Aberdeen and Kilmarnock, two Scottish Premiership clubs, are looking to kickstart their campaigns when they meet at Pittodrie this weekend. Both teams have experienced a difficult start to the season, accumulating just three points out of a possible twenty-four between them.
For Aberdeen, manager Stephen Robinson was expected to build on pre-season optimism and stamp his authority on the team. However, the Dons have struggled to find form, with little for supporters to celebrate. While a title challenge was not anticipated, the team's performances have fallen short of expectations following a turbulent previous season. Aberdeen's early league schedule included matches against Hearts, Rangers, and Celtic, three of last season's top teams, which has been a factor in their results. Nevertheless, the manner of their performances, including a defeat against Dundee, has raised concerns.
The Dons have been criticized for a lack of attacking ingenuity, with manager Robinson, who previously found success at St Mirren by combining physicality with ingenuity, currently seeing little of the latter. Despite a significant player turnover over the summer, new signings are expected to take time to gel. However, the team appears devoid of ideas and goals. Mitchy Ntelo has shown flashes of potential, scoring against Dundee in a cup match, but is still finding his feet. Fellow recruit Ayoub Mouloua was substituted at halftime in the recent 3-0 loss to Celtic, and Tony Yogane has not replicated his form from his time at Dundee. Toyosi Olusanya's consistency remains a challenge.
Aberdeen's upcoming opponent, Kilmarnock, presents an opportunity to improve their scoring record. Kilmarnock's start to the season has been particularly concerning, with the team conceding 14 goals in four league games. Their recent 1-0 home loss to St Mirren, while still a defeat, was seen by some as a marginal improvement. Manager Neil McCann, who took over from Stuart Kettlewell last season, eventually turned things around at Dundee with a more expansive style of play. He is attempting to implement a similar approach at Kilmarnock, but the team's defensive frailties are undermining these efforts.
Kilmarnock has conceded within the first 16 minutes of each of their four Premiership matches, forcing them to play catch-up. The team's structure appears unbalanced, with full-backs pushing forward to provide width, leaving them vulnerable to counter-attacks when possession is lost. Their inability to defend crosses into the box has been a recurring issue, leading to a perceived lack of responsibility and defensive organization. McCann has called for leaders in the dressing room to step up and for the unit to focus on defensive fundamentals, suggesting a more pragmatic approach may be needed temporarily.
In 2018-19, Dundee, under McCann, became the last club to lose their opening five Premiership matches, ultimately facing relegation that season. While it is considered too early to draw parallels with that outcome, a significant improvement is needed for both Aberdeen and Kilmarnock. For Kilmarnock, securing a clean sheet in their upcoming match would be a more significant achievement than securing a victory.