2020–21 Aberdeen F.C. season

The 2020–21 Aberdeen F.C. season will be Aberdeen's 107th season in the top flight of Scottish football and the eighth in the Scottish Premiership.[1] Aberdeen will also compete in the League Cup and the Scottish Cup. Aberdeen will also compete in qualifying for the Europa League.

Aberdeen
2020–21 season
ChairmanDave Cormack
ManagerDerek McInnes
GroundPittodrie Stadium
Aberdeen, Scotland
(Capacity: 20,866)

Summary

May

The kits were released for the season on 21 May.[2]

June

On 10 June, after nine years at the club goalkeeper Danny Rogers officially left the club after making the announcement via his Twitter account.[3] On 12 June, the club announced the departures of Frank Ross , development squad players Sam Jackson, Luc Bollan, Lloyd Robertson, Sebastian Ross, Jack Chesser, Sean Linden and Chris Antoniazzi, David Dangana and youth players Kieran Shanks and Kyle Dalling.[4] On 15 June, the first team returned to training under strict guidelines due to the pandemic.[5] On 17 June, Aberdeen's qualification for the Europa League qualifying rounds was confirmed by UEFA with one-off matches to be played.[6] On 18 June, the club announced talks of temporary wage cuts to players and staff.[7] On 23 June, after his contract expired after three years at Celtic, Irish winger Jonny Hayes rejoined the Dons on a two-year deal. He also took a significant wage cut.[8]

July

It was announced a first team player had tested positive for COVID-19 but it was undisclosed who the player was and that he was asymptomatic.[9] On 2 July, Czech goalkeeper Tomáš Černý signed a new one-year deal.[10] On 6 July, the Premiership fixtures were published, with the Dons kicking off at home to Rangers live on Sky Sports with the game to be played behind closed doors according to Scottish government guidelines.[11][12] Sam Cosgrove turned down a £2m move to French Second Division side Guingamp.[13] On 11 July, Aberdeen played a friendly match against fellow Scottish Premiership side Ross County at Cormack Park with a 2–2 draw and Bruce Anderson scored both goals.[14] The kick-off time for the opening Rangers match was brought forward five hours by Sky Sports.[15] The Dons then lost a friendly at Pittodrie to St Johnstone with Anderson again scoring.[16] Pre-season ended with a 1–1 draw against Hibernian at Pittodrie with Craig Bryson on target.[17] Sam Cosgrove was announced to be out injured for "eight to ten weeks".[18] The squad numbers for the season was also revealed by the club.[19] On 31 July, Ryan Edmondson joined from Leeds United on loan initially until January and Tommie Hoban also signed a contract until January.[20]

August

The Dons began their Premiership campaign with a 1–0 loss at home to Rangers which also seen Andrew Considine sent off late on.[21] A few days later, it was revealed that eight first-team players were self-isolating after two of them had tested positive for COVID-19 after they had been on a night out after the Rangers match.[22] The game was later postponed until 20 August and the Livingston match put back twenty-four hours, with manager Derek McInnes and also Scottish Government leader Nicola Sturgeon very critical of the players because of their actions.[23][24] Furthermore, the following matches against both Hamilton Academical and Celtic were also postponed.[25] On 12 August, the club announced loan player Ryan Edmondson had been ruled out for three to four months with an ankle injury and returned to parent club Leeds United to see a specialist.[26]

Results & fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season
11 July 2020 FriendlyAberdeen2–2Ross CountyAberdeen
Anderson [14] Charles-Cook
Mckay 		Stadium: Cormack Park
21 July 2020 FriendlyAberdeen1–2St JohnstoneAberdeen
Anderson  81' [16] Tanser  75' (pen), 80' Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium
25 July 2020 FriendlyAberdeen1–1HibernianAberdeen
Bryson  54' [17][27] Horgan  88' Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium

Scottish Premiership
Main article: 2020–21 Scottish Premiership
1 August 2020[11][28] 1Aberdeen0–1RangersPittodrie Stadium
12:30 BST[15] Ojo  45'
Considine  86'		 Report Kent  21' Referee: Bobby Madden
Note: Game televised on Sky Sports Football
8 August 2020 2St JohnstoneP–P[23]AberdeenMcDiarmid Park
12:30 BST
Note: Rearranged for 20 August
12 August 2020 3AberdeenP–P[25]Hamilton AcademicalPittodrie Stadium
19:45 BST
Note: Match postponed rearranged date TBA
15 August 2020 4CelticP–P[25]AberdeenCeltic Park
15:00 BST
Note: Match postponed rearranged date TBA
20 August 2020 2St JohnstonevAberdeenMcDiarmid Park
19:30 BST
Note: Game televised on Sky Sports Football. Rearranged match after initial postponement[23]

UEFA Europa League
Main article: 2020–21 UEFA Europa League

Qualifying Rounds
Main article: 2020–21 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round
27 August 2020 1QRAberdeen – NSÍ Runavík or Barry Town UnitedAberdeen, Scotland
BST Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium

