Aberdeen finished fifth in last season’s Premiership and also won the Scottish Cup
Falkirk were promoted back to the top flight last season for the first time since 2009-10
Recommended bet: Falkirk or draw double chance
Aberdeen will be aiming to bounce back from their midweek European disappointment when they host a Falkirk side on Sunday that, like their hosts, are still chasing their first Scottish Premiership win of the season.
The Dons lost their Europa League play-off second leg against FCSB 3-0 in Bucharest on Thursday night, crashing out 5-2 on aggregate, with a red card for full-back Alexander Jensen on the stroke of half-time proving costly.
That result has compounded what has been a difficult start to the season for Jimmy Thelin's team, as they currently prop up the Premiership standings after losing their opening two games.
Newly-promoted Falkirk have not fared much better, taking a solitary point from games against Dundee United and Livingston on their top-flight return, but they should at least head to Pittodrie fresh, as this will be their first match for 16 days.
The latest Aberdeen vs Falkirk odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Team news
Despite his sending off in Romania, Aberdeen will be able to call upon Norwegian Jensen for this game.
Thelin could look to freshen up his starting XI from the European disappointment, with Tottenham loanee Alfie Dorrington, Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Leighton Clarkson among those pushing for recalls after all three came off the bench on Thursday.
Falkirk could hand a debut to new signing Kyrell Wilson, the winger having arrived on a season-long loan from Swansea on Friday.
The 16-day break could have enabled manager John McGlynn to get some of his injured stars back, but it remains to be seen if any of Ethan Ross, Barney Stewart, Coll Donaldson, Finn Yeats, Jamie Sneddon or Thomas Lang will be available.
The latest Aberdeen vs Falkirk odds are available on LiveScore Bet
The stats
Aberdeen's only win this season came against Championship side Greenock Morton in the Scottish League Cup and they have conceded at least twice in their four other matches.
Falkirk's last match was against Celtic on August 15 — Aberdeen have played three times since then.
The Bairns are back in the Premiership after a 15-year absence and they are still chasing their first top-flight victory since a 2-1 success over St Mirren in April 2010.
Aberdeen have won the last three competitive meetings between these two sides, the most recent of which was a 5-0 League Cup success in 2013.
Falkirk's last win at Pittodrie came in February 2010 when a Colin Healy goal was enough to seal a 1-0 success.
The latest Aberdeen vs Falkirk odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Prediction
It has been a testing start to the season for Aberdeen and it will be difficult for Thelin to lift his players both physically and mentally for this match following their midweek efforts in Europe.
If Aberdeen are lacking in freshness, then the same cannot be said for Falkirk, who should be chomping at the bit after going more than two weeks without playing a competitive fixture.
McGlynn's side have endured a tough start to life back in the top flight, twice coming from behind to draw with Dundee United on the opening weekend before losing at fellow newly-promoted side Livingston and being outclassed by Celtic in the League Cup.
The good news for Falkirk is they scored in all three of those games and they can do so again on Sunday against an Aberdeen defence that has conceded nine times in five matches this season.
If the Dons are, as expected, a little jaded from their continental endeavours, then one goal could well be enough for Falkirk to gain a positive result in the Granite City and they are worth siding with in the double chance market.
Back Falkirk or draw double chance at 3/4 with LiveScore Bet.
The latest Aberdeen vs Falkirk odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
