Tyrone Smith - BBC Sport Scotland Senior ReporterFri, November 21, 2025 at 5:10 PM UTC·1 min readJimmy Thelin has urged his Aberdeen side to grasp the "big opportunity" to show they are heading in the right direction by inflicting table-topping Hearts' first defeat of the season.
The Dons are eighth in the table - a massive 19 points behind the Tynecastle side - but there have been signs their form is turning.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"In the beginning of the season we had almost zero points from some games, now we have taken 10 points from the last five," said manager Thelin.
"Now we want to grow as a team by developing some parts of our game and try to be more what we see ourselves in the future. Still it is going to take some time, step by step to arrive at that level, but the points are coming and the performances have been stabilised.
"We are a little bit more consistent in some parts of the game and then we have to improve other parts of the game."
The narrative that the red tanker is turning would certainly be enhanced by a positive result against high-flying Hearts.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"We want to have our home form, we have to show more there," added Thelin.
"The players are looking forward to the game. It is a big game, it is a big opportunity for us to show that we are on the right track and progressing.
"We have had a strong belief in the whole season, even in the really tough times. Still we are in a difficult situation, but we have to feel like we can take step by step now. It is still early days so we are trying to find a way to push and take more points."
