Scottish Premiership focus on Tannadice, Kyogo & Clement

There was a time when these two used to be known as the ‘New Firm’.

While Aberdeen and Dundee United are currently a long way from the classy 1980s sides that disrupted the Glasgow giants’ grip on the game, they are next best in the league.

Jim Goodwin has lost both games against his former club since taking over as United boss, but a win on Sunday would narrow the gap between third and fourth to three points.

And momentum is with the hosts. Ten games into the campaign, the Dons were sitting on a spectacular 28 points, two shy of double United’s tally.

Aberdeen’s dream start is unravelling as they look for a way to arrest a slump of seven matches without a win. They come into this one having conceded seven goals in losses to Hibs and Kilmarnock. The same group of players let in six in the first seven league games.

Looking jaded, midfield duo Graeme Shinnie and Sivert Heltne Nilsen have been withdrawn in the past two matches, the latter moving straight to Pittodrie after a full season in Norway.

In contrast, United are full of beans, losing just once in eight outings.

Sam Dalby delivered the Boxing Day winner at St Johnstone and the big striker leads the Premiership’s scoring charts with nine, while only Rangers and Celtic have conceded fewer goals at home.

Will Ferry is a menace up and down the left flank and Vicko Sevelj is growing more and more influential in the middle of the park.