Squad statistics

Appearances
As of 1 August 2020[29]
No.PosPlayerPremiershipLeague CupScottish CupEuropa League Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1GK Joe Lewis (c) 10000000 10
2DF Shay Logan 00000000 00
3DF Tommie Hoban 00000000 00
4DF Andrew Considine 10000000 10
5DF Scott McKenna 10000000 10
7MF Craig Bryson 10000000 10
8MF Funso Ojo 10000000 10
10MF Niall McGinn 0+10000000 10
11MF Ryan Hedges 0+10000000 10
14DF Ash Taylor 10000000 10
15MF Dylan McGeouch 00000000 00
17MF Jonny Hayes 10000000 10
18FW Connor McLennan 00000000 00
19MF Lewis Ferguson 10000000 10
20GK Tomáš Černý 00000000 00
21FW Bruce Anderson 10000000 10
22DF Ronald Hernández 10000000 10
24MF Dean Campbell 0+10000000 10
33FW Matty Kennedy 10000000 10
Players who left the club during the season
32ST Ryan Edmondson 0+10000000 10

Disciplinary record

As of 1 August 2020

Number Nation Position Name Premiership League Cup Scottish Cup Europa League Total
4DFAndrew Considine 0100000001
8MFFunso Ojo 1000000010
TOTALS 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Team statistics

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
8 Kilmarnock 4 0 2 2 5 7 −2 2
9 Motherwell 4 0 2 2 2 4 −2 2
10 Livingston 3 0 1 2 3 7 −4 1
11 Aberdeen 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0 Qualification for the Premiership play-off final
12 Hamilton Academical 3 0 0 3 1 7 −6 0 Relegation to the Championship
Updated to match(es) played on 15 August 2020. Source: BBC SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-Head points; 5) Head-to-Head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only if deciding champion, UEFA competitions qualification, second stage group allocation or relegation).[30]
Notes:
  1. Teams play each other three times (33 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).

Results by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHAH
ResultLPPP
Position9911
Updated to match(es) played on 12 August 2020. Source:
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Transfers
Main articles: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2020 and List of Scottish football transfers winter 2020–21

See also

References
  1. "SPFL announce key dates for season 2019–20". afc.co.uk. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  2. "2020-21 home and away kits pre-order now!". afc.co.uk. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  3. "Goalkeeper Danny Rogers exits Aberdeen after nine years". Press & Journal. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  4. "Aberdeen FC player departures". Aberdeen FC. 12 June 2020.
  5. "Aberdeen return to training as pictures illustrate Scottish football's 'new normal'". Daily Record. 15 June 2020.
  6. "Aberdeen to play one-legged ties in Europa League qualifying next season". The Press and Journal. 17 June 2020.
  7. "'The situation is stark' - Aberdeen begin talks with players & staff over wage cuts". BBC Sport. 18 June 2020.
  8. "Hayes seals Aberdeen return". BBC Sport. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  9. "Aberdeen confirm positive COVID-19 test". BBC Sport. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  10. "Tomas "The fans have been great with me"". afc.co.uk. 2 July 2020.
  11. "Full Premiership Fixture List". SPFL. 6 July 2020.
  12. "Celtic start 10-in-a-row quest at home to Hamilton". BBC Sport. 6 July 2020.
  13. Smith, Tyrone (9 July 2020). "Cosgrove turns down £2m French move". BBC Sport.
  14. "Dons return to action". afc.co.uk. 11 July 2020.
  15. "Aberdeen v Rangers to open new season". BBC Sport. 21 July 2020.
  16. "Pre season friendly news". afc.co.uk. 21 July 2020.
  17. "Pre season friendly news 2". afc.co.uk. 25 July 2020.
  18. "Sam Cosgrove injury update". afc.co.uk. 30 July 2020.
  19. https://www.afc.co.uk/2020/07/30/afc-squad-numbers/
  20. "Aberdeen sign Leeds' Edmondson on loan". afc.co.uk. 31 July 2020.
  21. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53535016
  22. McLaughlin, Chris (6 August 2020). "Eight Aberdeen players in self-isolation". BBC Sport.
  23. McLauchlin, Brian (7 August 2020). "Sturgeon criticises Aberdeen players after the game is called off following positive tests". BBC Scotland.
  24. "Aberdeen's Covid-19 cases: The key questions". BBC Scotland. 7 August 2020.
  25. [bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53729449 "Celtic and Aberdeen games called off after Covid-19 breaches"] Check |url= value (help). BBC Sport. 11 August 2020.
  26. Lindsay, Matthew (12 August 2020). "Aberdeen's striker crisis deepens as Leeds United loanee Ryan Edmondson is ruled out for up to four months". The Herald.
  27. https://twitter.com/AberdeenFC/status/1287052270606188551
  28. "2020/21 Fixture Graphic". afc.co.uk. 6 July 2020.
  29. https://www.afc.co.uk/2020/07/30/afc-squad-numbers/
  30. "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  31. "Scottish Premiership: Which players will be out of contract?". BBC Sport. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  32. "Forfar boss Stuart Malcolm snaps up former Aberdeen midfielder Chris Antoniazzi". The Courier. 20 July 2020.
  33. "Kilmarnock sign former Aberdeen goalkeeper Danny Rogers". BBC Sport. 28 July 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.