Note: This game has now been postponed.
ABERDEEN have been decimated by the loss of eight first-team players for Saturday's Scottish Premiership trip to McDiarmid Park.
With two players having tested positive for coronavirus, and six others also having to self-isolate after being in close contact with the affected duo, Derek McInnes' plans are in disarray for the game against St Johnstone.
Aberdeen are already without injured star striker Sam Cosgrove for months and the eight quarantined players will also miss league matches against Hamilton and Celtic. It all adds up to quite the shambles for the Pittodrie outfit.
Both they and St Johnstone are aiming for their first win of the season at the second attempt after contrasting fortunes on opening day.
Aberdeen were awful in the 1-0 defeat to Rangers in which they had defender Andy Considine red carded.
St Johnstone also had a man sent off – Michael O'Halloran was dismissed in the first half against Dundee United – but Callum Davidson's men fought back for a creditable 1-1 draw with 10 men.
That fighting spirit in Davidson's first match in charge was welcomed by the rookie boss and now his side are seeking to rectify an iffy home record against the Dons.
Saints have failed to win any of the last six meetings in Perth, and have emerged victorious just once in the last nine.
How do the bookies view it?
Most bookies have quickly got wise to Aberdeen's situation and either suspended the betting or slashed the odds on a St Johnstone win. At time of writing, though, the hosts are still available at 11-10 with Betway, and that's a price worth taking.
The same firm make Aberdeen 13-5 outsiders, with the draw paying 9-2.
Betting angles
A pretty simple angle of attack here – get on Saints when, and if, you can. Aberdeen will be doing well just to get 11 bodies on the pitch and Saints boss Davidson will never have a more inviting opportunity to chalk up his first win.
Stevie May should slot in to attack to face his old club, taking the place of the banned O'Halloran, and he is 19-10 to get on the scoresheet, with team-mate Callum Hendry the 6-4 favourite.
Aberdeen already had problems in attack before the latest crisis, and a Saints win and both teams not to score also tempts at 21-10, as does a Saints win and under 3.5 goals at 8-5.
This Scottish Premiership match between St Johnstone and Aberdeen will be played on Aug 8, 2020 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best St Johnstone vs Aberdeen prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
