A stuttering Aberdeen will be hoping for some post-Christmas cheer when they travel to the BBSP Stadium Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Thursday.
The hosts will kick off Boxing Day in ninth place with 18 points in as many games, while the visitors are now third in the league standings with 34 points after 17 matches.
Match preview
After flying out the starting gate with 10 wins and just one draw in their first 11 matches of the season, the wheels now look as though they are starting to come off for Aberdeen in recent weeks.
The Dons took an early lead last weekend at home to Hibernian thanks to a Topi Keskinen goal in the 14th minute, but that lasted just four minutes, and by half time they were a goal down before eventually losing the match 3-1.
That result marked Jimmy Thelin's side's sixth consecutive league match without victory, and saw them forced out of second place by Rangers, who edged Dundee to a 1-0 win the following day.
Cracks are starting to appear across the pitch for the Dandies too, with their defence failing to keep a clean sheet in nine matches on the bounce, while the midfield duo of Graeme Shinnie and Sivert Nilsen have been much less effective recently than they were earlier in the campaign.
However, the visitors have still only lost once on the road this season and may feel that this could be the match in which they start to turn things around, having beaten this opponent fairly comfortably in their last encounter.
Meanwhile, after finishing in fourth place last season, Kilmarnock have experienced a significant downturn this term, having managed just four wins in 18 games to date, and currently just four points above basement club St. Johnstone.
However, after a winless November and a thumping 6-0 defeat to Rangers at the start of this month, Killie are starting to show some signs of life, now unbeaten in their last three matches (W1 D2 L0).
Their most recent fixture saw them come back from a goal down to finish 1-1 against Motherwell on the road thanks to a 74th minute goal by Liam Polsworth - their first from open play since the 3-3 draw against Dundee last month.
Indeed, a lack of consistent goals has been the major downfall for Derek McInnes's side this season, as they have only managed to find the back of the net 19 times to date, which is the second-lowest tally in the division behing Ross County (14).
The hosts have earned only two wins in seven home games this season, but given his former employer's struggles of late, McInnes will likely feel his side may be able to sneak a result here.
Team News
Kilmarnock will be able to welcome Robbie Deas back to the squad this week, with the defender having now served his suspension for the red card he was shown against Hearts earlier this month.
That means the hosts are only expected to be without one first-team player for this match in the form of Stuart Findlay, who is still on the road to recovery from an ankle injury sustained last month.
For the visitors, Vicente Besuijen and defender Jack Milne both sustained injuries during the 1-1 draw against St Johnstone a couple of weeks ago, and Thelin confirmed earlier this week that the pair are expected to remain sidelined for four and three months respectively.
Dimitar Mitov (hamstring) and top-scorer Pape Habib Gueye (muscle) are also ruled out until the New Year, meaning Ross Doohan will continue between the sticks and Ester Sokler will lead the line this week.
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
O'Hara; Mayo, Wright, Ndaba; Watson, Lyons, Polworth, Murray, Anderson; Vassell, Watkins
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Doohan; Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, Mackenzie; Shinnie, Nilsen; Keskinen, Clarkson, McGrath; Sokler
We say: Kilmarnock 1-1 Aberdeen
After an incredible start to the season, Aberdeen have now gone six matches without victory and are missing their first-team goalkeeper and top-scorer due to injury. Kilmarnock, meanwhile, are a long way from the type of form we saw last season, currently the second-lowest-scoring team in the top flight.
This is a match that both sides will likely feel they can win, but given their current form and recent league records, we feel there will be nothing to split them at the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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