Aberdeen's strike struggles laid bare

5 days ago 1

There was no caretaker manager bounce for Aberdeen at Ibrox.

Following Jimmy Thelin's dismissal, Peter Leven's latest interim stint began with the Dons' fifth defeat in a six-game winless run as they fell to a meek 2-0 loss to Rangers.

It's now three defeats on the bounce in the Premiership, all without Aberdeen even registering a goal. A run of 335 scoreless minutes.

What's more, they've now failed to score in nine of their 21 league games, the poorest record in the Premiership.

Overall they've netted 20 times - a serious underperformance on their xG (expected goals) of 26.36 - while only Kilmarnock (19) and Dundee (19) have scored fewer in the same amount of league outings.

Could their strikers be the problem?

Kevin Nisbet joined Aberdeen permanently in September having spent last term on loan at Pittodrie. Marko Lazetic made the move from AC Milan in the summer while Kusini Yengi switched from Portsmouth. But none of the strikers have set the heather alight in the north east, mustering just five league goals between them.

Four of those have come from Lazetic, who has at least outperformed his xG of 2.51. The striker has had 11 shots, six on target, and five big chances, of which he's scored three.

Nisbet has netted just once in 18 Premiership appearances - but it's not down to a lack of trying. He's had 15 shots, seven on target, and three big chances - all of which he's missed. He's also managed 49 touches in opposition boxes and generated an xG of 2.02.

With Yengi looking surplus to requirements, and Nisbet and Lazetic struggling for goals, might the Dons be in the market for a striker this month?

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