ABERDEEN were thumped 5-0 by Hearts the last time they played them in January, but a lot has changed since then and they can gain a measure of revenge by beating the Jambos at Pittodrie on Saturday at 29/20.
The Dons have had a rollercoaster of a season and still have Barry Robson as interim manager. That five-goal hammering at Tynecastle was the first of three cataclysmically awful defeats for
Aberdeen – they then infamously lost at Darvel in the Scottish Cup and a 6-0 thumping at Hibs spelt the end for Jim Goodwin.
Hearts are generally viewed to have enjoyed a good season, yet if Aberdeen win this, they will move to within four points of Robbie Neilson's side.
And Hearts have a really poor record when they travel to the northeast. They have lost on their last six visits to Pittodrie and have failed to win for seven years.
They also have a relatively poor away record this season having only won three times away from Gorgie. They have failed to win in six of their last seven away league games.
Aberdeen are far from the finished article themselves, but they are a lot more defensively secure and they are generally strong at home and can take the three points.
ST JOHNSTONE look far too big at 5/2 to win at Kilmarnock.
Killie were dumped out of the Scottish Cup by Inverness in a dreadful result for Derek McInnes. And there have been signs their fans are starting to turn on him as they embark on a relegation dogfight.
Only their Rugby Park form has stopped them from becoming detached at the bottom, but they are playing a Saints side who can play without pressure – they are surely safe from the drop.
Callum Davidson's side have won two of their last three away games at Motherwell and Dundee United and will have nothing to lose when they travel to Ayrshire to face a Killie side whose confidence must be fragile.
Scottish Cup heroes FALKIRK can win in Dumfries against Queen of the South at 11/10.
The Bairns stunned Championship side Ayr United on Monday and are now through to face Caley Thistle in the semi-finals.
It made up for another defeat by Dunfermline the previous midweek, but that was their only defeat in their last 13 games in which they have won 11 of them.
And they could be too strong for an inconsistent Doonhamers at Palmerston Park.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ABERDEEN 29/20
ST JOHNSTONE 5/2
FALKIRK 11/10.
Freelance Scottish Football journalist for all newspapers. Former Racing Post Scottish Football Correspondent and long-suffering Aberdeen fan.
