possessed after the break with an abundance of fight, quality and creativity on show. Displayed his very best as Rangers ripped Falkirk apart in a bonkers second 45.

Beni Baningime (Hearts): Back alongside Cammy Devlin in the engine room and back pulling the strings for Hearts. A classy performance - again - in the crucial win over Motherwell.

Emmanuel Gyamfi (Aberdeen): Outside his needless incident with Hibs striker Owen Elding, for which he was shown a yellow card after a VAR review, the wide man was Aberdeen's biggest threat in one of his better performances for the Dons. Hooked balls in at every chance he could, something Stephen Robinson will be desperate to see more of.

Sabah Kerjota (Hearts): Came on in the 66th minute and immediately became Hearts' set-piece taker, whipping in inviting deliveries - including one that led to the second goal. His cameo performances have impressed to the point there is clamour for him to start the upcoming Edinburgh derby over Alexandros Kyziridis.

Kevin Nisbet (Aberdeen): The man grateful for those deliveries from Gyamfi. Kept his cool from the spot against his former side before smashing the much-needed second over the line... just. Big, big goals and an equally impressive all-round performance.

Lewis Smith (Livingston): Doing all he can to keep Livingston in the league, chipping in with another two goals. Even if the Lions are relegated, which is increasingly likely, Smith should remain in the top flight. One wouldn't think he'd be short of suitors.

Watch all the highlights of Aberdeen's 2-0 win against Hibernian.

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Stephen Robinson does not want Aberdeen to relax during their two-week break after they recorded a much-needed 2-0 win over Hibernian to boost their William Hill Premiership survival hopes.

Kevin Nisbet netted from the penalty spot after Grant Hanley was sent off for hauling down Toyosi Olusanya and the Scotland striker added a second with 15 minutes to go to end a nine-match winless league run.

The Dons are five points above Kilmarnock, who sit in the relegation play-off spot with five games to play, and the two teams clash at Pittodrie in the next round of Premiership fixtures which does not take place until April 25.

"I said to the players to remember the feeling of winning the game," Aberdeen head coach Robinson said after the win against Hibs.

"We played some really good stuff, some good one-touch movement between the midfield and forward players. We have to build on that.

"I still think we're under pressure. I won't relax and I won't allow the players to.

"The players are as disappointed as anyone with how the season has gone. It's important we take our time off over the break and come back firing and build on that performance.

"We want to finish the season strongly."