Last season Dundee took six games to get their first Premiership win – how do they avoid a repeat this time around by beating Aberdeen?
The Dons arrive at Dens Park this coming weekend on the back of three strong performances, against Burnley twice and Rangers, and boast an enviable record against the Dark Blues of late, having won the last nine meetings between the sides.
However, might Saturday be a good time to meet Derek McInnes’ side for Dundee?
Like Neil McCann, the Aberdeen boss is hard at work in the transfer market trying to bolster his squad but, at the time of writing, they are a bit short in vital areas.
You can also take the alternative view of their three games this season, highlighting the fact they’ve yet to win.
Injuries and suspensions have hit them badly in defence, too.
Shay Logan is suspended while Scott McKenna’s hamstring injury will certainly keep him out at the weekend and possibly for a few months.
On Sunday against Rangers, that saw Andy Considine move from left-back to centre-half with Graeme Shinnie slotting in on the left.
Losing skipper Shinnie from the middle of the park means losing a bit of control – an area where Dundee are the strongest, particularly if Glen Kamara is playing.
Having Dominic Ball in at right-back, combined with Considine and Michael Devlin means the backline isn’t the most mobile.
However, the Pittodrie boss has stated he’s looking to bring in a couple of new faces before the weekend and you’d expect at least one of them to come straight into that backline.
Whoever plays, though, won’t change the fact it’s a makeshift defence.
The big question is, however, can Dundee’s attack take advantage?
They were toothless at St Mirren last Saturday but this weekend would be a perfect chance for Sofien Moussa and Jean Mendy to show they can be consistent goal-getters for the Dark Blues.
At the top end of the park, Aberdeen are also short.
Sam Cosgrove is a nuisance and physical presence that has to be dealt with but so far in his Dons career hasn’t been much of a goal threat.
Between them, Steven Caulker and Josh Meekings would surely fancy their chances of shackling him on Saturday.
The big danger, however, comes from wide.
Aberdeen’s best stuff comes when Gary Mackay-Steven and Niall McGinn are flying down the wings and that’s where Dundee will have to be strong defensively.
Whichever side he’ll be deployed on, Cammy Kerr is a strong defensive full-back who enjoys a one-on-one battle.
Any chance of the Dark Blues keeping Aberdeen quiet will need a big performance from Kerr – along with either Jesse Curran or Nathan Ralph.
Curran’s early-season performances have put him ahead of the Englishman in the pecking order so far but he’s yet to be really tested defensively by a top side.
Up against GMS, he’ll certainly get that but his pace will be a useful asset.
Overall, Aberdeen are still very strong, even with players missing all over the pitch.
Dens gaffer Neil McCann has urged his side to get off to a quicker start than last season – and he may not get a better chance to topple Dundee’s dominant east-coast rival.
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