Aberdeen's Goal Drought Deepens After Home Defeat to St Johnstone
Aberdeen's 0-0 draw with St Johnstone extends their scoring woes, prompting fan frustration and manager Stephen Robinson's vow to find a solution.
Aberdeen's home defeat to St Johnstone on Sunday left fans and pundits frustrated as the Dons failed to score for the fifth time in eight league games. Despite dominating possession with 65% and registering a season-high 22 shots, Stephen Robinson's side could not find the net, drawing 0-0. Club legend Willie Miller described the performance as 'depressing' and said Aberdeen 'got what they deserved.'
The attacking statistics paint a grim picture: Aberdeen have scored just seven league goals this season, with four coming in a single 4-0 win over Motherwell. Their expected goals (xG) of 8.3 is the lowest in the league, and their 2.9 shots on target per match is the worst record. Kevin Nisbet has scored three of the seven goals, highlighting a reliance on one player. Robinson admitted, 'Outwith Kevin Nisbet, we're not scoring enough goals. We need people to step up.'
Robinson remains confident he can turn things around, citing the quality he sees in training. He acknowledged the difficulty of breaking down deep defenses, noting that even Rangers and Celtic struggle. 'We have to be brave,' he said. However, fans are losing patience. Supporter Darren said, 'There's absolutely no joy in watching Aberdeen anymore,' while Neil criticised the lack of width and pace. Alan added, 'We are mediocre at best having signed no quality.'
The lack of creativity was evident against St Johnstone, with crosses failing to find targets and only two impressive saves forced from goalkeeper Toby Steward. Robinson's previous stint at St Mirren saw them score just 30 goals last season, the league's worst, though he left in March. Before that, St Mirren scored more than Aberdeen in a top-six campaign. Whether Robinson can replicate that success at Pittodrie remains to be seen.
Aberdeen's next fixtures will be crucial as they seek to avoid a relegation battle. The manager's mettle is not in doubt, but with fan unrest growing and a shortage of goals, the pressure is mounting. As Robert put it, 'At this rate, a top six finish is beyond us.'
Image: SNS / BBC Sport
