Sports Mole previews Monday’s Scottish Premiership clash between St Johnstone and Aberdeen, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Both looking to commence their league campaigns on a positive note, St Johnstone and Aberdeen will lock horns at McDiarmid Park during the opening round of the Scottish Premiership.
The Saints will be aiming to impress an expectant home crowd on Monday night, when the Dons will be beginning a new era on the road in Perth.
Match preview
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After finishing third bottom of the Scottish Premiership standings during a troubling and difficult 2023-24 term – in which they avoided the relegation playoff due to their superior goal difference over Ross County – St Johnstone will be targeting a stress-free campaign this time around.
The Saints have been relatively busy in the summer transfer window ahead of the 2024-25 term, making a double signing from top-tier rivals Hearts, with youngsters Lewis Neilson and Mackenzie Kirk arriving to bolster the centre-back and striking options respectively.
St Johnstone have already played four competitive matches this summer in the build-up to Monday night’s Premiership opener, with the hosts finishing at the top of their Scottish League Cup group after securing wins over Brechin City, Greenock Morton and lower league East Fife.
Following a seven-goal campaign for the 33-year-old during 2023-24, Nicky Clark is expected to be a main man for the Saints once again this season, although there could be a significant downturn in form from the player considering that he is approaching the twilight of his career.
Aberdeen will commence their new Premiership era under the leadership of 46-year-old Jimmy Thelin on Monday night, with the Swedish coach desperate to add to the single second-tier title he won whilst in charge of Jonkoping.
With a title charge to compete with major players such as Celtic and Rangers unlikely, the Dons will do well to purely focus on improving their standing from a troublesome 2023-24, with Monday’s visitors placing seventh in a 12-team division, missing out on European football.
Attracting plenty of interest from a number of top teams around Europe, including Champions League-bound Bologna, Bojan Miovski is still an Aberdeen player ahead of Monday’s trip to Perth and will be looking to better his tally of 16 Premiership goals from last campaign.
Brought into the club during the ill-fated reign of Neil Warnock earlier in the calendar year, Canada international Junior Hoilett remains a key player for the Dons and provides plenty of attacking threat from the flanks.
St Johnstone form (all competitions):
Aberdeen form (all competitions):
Team News
St Johnstone could be without the services of their leading marksman from last season, with 33-year-old Clark suffering from an injury concern.
The Saints will also be unable to call upon the talents of Uche Ikpeazu, who is expected back in first-team contention at the start of September.
The hosts are also short of options at left-back due to the absence of Andre Raymond, with the 23-year-old recovering from a hamstring strain.
After making some telling contributions for Aberdeen during the closing stages of last term, Dante Polvara is now sidelined with a hamstring issue.
Leighton Clarkson was preparing to fight for a place in the Dons’ engine room, however his first-team aims have been hindered by a dislocated shoulder.
St Johnstone possible starting lineup:
Sinclair; Wright, Olufunwa, Neilson, Keltjens; Smith, MacPherson, Smith, Clark, Carey; Sidibeh
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Doohan; Devlin, Jensen, Rubezic, Mackenzie; Milne, Shinnie, McGrath, Clarkson, Hoilett; Sokler
We say: St Johnstone 1-1 Aberdeen
Both impressing in the early stages of the League Cup, it is hard to predict who will come out on top on the opening weekend of the Premiership campaign.
St Johnstone have the advantage of their home crowd to roar them on, however we feel that Aberdeen’s quality will be enough to force a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.