With four games of the league season left to play, Dundee will aim to keep their slim survival hopes alive on Saturday, when they travel to Pittodrie Stadium to take on Aberdeen.

The visitors currently sit at the foot of the Scottish Premiership table, five points adrift of the relegation playoff place, while their hosts also find themselves in the bottom six after a disappointing campaign.

Match preview

Aberdeen have had to endure an underwhelming campaign in the Scottish top flight, dropping into the relegation group when the league split for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

The Dons made the decision to sack Stephen Glass in February, with the side sat seventh in the division, but new boss Jim Goodwin has not been able to inspire a turn in form, overseeing just one win from eight games so far as they failed to break into the top six.

That lone victory came at home to Hibernian late in the first phase of the season, but a draw with basement side Dundee and a disappointing home defeat to Ross County on the final day prevented them making a late charge for the Championship group.

As a result, Goodwin's men find themselves in a battle for seventh place at best, and they got off to a bad start in the second phase, losing 2-1 at home to Livingston last weekend as Lewis Ferguson's goal from the penalty spot came too late to inspire a turnaround.

Now sitting fourth from bottom in the relegation group, and ninth in the division on the whole, with both Livingston and Hibernian leading by five points, the Dons will be desperate to end the season on a high, starting with a much-needed return to winning ways on home turf on Saturday.

Their opponents make the trip also needing a win in a far more desperate situation, as Dundee look to make a late surge to avoid relegation.

You now have to go back over two months for the visitors' last victory in the Scottish top flight, and they have amassed just five points from the nine outings since that triumph.

They have, at least, taken a point from each of the last three of those games though, firstly holding Saturday's opponents and rivals Dundee United to 2-2 draws at the end of the first phase, with Danny Mullen and Charlie Adam scoring to snatch a point from 2-0 down in the latter.

Mark McGhee's side then took on St Johnstone last time out, and, despite taking an early lead through Jordan Marshall, they were eventually forced to settle for a point as Shaun Rooney drew their visitors level on the hour mark.

With St Johnstone being the team they are chasing, Dundee did not gain any new ground in their bid to avoid the drop, and, now having just four matches to bridge a five-point gap if they are to avoid automatic relegation and instead finish in the playoff place, they will see a win as vital at the weekend.

Team News

Aberdeen are without versatile midfielder Ross McCrorie, who will serve a suspension after he was sent off in the defeat to Livingston last weekend, while attacker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas's contract was terminated earlier in April.

Christian Ramirez will be pushing to return to the starting XI after being reduced to a substitute appearance last time out, with the American having netted 10 goals in the first phase of the league campaign.

Young midfielder Lewis Ferguson is another threat going forward, having hit 15 goals across all competitions this term.

Following Jason Cummings's departure in January, Danny Mullen has tended to lead the Dundee line, with the Scotsman scoring seven goals in 22 league appearances so far this season.

He could again be flanked by Paul McGowan and Paul McMullan, while former Liverpool man Charlie Adam brings plenty of experience in midfield.

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Lewis; Ojo, Gallagher, Bates, McKenzie; Ferguson, Barron; Besuijen, Watkins, Hayes; Ramirez

Dundee possible starting lineup:
Lawlor; Kerr, McGhee, Sweeney, Marshall; McMullan, Adam, Byrne, Anderson, McGowan; Mullen

We say: Aberdeen 1-1 Dundee

Aberdeen look far from their best, while Dundee have at least been able to pick up points in recent games, and we see a draw as the most likely outcome.

Goodwin is yet to get his side playing to their full potential, and they could be held by a team fighting for their lives at the bottom of the league.

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