St Johnstone welcome in-form Aberdeen to McDiarmid Park in round 30's Scottish Premiership encounter to be played on Saturday.

The Saints drew 1-1 with Kilmarnock before the international break, while the Reds defeated competitive rivals Hearts 3-0.

Match preview

Callum Davidson probably needed the two-week breather for his side after an indifferent set of results for the Perth-based club threatened to cause a slide down the standings.

At the end of round 29, St Johnstone were eighth in the table with 32 points, seven adrift of Livingston in sixth, a further nine from Aberdeen — who occupy the final European spot in the league — and have a 10-point lead over bottom Dundee United, with an eight-point advantage over second-bottom Ross County.

Following last season's flirtation with relegation to the Scottish Championship — Saints ended second-bottom and had to win the two-legged playoff final against Inverness Caledonian Thistle to secure their top-flight status — this season represents some progress.

There is no immediate danger of a relegation battle, but they also seem far from any challenge to compete for the European spots.

Perhaps this adds some importance to Saturday's game, with the side occupying fourth place visiting McDiarmid Park, because success over the Reds would reduce the deficit to six points, giving Davidson's troops an outside shot at continental participation.

Saints face an uphill battle against a team that have hit another gear in recent weeks, racking up wins in impressive fashion to move into fourth place.

Since a disastrous three-game losing run saw Aberdeen concede five against Hearts, six at Hibernian — a thrashing that led to Jim Goodwin's dismissal — and three at home to St Mirren between mid-January and the start of February, Barry Robson has masterminded four wins from five to and a rise to fourth place.

The only blemish in their ongoing run came against champions-elect Celtic, a game that saw Ange Postecoglou's men run out 4-0 winners.

Particularly pleasing for Robson — who will stay in situ until the end of this season — was the recent 3-0 win over Hearts before the international break, in which the Reds raced into an unassailable advantage by scoring three times in the opening half-hour.

That victory saw them reduce the deficit on Hearts from seven to four, and they likely now have third place in their sights owing to the incumbent's dip in form.

Having won both fixtures against St Johnstone this season, Aberdeen will back themselves to claim another victory over this weekend's hosts.

Team News

Ryan McGowan returned to the St Johnstone squad for the first time since January and could make his first start in just over two months at the back.

Nicky Clark has not made the squad for two gameweeks, so Connor McLennan or Theo Bair would deputise.

However, Murray Davidson (ankle), Chris Kane (knee) and Charlie Gilmour (ankle) are unlikely to play any part this weekend.

Aberdeen goalkeeper Kelle Roos returned for the 3-0 success over Hearts before the two-week hiatus after a two-month layoff, and the shot-stopper should keep his place on Saturday.

Academy product Connor Barron returned to the bench for the Reds' last success and got much-needed game time for the Scotland Under-21 side after missing over a month through injury.

St Johnstone possible starting lineup:
Matthews; Wright, Mitchell, Gordon, McGowan, Montgomery; MacPherson, Hallberg, Carey; May, Bair

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Roos; Pollock, MacDonald, Scales; McCrorie, Ramadani, Clarkson, Shinnie, Hayes; Miovski, Lopes

We say: St Johnstone 1-2 Aberdeen

The international break was ill-timed for the in-form Aberdeen owing to their momentum preceding the hiatus, but that should not prevent another victory for the Reds against a side they have twice had joy against this season.


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