Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 14

Dec 1, 2024 at 3pm UK

Tynecastle Park

Heartsvs.Aberdeen

Match preview

Neil Critchley was appointed Hearts boss in mid-October. Given the circumstances, he would have been happy to win three of the first five competitive matches (D1, L1).

Unfortunately for Neil, his team have had a rough patch recently, losing four matches in a row. This includes a Conference League loss against Heidenheim and league defeats against Rangers and Celtic.

Hearts had the chance to end their losing streak on Thursday in the Conference League match against Cercle Brugge, but Lawrence Shankland missed an 81st-minute penalty when his team was down 1-0.

Cercle Brugge scored a second goal late in the game to win 2-0 in Belgium. Hearts didn't have a chance to score for the third time in four matches.

Hearts might be happy with their 17th place in the Conference League table, but while they're in a qualifying position for Europe, the Jambos are down in 11th place in the Scottish Premiership with just nine points.

Although they've only won two league games this season, Hearts can take heart from the fact that the home side has won the last 10 meetings between the two sides.

Aberdeen's unlikely title bid has slowed down a bit in the last two matches. They lost a league game for the first time this season on Saturday, 2-1 to St Mirren, and then drew with Hibs on Tuesday.

After taking a 2-1 lead at Easter Road, Aberdeen let it slip in the 92nd minute, conceding before Ester Sokler produced a stunning strike to score what seemed like the winning goal.

But there was still one last surprise in store as Rocky Bushiri equalised in the sixth minute of extra time, stunning the second-placed side and leaving them two points behind leaders Celtic after playing one more game.

Aberdeen will still be pretty happy with their record of 10 wins, two draws and one defeat in 13 matches. That gives them a surprising nine-point buffer over Rangers in third position, even if Phillipe Clement's side have the advantage of a game in hand.

The Dons will now be looking to end their three-game losing streak on the road (two draws, one loss) in the league since beating Dundee 2-1 at the end of September.

Recent Performance

Hearts Scottish Premiership form:WDLWLL

Hearts form (all competitions):LWLLLL

Aberdeen Scottish Premiership form:DWWWLD

Aberdeen form (all competitions):WWLWLD

Team News

Hearts midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof is still out with a hamstring issue, while Gerald Taylor is out with a long-term knee injury.

Daniel Oyegoke and Blair Spittal might be called back up after sitting out Thursday's Conference League match against Cercle Brugge.

It looks like Shankland will get a chance to lead the line against Aberdeen. The striker is looking to end his goal drought after failing to score in his last 11 appearances.

The visitors will be without Pape Habib Gueye, who has been out since September due to a quad injury.

Good news for Hearts! Defender Nicky Devlin will be fit to play against them despite being forced off in the closing stages of the midweek draw with Hibs.

Leighton Clarkson, Shayden Morris and Sokler are all in the running for a spot in the starting lineup after coming off the bench at Easter Road on Tuesday.

Possible starting lineup

Hearts possible starting lineup:

Gordon; Oyegoke, Kent, Rowles, Penrice; Devlin, Baningime, Boateng; Forrest, Spittal, Shankland

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:

Mitov; Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, MacKenzie; Shinnie, Heltne Nilsen; Morris, Clarkson, McGrath, Sokler