Northern Goal

Nothing but positivity after reinvigorated Aberdeen‘s Ibrox showing - despite bizarre John Beaton penalty call

This week, we hail Christian Ramirez, Dean Campbell and Scott Brown after Aberdeen's draw at Ibrox. A performance for the defender-less Dons to be proud of – despite John Beaton’s soft, soft penalty award robbing them of the win - with the top-six within touching distance. We also fawn over Harry Clarke and Joseph Hungbo after Ross County’s fantastic five against Dundee - their first victory in the Premiership. And Inverness' struggles to break teams down see them fall off Championship's top spot. 

The lowdown on Aberdeen and Ross County’s pre-match press conferences as both face their own pressure-cooker Premiership clashes

This week, we discuss the high-stakes situation at Pittodrie as Aberdeen gear up for games against Hibs then Rangers. Stephen Glass has Dave Cormack's backing - and, he insists, final say on transfers - but does he need to adopt a pragmatic approach in the upcoming nightmare run? Malky Mackay, too, is facing big decisions to stop Ross County counting themselves out of matches. Does he put keeper Ross Laidlaw back in? Plus, we back Inverness to take care of Raith and Arbroath, Cove to recover from their East Fife blip, Peterhead to continue their out-of-the-blue revival, and hope Elgin can do the business in front of the TV cameras against Clydebank.

Big moment for Aberdeen v Dundee, Ross County should target seven, and Billy Mckay too good to refuse at Inverness

It's a big weekend for Stephen Glass' Aberdeen with Sean Wallace giving us his view the Premiership clash with Dundee can either be the catalyst which turns around the Dons' season, or a crippling blow ahead of tough games with Hibs, Hearts and Rangers. Meanwhile, winless Ross County should be targeting seven points against St Mirren, Livingston and Dundee, according to Paul Chalk, who also expects to see Billy Mckay get his Championship starting chance for Inverness this weekend. All that, plus chat about Cove's Ola Adeyemo, Peterhead's potential new boy Grant Savoury, and Elgin's Conor O'Keefe.

Aberdeen must prioritise defensive fix during week off as Dundee clash looks likely to be pivotal

This week on Northern Goal, Aberdeen's slack backline is again the big issue as they're defeated by struggling Celtic. Can Stephen Glass fix his team during the international break and ahead of a must-win clash with rock-bottom Dundee? We also discuss the fine margins keeping Ross County from their first victory, and how Caley Thistle lost their unbeaten record against Hamilton. Plus, a crazy 25-second red card and a still-lethal Rory McAllister sees Cove get a big win over Alloa, but they are still upstaged in League One by five-goal Peterhead.

Will Stephen Glass take Joe Lewis out of the firing line for Aberdeen v Celtic clash?

This week the panel discuss what went wrong for Aberdeen in their 3-2 loss at St Mirren as they extended their winless run to eight games. Will Stephen Glass drop Joe Lewis for this weekend's first clash of the season with struggling Celtic? Plus, Sophie Goodwin gives an update on Aberdeen Women's super SWPL1 start, we talk through the positives (and negatives) from Ross County's defeat at Motherwell, determined Inverness' continued Championship run, as well as Cove, Peterhead and Elgin's lower league fortunes.

Lots of shots - so why can’t Aberdeen score? Has David Bates shown he can be the answer to Dons‘ defensive vulnerability?

This week, after Aberdeen’s winless run extended to seven games against St Johnstone, we discuss why the goals have dried up for the likes of Christian Ramirez, and just how ex-Red Stevie May managed to get the ball in the Dons' net. Ross County keep feelgood factor going as slightly more favourable fixtures arrive. Could Ashley Maynard-Brewer be their new no.1 goalkeeper? Plus, Inverness happy to stay unbeaten in Championship at Dunfermline, Peterhead’s lack of cutting edge costs them against local rivals Cove, and Elgin need to start catching up in League Two.

A Highland charge to the top of the Championship, Aberdeen’s current malaise and the battle for the north-east between Peterhead and Cove Rangers

In this week’s episode, the panel discuss Caley Thistle’s superb start to the season, with five wins from five taking them to the top of the Championship. There’s also Ross County striving to find their best 11, while Aberdeen struggle to find a way out of their six-game winless run. The Dons women, however, are in buoyant mood after picking up their first SWPL1 victory and we turn our attention to Balmoor, where Peterhead and Cove Rangers renew old rivalries.

Aberdeen and Ross County come back from their break – will new signings now be fully intergrated?

This week, with the international break behind us and the Dons set to come back with renewed purpose and ready for three winnable games to close out September, we ask: what is Stephen Glass’ best 11 now? Meanwhile, what does success looks like for Aberdeen Women in SWPL1?
Plus, like Aberdeen, Ross County will be looking to come back from two weeks of training with their huge cohort of new boys fully bedded into the squad.
Of course, our lower league teams kept playing and there’s plenty to reflect on from the SPFL Trust Trophy and talk through ahead of the weekend’s league action, including Inverness making 10 changes and still winning, Cove’s availability issues, Peterhead’s ongoing funk and Elgin’s chance to be the first team to beat Kelty Hearts.

Newcastle United expert Sean Douglass explains how Matty Longstaff has ended up at Aberdeen as summer transfer window slams shut

The international break comes at the right time for Aberdeen to reset after a flurry of signings, the end to their busy Euro campaign and cumbersome showing against Ross County. In the final day of the transfer window, Newcastle United fan and journalist Sean Douglass tells us how Premier League starlet Matty Longstaff has ended up on loan at Aberdeen and what he'll offer. The panel also discuss who could leave Pittodrie today and what is still needed at County. There's also more fawning over Billy Dodds' seemingly unstoppable Inverness in the Championship, and a hat-trick of losses for Cove, Peterhead and Elgin to debrief.
 
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Will Austin Samuels complement Aberdeen’s existing forwards? Plus, injuries mount up ahead of Qarabag return

This week, Paul Third gives his verdict on Hearts 1 Aberdeen 1 – which showed the Dons’ fight and fitness, but also saw yet more injury issues emerge. The woeful pitch for last week's clash in Azerbaijan made it hard to compare Qarabag and Aberdeen, so who will emerge victorious from Thursday's monumental Europa Conference League play-off return leg at Pittodrie? Plus, will loan signing Austin Samuels bring different qualities from existing strikers Christian Ramirez and JET? Elsewhere, Ross County hint at potential with display in defeat to Rangers, and Inverness Caley Thistle on a high in the Championship.