Centre-back Liam Scales thinks Aberdeen can say they have had a successful first part of the season if they close out their pre-World Cup break fixtures with a Pittodrie victory over Dundee United.
The Dons have taken 22 points from their first 14 league matches this term, with seven wins, one draw and six losses, including Tuesday’s 2-1 loss at Livingston.
While the goals have been flying in – and points racking up – for Jim Goodwin’s rebuilt Reds at Pittodrie, the club’s recent struggles on the road have continued into the 2022/23 campaign. Just two of their league victories, and five of their losses, have come on their travels.
When it comes to defending their own goal, Aberdeen have been suspect, only managing three clean sheets so far in the Premiership – with just one of those coming away from home.
The chance of adding to their away shut-out tally was quickly extinguished by Livi at Almondvale on Tuesday, with Jack Fitzwater’s goal and then a VAR-review penalty, given for handball against Connor Barron and scored by Sean Kelly, seeing the home side 2-0 up within 20 minutes.
Still, Scales thinks if the Dons can exorcise the demons of October 8’s 4-0 defeat at Tannadice when Dundee United visit Pittodrie on Saturday in the league, Goodwin’s men can head into the shutdown feeling content with their work over the past few months, having also reached the League Cup semi-finals.
Irishman Scales said: “Look – it’s a tough league.
“You win games you don’t deserve to win and lose games you don’t deserve to lose.
“All-in-all, if we’re in the top few places, competing for Europe, that’s successful for us.
“We’re a new squad, we’re gelling well, performances have been good in the last few weeks.
“If we win on the weekend that will be a successful start to the season for us.”
Dons frustrated at points they’ve dropped in away games – Scales
Aberdeen’s poor form on the road has been so prolonged they have now only won four times in 27 Premiership away matches – a run stretching back to the early months of former boss Stephen Glass’ tenure.
Livi proved another dispiriting away trip for the Dons, who gave themselves too much of a mountain to climb due to a very shaky start defensively as the Lions piled on the early pressure.
Asked whether the Reds players are frustrated by the thought of how many more points they might have picked up on the road in the early part of the campaign, Celtic loan defender Scales said: “Definitely – Tuesday, Ross County (1-1 draw in Dingwall on September 3)…
“Obviously we didn’t turn up against Dundee United and were well beaten (4-0 October 8), but, on another day, we could’ve gone there, put in a better performance and that could’ve been points away from home.
“But look, we just need to regroup now and focus on Saturday.
“Definitely, 100% (we owe United one).
“We know it’s a massive one for the fans, it’s a local one and we know the importance of it – because it will set the tone for fans going off for the World Cup break, where there will be no league football for a few weeks.
“A win will leave a positive taste in everyone’s mouth, and we know that’s massive for us.
“We’ve scored plenty of goals at home, and I think the fans make a massive difference for us.
“It’s a great place to play and I don’t think many teams like coming up and playing at Pittodrie as well, so hopefully we can continue that form.”
‘Massive difference’ in second half at Livi – but Reds only have themselves to blame for defeat
With Livi 2-0 up, referee Nick Walsh would go on to award Aberdeen two penalties for handball of their own – both also given following VAR reviews – in West Lothian.
Bojan Miovski failed to convert his before the interval, but strike partner Duk crashed home from the spot early in the second half to make it 2-1, giving the Dons a lifeline as they pummelled their hosts in an attempted second half fightback.
Ultimately the Reds’ rally was in vain, though.
Scales said: “There was a massive difference.
“They started quicker than us and we didn’t start quick enough, that’s our own fault. We didn’t deal with balls into the box from set-pieces.
“In the second half, we changed shape, which helped, and we brought on Matty Kennedy who was brilliant. He changed the game for us.
“We went to a (back) four and were a little bit more attacking, which helped.
“And there was more urgency in our game, which kept us on top and in their half for most of it.
“They’re very good at defending their box and have got a good record of getting ahead in games here and holding on. We know that’s one of their strengths.
“It’s definitely a tough one to take, but we’ve only really got ourselves to blame.”
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