The biggest week in Aberdeen’s season so far has arrived in both the league and League Cup.
First up is a seismic visit of a Rangers team that simply can’t afford to lose. Another Aberdeen victory under the glare of the Pittodrie floodlights would prise open an incredible nine-point gap between the two and may cause all sorts of repercussions down Ibrox way.
Of course, that isn’t of Jimmy Thelin’s concern as he looks to produce the Dons’ greatest ever start to a league season.
Saturday’s win over Dundee United saw the club better the start made under Derek McInnes in 2015, when they won their first eight Premiership matches before the wheels came off.
You now have to go back to Jimmy Bonthrone’s side, who also won eight and drew one of their first nine in 1971. Eddie Turnbull’s former Pittodrie assistant watched his team go unbeaten until matchday 13 that season but they were held to a draw by Celtic in their 10th fixture.
The only other such start to a league season came in 1935, so Thelin has the chance to create history this week.
It is traditionally one of Scottish football’s most explosive, headline-inducing fixtures and it may not be for the faint-hearted.
But what an occasion it could be with both teams desperate for the win, with other subplots such as Philippe Clement’s future and the return of Connor Barron for the first time since he switched clubs.
Following that will be a League Cup semi-final against Celtic at Hampden on Saturday, a club the Dons haven’t got the better of at the national stadium since 1992, which was at this stage of the same tournament. But Aberdeen go into that one having not lost in 90 minutes to the champions this calendar year despite a now 26-game winless streak against Celtic.
By Saturday evening, the Reds could be sitting pretty in the league and into a cup final having beaten the big two from Glasgow. And if that were to come to pass, it could end up being a very special season for the Dons supporters, who have bought into the Thelin revolution and then some with a third home sellout on the bounce ready to greet the sides on Wednesday evening.
“Humble”, adjective, having or showing a modest estimate of one’s importance. It is famously the Swede’s mantra. But two wins in four days would make it difficult for even the most pessimistic Aberdonian to not dream of what might lie ahead.
