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SEAT RELEASE DEADLINE APPROACHING!
28th April 2024
Our first outing of March sees the Terrors host Aberdeen for the third 6pm-kick-off meeting of the sides this season. Get down with the details as we look to kick on.
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Overview
After former United midfielder Barry Robson has assumed interim control of the Pittodrie reigns, an upturn in fortunes has followed - as they saw off both Livingston and Motherwell at home.
Despite the uncertainty over the managerial situation, they maintain a place in the top six, albeit on goals scored. This puts them just two points off a return to the European stage.
Home Comforts
Aberdeen's shaky away form persists however, picking up just seven points from 13 matches on the road this season. A run of seven straight away defeats is the worst sequence of results since 1999.
To emphasise the scale of the issue, Aberdeen have shipped a whopping 37 goals away from home, yet have remained mean in the Granite City - conceding a mere 14.
The 51-goal problem at the back sees Aberdeen on course for their worst defensive season in over a decade.
Four of those goals came at Tannadice back in October, when a ruthless United dismantled the visitors under the lights, with two goals in either half sealing an emphatic first win of the season for the hosts.
Aziz Behich rippled the net for the first time in tangerine, then Tony Watt finished with aplomb a few minutes later. After the outstanding Craig Sibbald was felled in the area, Jamie McGrath converted with confidence from 12 yards soon after the restart, and finally, to add insult to injury, an own goal from Ross McCrorie complied the red misery for four.
Watch the story of the match below!
Kicking on from here
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) October 9, 2022
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The Dons' reliance on the younger generation is outlined by the fact they have the youngest average starting XI age of any side in this season’s Premiership - 25 years, 252 days. Furthermore, they have made just 33 changes to the line-up in 27 matches - fewer than any other club.
Since our promotion back to the top flight in 2020, the Terrors have lost to their New Firm rivals just twice in all competitions, both at Pittodrie. At Tannadice, Aberdeen are now winless in more than seven years.
Both Peter Pawlett and Charlie Mulgrew have pulled on the red of our opponents throughout their careers - the former made 211 competitive appearances for Aberdeen, also part of their 2014 League Cup triumph.
Talking Tactics
Interim boss Robson has tinkered slightly as he looks to find the spark which will ignite their season. He has experimented with both a back three and four and a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.
Tricky wingers Duk, Johnny Hayes and Matthew Kennedy's tendency to carry the ball forward puts Aberdeen second to only Rangers for dribbles per 90, perhaps underlining why they have been awarded nine spot-kicks this season.
Behind the Old Firm, they execute the second-fewest amount of long balls per match in the league - an average of 43.
Aberdeen thrive off turnovers, with three players in the Premiership's top ten for most interceptions this season.
Memorable Matchup
A bumper crowd packed into Tannadice for a show-stopping New Firm - the last fixture before the 2012/13 Premiership split. As results began to unfold elsewhere, a win for either side would secure their place in the top six.
After a cagey first-half, the second descended into an entertaining, end-to-end classic, with both starlet Ryan Gauld and future Terror Pawlett going close for both teams.
In the dying embers, an unforced error from Scott Vernon saw his clearance fall to Keith Watson who sent a deep cross into the back post. Waiting, unmarked, was the unlikely hero Rory Boulding. The 24-year-old kept his composure to slot home below onrushing 'keeper Jamie Langfield, sparking jubilant celebrations both on the park and in the stands. This was our sixth consecutive top-six finish.
Watch the highlights below!
Ones To Watch
After making the move from MTK Budapest, Ylber Ramadani has bedded into the north-east outfit's squad almost seamlessly.
An anchor in the middle of the park, the Albanian has won the most defensive duels in the Premiership - an impressive 216. He also sits in the top ten for interceptions, and is on the periphery for total passes, with 1,185.
Ramadani has chipped in with a three G/A from defensive midfield and frequently tries his luck from distance.
Fellow Balkan Bojan Miovski has also hit the ground running since his summer switch, and bagged the winner from the spot in the last meeting between the sides.
The Macedonian talisman has 15 goals to his name so far this season, albeit seven are penalties. He has outperformed his expected goals stat by two, and boasts the second highest shot accuracy out of all Premiership players.
