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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Robbie Hanratty

Aberdeen's unbeaten run a distant memory: Thelin urges players to reclaim momentum

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin is determined to keep spirits high as his team endures a tough stretch of six matches without a win.

Although, he understands there are areas they must immediately address if they are going to escape from their current slump.

Now positioned third in the Scottish Premiership, the Dons started strong with an early goal from winger Topi Keskinen. However, Hibernian quickly equalised through Elie Youan after a defensive error.

Nicky Cadden then gave the visitors the lead just before half-time, followed by Martin Boyle adding another shortly after the break. Substitute Peter Ambrose had two critical chances to score in the second half, but his missed opportunities highlighted Aberdeen's recent difficulties.

Thelin would like to see his players work harder and also highlighted how those in red should know the standards that have been set considering he started his Aberdeen tenure with an 11 game unbeaten league run, which included 10 victories at the beginning of the 2024/25 season.


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Speaking to Red TV, he said: "A football game is 90 minutes and our parts of the game when we don't have momentum, we have to do better. It's not the level we need to have as a team. 

"We did some good things today but it doesn't matter when you get three goals against you. It is not the standards and the teamwork we need to win games. We have had some good periods but it's not good enough when we drop so much in the bad periods inside the games.

"We need to be much better, stronger as a team and trust what we are doing and don't lose the concept so quick if it's still only 1-1 and we are playing at home.

"We gave away the momentum too easily to the opponent because they didn't need to do so much to get into the game after that. Our standards should be higher than this, and you can say that win or losing, but more how the situation arrives into the game. It can't be so easy. 

"We played good before that. The reaction can't be so big when something happens to the other team. Just go again and try to win the game. 

"I think we have something to work on now and we can't think about what should've happened in this game. It doesn't matter, it's 3-1. It matters what we do the following week as we prepare for the next game."


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Meanwhile, Hibernian manager David Gray expressed his admiration for his team's determination to turn the match around and quiet the home supporters at a wind-swept Pittodrie.

“It’s a huge result and a huge performance. Full credit to the players for a 90-minute performance,” he told reporters at full-time.

“We started well but lost a poor goal, and then showed massive character to come back into. We played the conditions really well, and to a man I thought every player played exceptionally well. 

“The players need to take the credit and confidence from it, but it’s not just this week – its been building for a while. 

“We knew the atmosphere was going to be the way it was, but we managed the game well and in such a way to quieten the crowd as well. It wasn’t a day for pretty football, and the players understood that”.

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