Hearts travel to Aberdeen on Saturday (15.00) looking for a lift after their four game winning run was snapped by Rangers in a 1-0 defeat at Tynecastle in midweek.
The Jambos still sit in third spot in the 12-strong cinch Premiership with 23 points from 15 games while Aberdeen slipped to second-bottom with 13 points from 14 starts after their late defeat to Kilmarnock at Pittodrie on Wednesday following a goal from David Watson two minutes into injury time.
That was Aberdeen’s third defeat in their last five games and conceding goals has been a problem for The Dons with 24 hitting the back of the net, the second worst record behind Hibs, who have conceded 25, and Motherwell who have shipped 28.
Barry Robson’s men have scored 15. Hearts have scored 14 and conceded 13.
The sides last met on September 16 at Tynecastle when Hearts won 2-0 with goals from Yutaro Oda after 14 minutes and Liam Boyce after 64, but The Dons had five shots on target against four from the home side.
Hearts, however, enjoyed 53 per cent of possession against 47 per cent and they had 427 passes against 380 in a game which produced 23 fouls (11 from Hearts and 12 from Aberdeen).
The Men in Maroon ended with four yellow cards against two from their rivals and it could be another tough clash at Pittodrie as Robson’s men look to get back on track after a disappointing run.
Recent history favours Hearts who have won three and lost two of the last five meetings between the teams, Hearts scoring nine goals, five coming in a 5-0 defeat of the men from the Granite City on January this year, while Aberdeen have converted on six occasions, three coming in a 3-0 win at Aberdeen in March.
But, in the 34 meetings between the clubs, Aberdeen lead with 13 wins and Hearts have 12 victories with nine draws and the Aberdeen manager remains confident he can improve on the club’s recent record.
Robson told BBC Sport Scotland: “I’ve been in a lot of difficult situations throughout my career and, as I said to the players, you stand up and fight and run for your club and they will do that.”
Aberdeen trained on Thursday and Robson said they would look at issues that occurred on Wednesday.
His opposite number, Steven Naismith, felt the goal they conceded to Rangers was a poor one and added: “When we moved the ball without overthinking it we were decent and created chances.”
PICTURE: Liam Boyce scored in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen at Tynecastle. Picture Ian Jacobs
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