MOTHERWELL host an Aberdeen side who have utterly plunged into freefall with no sign of any recovery.
The Dons made it the most unwanted of nine winless games in a row with another dismal home defeat on Thursday to Ross County – their fourth in a row.
It's a fully-fledged crisis at Pittodrie with the defeat meaning they were overtaken in third by Dundee United – a completely unthinkable thought just a few weeks ago.
Their confidence looks shot, they cannot score and look extremely vulnerable at the back. The high press that worked so well for the start of them under Jimmy Thelin has been replaced by leggy players who look knackered.
Mind you, Motherwell were surprisingly poor in their defeat at Hearts.
Stuart Kettlewell's side only came alive towards the end of the game and could even have snatched a point, but in truth, Hearts should have been out of sight long before that.
But Well are still in the top six and only seven points behind Aberdeen and will be desperate to cut the gap further.
Aberdeen's desperate run has surely got to end sometime and they have a decent recent record at Fir Park, but backing them is not for the faint-hearted.
How the bookies view it: Well backed into favouritism
There's not much between the sides according to the bookies but Aberdeen have unsurprisingly drifted out into outsiders at 8/5 with Boylseports with the hosts 11/8 favourites, The draw is 9/4.
Recent head to heads: Aberdeen have the recent edge
Aberdeen have actually won the last three games between the sides including a 2-1 victory at Pittodrie in September and all three of those wins have been by one goal.
The Dons have won five out of the last six games with the other a draw.
Players to watch: Jack's back
Motherwell had Jack Vale fit again for their trip to Hearts and he can be a threat. He is 5/2 to score anytime with Boylesports.
Goals are a real problem for Aberdeen just now although Kevin Nisbet was gifted one by a keeper's error against Ross County. The on loan Millwall striker is 2/1 to score anytime with Boylesports.
Predicted line-ups:
Motherwell have injury worries about influential duo Lennon Miller and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who both missed the game at Hearts.
Aberdeen should welcome back suspended trio Slobodan Rubezic, Sivert Heltne Nielsen and Ante Palaversa, but keeper Dimitar Mitov might not make it back in time from his injury. Ester Solker also limped off against County.
Motherwell: Oxborough, O'Donnell, Casey, Gordon, Blaney, Wilson, Halliday, Paton, Sparrow, Vale, Watt.
Aberdeen: Doohan, Devlin, Molloy, Rubezic, MacKenzie, Shinnie, Nilsen, Duk, McGrath, Keskinen, Nesbit.
Anything else catch the eye?
Aberdeen simply cannot be backed at the moment and indeed their defence looks so weak that the obvious call here is for the hosts to score at least two goals – something three of the last four teams have managed against them in that sequence – at 23/20 with Boylesports.
Motherwell have issues too with key young midfielder Lennon Miller out for two months, but they will still probably manage to bully a vulnerable Dons side.
It might be a tear-up and you can usually rely on Aberdeen's midfield warrior, Sivert Nilsen, who is only just back from a ban to pick up another card at 7/4 with bet365.
This Scottish Premiership match between Motherwell and Aberdeen will be played on Jan 5, 2025 and kick off at 14:30. Check below for our tipsters best Motherwell vs Aberdeen prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
