Dark Blues To Hold Dons At Bay

High-flying Aberdeen continue their quest to grab a European spot at the very least this season when they take on Dundee at Dens Park.

Form
Dundee were unfortunate to lose out to Jamie Reckford’s winner away to Ross County in their last game although they have picked up their performances and plenty of points lately as it was only their second defeat in ten, and first in nine in the Scottish Premiership. Paul Hartley’s charges’ home record has been particularly impressive since the turn of the year, earning ten points from their last four matches at Dens Park having picked up only eight points on their own patch in their first ten games there.

Greg Stewart is the Dark Blues’ top scorer this season with 14 goals in total including 12 in the Scottish top flight but he has failed to find the back of the net in any of his last three.

A 2-1 win at home to Motherwell last weekend when they came back from going a goal down was just the tonic Aberdeen needed after their drubbing at the hands of Celtic four days earlier and keeps the Dons in touching distance just three points behind the Hoops at the top of the table, albeit having played a game more. Their 4-0 defeat at Celtic Park was actually the only defeat suffered by Derek McInnes’s side in their last 14 league games while they’ve also picked up four wins in their last five and kept three clean sheets over that run of games too and they remain the only side capable of wrestling the Scottish title from its residency in Glasgow.

Former Irish under-21 international Adam Rooney is the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership having scored 14 times for the Dons this term, including the winner last weekend.

Team News
Dundee’s main goal threat could miss out again with an ongoing knee problem which saw Stewart replaced at half-time in their last game. Midfielder Jim McAlister is also missing while boss McInnes may also tweak his midfield with Simon Ferry coming into the side.

Aberdeen have injury concerns over Donervon Daniels and Peter Pawlett but McInnes looks likely to keep faith with the same starting XI that earned three points last time out should Daniels recover from the knock in time.

Head to Head
These sides played out a six-goal thriller at Pittodrie when they met back in January with each having to settle for a point although it was the visitors who were most disappointed by the scoreline as the led 3-1 with only three minutes to play before Jonny Hayes and Ryan Jack struck to rescue something from the game for Aberdeen.

Dundee knocked the Dons out of the Scottish Cup at Dens Park last November though it remains their only win in the last eight against these opponents.

Each side has scored in the last four clashes while Aberdeen have won five in eight.

Recommended Bets
Despite their recent home improvements Dundee look huge at 19/5 to pick up three points here against an Aberdeen side on the up but a bit short for me at 4/5. The Dark Blues are capable of picking up a point though and 13/5 on the draw looks the play here although Dundee or Draw at evens on the double chance is a decent shout too. I don’t see either rearguard stopping the other either so the 5/6 on both scoring is well worth backing too.