Key questions answered as Aberdeen continue remarkable form under Jimmy Thelin

Jimmy Thelin’s Aberdeen continued their remarkable run by defeating Rangers 2-1 at a packed Pittodrie on Wednesday.

Here the PA news agency takes a look at how the 46-year-old Swede has overseen the strongest start to a Scottish Premiership campaign by any side other than the traditional big two of Celtic or Rangers this century.

How have Aberdeen started?

Since Thelin arrived from Elfsborg in the summer, the Dons are unbeaten in 16 matches in all competitions, winning 15. In the William Hill Premiership, they have won nine of their opening 10 matches and drawn 2-2 away to defending champions Celtic.

They are currently behind Brendan Rodgers’ side only on goal difference with 28 points from a possible 30, nine ahead of third-place Rangers and a whopping 22 clear of Hearts, the pre-season favourites to finish third. It has fuelled talk that Aberdeen might finally be equipped to end a near 40-year Glasgow duopoly since the Dons won the 1984-85 title under Sir Alex Ferguson.

What was the backdrop to Thelin’s arrival?

For all the optimism that accompanied Thelin’s appointment, nobody could have envisaged a start like this. The Dons had a miserable season in the bottom six last time round under Barry Robson and then Neil Warnock.

Current first-team coach Peter Leven stepped in as caretaker after Warnock’s departure and closed out last season with a nine-game unbeaten league run that restored morale and salvaged a seventh-place finish. The scale of Thelin’s task was heightened, however, by the summer sale of talismanic striker Bojan Miovski to Girona.

How has Thelin transformed Aberdeen?

Early-season momentum was generated by winning all four Premier Sports Cup group-stage matches. Goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, defender Gavin Molloy, midfielder Sivert Heltne Nilsen and winger Topi Keskinen have been standout new signings but Thelin has also got a lot more out of the players already at Pittodrie, with seven of the starting XI on Wednesday part of last season’s squad.

Playing predominantly in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Dons look assured defensively, purposeful in possession and dangerous up front, with an array of attackers they can bring off the bench to help them in tight matches. They have already had 15 different goalscorers this term.

Who has challenged the Old Firm before?

Aberdeen had 24 points out of 30 after 10 games under Derek McInnes in 2015 and went on to finish second when Rangers were in the lower leagues, while Hearts had 25 under Craig Levein in 2018 but soon faded amid a spate of injuries. The Jambos had 26 points from 10 games in 2005-06 before manager George Burley was inexplicably sacked by erratic owner Vladimir Romanov. They went on to finish second.

Can Aberdeen sustain it?

The fact their strong start in the league is augmented by a flawless six-game run to the Premier Sports Cup semi-final lends weight to the notion Thelin’s men, who have shown no sign of feeling the pressure, can keep their form going. They have a big squad and – evidenced by the fact they are still winning without injured top scorer Pape Habib Gueye – do not appear overly reliant on any individual.

Giddy supporters have been singing about winning the league for the first time in 40 years but it underlines the size of the Dons’ task that despite their incredible start, they are still below Celtic on goal difference by a margin of 15. A better idea of their ceiling will be had once they have faced the formidable Hoops a further twice in the coming five weeks, although they do appear firmly on course to at least split the Old Firm and finish second.