This should have been an upbeat post. Aberdeen are top of the League for the second week in a row, having taken full points in both matches. Traveling to Perth, the Dons were denied a penalty, then put the ball in the net only to have it waved off due to a supposed foul in the box. Compared to the season opener this was an ugly match, and even Mackie's winner was admittedly a bundled affair... but these are all good things. The St Johnstone win was exactly the type that the Dons would have managed to give away last year, and so in some ways the three points from Perth were even more encouraging from those obtained in the 4-0 Accies thrashing.
All this was unfortunately bumped aside when young Fraser Fyvie caught his boot wrong in the plastic pitch at Clackmannan Road and crumpled without contact. This, combined with Sone Aluko's achilles concerns, and suddenly the Dons look vulnerable.
On to Killie - while the two SPL defeats can't encourage the Ayrshire side, supporters will point to a 6-2 midweek Cup defeat of Airdrie. Yesterday Kilmarnock also announced the capture of Villa striker Harry Forrester, on loan until January, with Killie boss Mixu Paatelainen saying that he "hoped" Forrester would be available this Saturday.
Thus, even though Killie are pointless after two matches and only saved from the relegation spot by Hamilton's twin four-goal defeats, this weekend's tie is more tense then it ought to be. If the Dons can take the points, it will strengthen team confidence, but a defeat or even bad draw could undo all the momentum that has been built in three victories (eight goals scored, zero conceded) in the past two weeks.
In the end, this match will tell us what kind of side we have this season. We will have to see who in the midfield steps up in place of Fyvie, but with enough different lads in good form so far, I'm confident the Dons will get the job done... though I predict we concede for the first time this season. Aberdeen FC 2 - 1 Kilmarnock. Aluko sets up at least one of the two goals, one for Hartley from the spot, the other from either Magennis or Maguire.
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