'Dons simply have to beat PAOK'

Liam McLeod, BBC Sport Scotland

If Aberdeen are to realistically prolong their return to big stage European football into the spring then they simply have to defeat PAOK on Thursday.

Having thrown away the opportunity of three points in their easiest Conference League Group E game on paper on match-day two at Pittodrie against HJK, scrambling a draw from the jaws of defeat, they simply have to upset the odds and beat the Greeks at home.

If they were to lose they could find themselves effectively out of contention at the mid-way point, eight behind their opponents and possibly five behind Eintracht Frankfurt, who host the Finnish side at the same time before the fixtures are reversed in a fortnight. A draw isn’t really enough with back-to-back away games next in the section. PAOK are seldom beaten at home.

The Dons are unbeaten in their last five games but have only won four of the 14 they’ve played this term, one of which was at third tier Stirling Albion in the League Cup. Manager Barry Robson also appeared irked at the suggestion that their home form needs improved, they’ve only won once in front of their own fans this season, when he addressed the media before the ultimately postponed league game against Dundee at Pittodrie.

When Aberdeen came through their group in 2007, it was amid the back-drop of a stunning, vintage European night at Pittodrie as they destroyed Champions League regulars Copenhagen 4-0. The old stadium was its electric best that wintry night. The current Dons team will need that kind of backing if it is get the better of a side that destroyed Hearts’ European dream this season to the tune of a 6-1 aggregate score-line.

It’s not quite win-or-bust for Robson and his players, but it’s not far off it.