Jimmy Thelin out to end seven-year Tynecastle curse as Aberdeen boss unfazed by record

Jimmy Thelin is not interested in Aberdeen's dire record at Tynecastle, but he is focused on returning to winning ways in Gorgie on Sunday.

It's been seven years since the Reds last won at the home of Hearts, and the last trip to the capital saw victory snatched from their grasp as they were forced to settle for a point in a bonkers Hibs thriller.

Thelin's first visit to Tynecastle comes on the back of his first league loss to St Mirren and a 3-3 draw across the city at Easter Road, and he will be hoping to see his side get back on track against Neil Critchley's Jambos.

READ MORE: Jimmy Thelin not concerned by Aberdeen struggle to get off the mark in first-half of games

READ MORE: Hearts 1 Aberdeen 1 as Devlin own goal sees winless Tynecastle run continue

The Dons boss stated: "Yeah, I like the challenge and what's happened in the past has happened in the past. We need to focus right now, take the challenge and try to make a really strong performance and try to fight for the points."

The Swede acknowledged his team needs to learn from the Hibs encounter, which ended all square after Rocky Bushiri's 96th minute leveller, and bring a bit more stability to their play in what is a congested fixture card, writes the Daily Record.

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He explained: "We're still going, our performance is like this, so we need to try to be more stable. It's going to be like that because we know if we don't get the identity as clear as we want and just try to survive game by game, we'll never build anything. It's going to be difficult in the long term to achieve something year by year.

"We have to be brave and sometimes there are going to be setbacks, but we need to push and try to grow in some areas. How we build up the game, how we attack the opponent, how we defend and try to stay in this moment a bit longer.

"Even if sometimes it's really compact with games, as it's an intense period of the season in this period it's so important to have a clear identity, really, really clear.

"Sometimes maybe the mental capacity, the workload can be lower but it's natural because it's so compact with games. Then you have to be stable in this period to achieve something in the long term.

"Still we have some work to do there, and that's normal because it's still the first season together, and we have to keep moving."

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Aberdeen had to comeback to beat Hearts at Pittodrie and Thelin knows they will be looking to bounce back after the disappointment of losing in Europe to Cercle Brugge.

The Aberdeen manager acknowledged: "They've had a negative emotional experience out in Europe. I think they also have a good squad and they make some early changes in the game also.

"So I expect they will be ready for another league game also and we also have to be ready, so I think it's going to be again."They have good players in a good squad and they have a new coach and new ideas.

"I don't think any game in this league is easy. Everybody has their strengths and we have to try to keep this balance of our games and take the challenge."

Scotland cap Nicky Devlin limped off against Hibs but is expected to be fit, while Angus MacDonald is also back in. Thelin said: "I think more or less we're going to try with 21 players tomorrow down and ready for the game on Sunday. "It's still only Pape (Habib Gueye) who will not be available, so everybody's ready."