Preview: Hearts vs. Aberdeen – prediction, team news, lineups

After failing to win their last two matches, second-placed Aberdeen will look to get back on track when they travel to Tynecastle for Sunday’s Scottish Premiership meeting with Hearts.

Meanwhile, the hosts will be desperate to claim a positive result after losing four consecutive games in all competitions.

Match preview

After being appointed Hearts boss in the middle of October, Neil Critchley would have been satisfied to win three of the first five competitive matches of his tenure (D1, L1).

Unfortunately for Critchley, his side have experienced a dramatic dip in results in recent weeks, losing four consecutive matches, including a Conference League loss against Heidenheim and league defeats against Rangers and Celtic.

Hearts missed the chance to end their losing run in Thursday’s Conference League clash against Cercle Brugge, with Lawrence Shankland blazing over an 81st-minute penalty when his side were trailing by a 1-0 scoreline.

Cercle Brugge went on to add a late second to claim a 2-0 win in Belgium as Hearts failed to trouble the scorers for the third time in four matches.

Hearts may still be content with the fact they are sitting in 17th place in the Conference League table, but while they may be in a qualification spot in their European campaign, the Jambos are down in 11th place in the Scottish Premiership with just nine points to their name.

Although they have won just two league games this term, Hearts may be able to take confidence from the fact that the home side on the day have won each of the last 10 meetings between these two sides.

Aberdeen’s unlikely title bid has started to lose momentum in the last two matches, losing a league game for the first time this season in last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to St Mirren before settling for a draw in Tuesday’s thrilling contest against Hibernian.

After establishing a 2-1 lead at Easter Road, Aberdeen went on to concede in the 92nd minute before Ester Sokler produced a stunning strike to score what seemed like the winning goal.

However, a dramatic encounter produced one final twist as Rocky Bushiri netted an equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time to stun the second-placed side, leaving them two points adrift of leaders Celtic after playing one game more.

Aberdeen will still be delighted to boast a record of 10 wins, two draws and one defeat in 13 matches, giving them a surprising nine-point buffer over Rangers in third position, even if Phillipe Clement‘s side have the advantage of a game in hand.

The Dons will now turn their focus to Sunday’s road trip, with the visitors looking to end a three-game winless away league run (D2, L1) since beating Dundee 2-1 at the end of September.

Hearts Scottish Premiership form:

Hearts form (all competitions):

Aberdeen Scottish Premiership form:

Aberdeen form (all competitions):

Team News

Hearts midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof remains sidelined with a hamstring issue, while Gerald Taylor is out with a long-term knee injury.

Daniel Oyegoke and Blair Spittal could be given recalls after dropping down to the bench for Thursday’s Conference League defeat to Cercle Brugge.

Shankland is likely to be given the chance to lead the line against Aberdeen, with the striker looking to end his goal drought after failing to score in his last 11 appearances.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon the services of Pape Habib Gueye, who has been out since September due to a quad injury.

Defender Nicky Devlin will be fit to feature against Hearts despite being forced off in the closing stages of the midweek draw with Hibernian.

Leighton Clarkson, Shayden Morris and Sokler are all pushing for recalls after appearing as substitutes at Easter Road on Tuesday.

Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Oyegoke, Kent, Rowles, Penrice; Devlin, Baningime, Boateng; Forrest, Spittal, Shankland

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Mitov; Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, MacKenzie; Shinnie, Heltne Nilsen; Morris, Clarkson, McGrath, Sokler

We say: Hearts 1-2 Aberdeen

Aberdeen have lost momentum with their last two results, but we think they will return to winning ways when they face a Hearts side that will be low on confidence after losing each of their previous four matches in all competitions.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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