Hamza Igamane, Simo Valakari & Aberdeen v Hearts in focus – Premiership picks

When these sides last met at Pittodrie in October, Aberdeen were unbeaten and second in the league, while Hearts were bottom without a win.

How times have changed.

Jimmy Thelin’s side are stuck in a winless rut, having gone 10 games without victory – including five defeats on the trot. They have slipped down to fourth.

After their latest defeat by Motherwell, where they also lost defender Slobodan Rubezic to a red card, the Swede conceded his side have “problems to solve”.

They need to do so quickly if they are to avoid matching their worst losing streak of seven since December 2010.

Amid this slump, where they appear short of the confidence that developed through their 11-game unbeaten run at the start of the season, they have often given themselves an uphill battle, conceding the first goal in seven games since their last win.

While it makes for grim reading, the glimmer of hope is Hearts are in town. The Dons have not lost to Hearts at home in the Scottish Premiership since May 2017.

In fact, none of the past 22 games between these sides has been won by the away side (17 home wins, five draws), with Aberdeen the last visiting side to win this fixture in May 2017.

However, Neil Critchley’s side are two from two in 2025 and are eyeing up three league wins in a row for the first time since February last year.

On the back of arguably their best win under head coach Critchley against Dundee United on Sunday, the maroon mood music has changed for the better since the Boxing Day derby defeat by Hibernian.

At the heart of that has been James Penrice, who grabbed the crucial goal at Tannadice. The former Livingston man has been a bright spark in an often dull season for the Gorgie side.

If Hearts are to end their Pittodrie hoodoo on Sunday, the left-back will no doubt have a part to play.