For the second time in a few months our game in the north east has been moved from 3pm on a Saturday to 7.45pm on a Friday. It's hard to believe that Scottish football is trying to encourage fans to attend.
Memories of last season's heroics at Pittodrie are still fresh in the minds of 'Well fans but there has been a dramatic switch of the upper hand in the current campaign. It's the Dons who hold second top spot while we struggle at second bottom. Motherwell enjoyed two 1-0 wins in Aberdeen last season but this time the home side has already beaten us twice and they are favourites to complete a clean sweep in this meeting.
Motherwell secure 2nd place last season
After weeks of chopping and changing we may be close to finding a stable starting eleven. Apart from the enforced change at left back last Saturday Motherwell had the same team as the week before, a rarity. Ramsden served the immediate portion of his ban last week but the second part (too many points) does not come into effect until Saturday so he is eligible for the Aberdeen game.
A line up that includes Erwin and McDonald will suggest attacking intent whereas the reappearance of Sutton as a lone striker will imply a more defensive approach. We’ll know the manager’s intentions an hour before kick-off.
Aberdeen’s recent impressive run was ended in last week at Parkhead when they were crushed 4-0. Faint hopes of a title challenge are gone and they now have to contest the runner-up spot. That game was only their second since October without a goal and in February they scored 10 without reply against Ross County, Hamilton and St Mirren.
Rooney leads their striking chart but they have potential scorers in all areas.
Most Motherwell fans will write this game off before a ball is kicked and hope that we can continue our revival next Friday in the Lanarkshire derby. A narrow defeat with no injuries and no red cards will not be a disaster – 0-2.
Remember our last visit to Pittodrie?