Last week I wrote here about the dearth of entertainment that Aberdeen and St Johnstone continually served up in recent seasons when they met, but Monday’s frenetic clash in Perth was a refreshing change from the norm.
The Dons deserved their victory after their vigorous first-half performance. Saints struggled to contain them and the visitors were unlucky to only be one goal up at half-time, albeit there was a grandstand finish.
The club has been relatively quiet in the transfer market this summer and there is a suspicion the board are waiting to see if Jimmy Thelin can get a tune out of what is in the building before committing to more numbers.
One of the club’s priorities just now simply has to be trying to tie the influential Jamie McGrath down on an extended deal. The Irishman is into the last year of his contract and seems to be growing by the game, having finished last season strongly. He was superb in Perth, with a goal and an assist to his name.
New signing Sivert Nilsen also impressed and is exactly the type of player Aberdeen had been missing last season.
But, with Leighton Clarkson joining Dante Polvara on the long-term injured list, the squad is pretty light in numbers. Given they want to challenge Hearts this season, the difference in depth is quite stark – considering the Edinburgh side are close to having three players per position while the Aberdeen bench looked somewhat threadbare at McDiarmid Park.
However, Thelin has become the first Pittodrie manager to win his opening five games. And although all but one of those was against lower-league opposition, he clearly has the players in a good mindset as they prepare to welcome in-form St Mirren to the Granite City on Sunday.
Jimmy Thelin,St Johnstone,refreshing change,Leighton Clarkson,Jamie McGrath