Jimmy Thelin eyes important Dundee United clash with Aberdeen in ‘open race’

Jimmy Thelin acknowledged the potential significance of Dundee United’s visit to Pittodrie on Sunday as the William Hill Premiership moves into its final ten fixtures.

Aberdeen are in third place in the table, one point ahead of Hibernian and United and five ahead of Hearts, who travel to Easter Road for the Edinburgh derby on the same day.

With the season warming up for a thrilling climax, the Dons boss is looking for his side to keep right behind Celtic and Rangers at the top of the league.

The Swede said: “It’s an important game. It’s quite an open race and we’re going to focus on our things.

“We know what we need to do every game now, there are 10 games left in the league.

“Every game is going to be so important. That’s also good in one way, the pressure is there. You have to be sharp every week and put yourself in that position. You have to be in that race and now we have to focus on that.

“We’re playing at home. There is going to be a lot of fans at the game. There is going to be a lot of emotions. It’s going to be a really good Sunday I hope.”

Honours between Aberdeen and Dundee United this season are even with both sides enjoying late winners in their respective home games.

Thelin, looking for his side to bounce back from a 5-1 defeat to Celtic at Parkhead on Tuesday night, said: “We have played two difficult games against them this season. We won 1-0 in the last minute, and they won 1-0 in the last minute.

“It’s been two tight games and it’s going to be a tough game on Sunday. We have to show it from our best side.

“We can do more now, in the way we approach the game when attacking but keep solid defensively.

“We have to be really sharp in some areas of the game and some moments of the game. It’s going to be a tight game and hopefully we can speed up our parts better.”