There hasn't been a lot to cheer about for Aberdeen fans in recent weeks, with the Dons currently enduring a 10-game winless run in the Scottish Premiership.

Jimmy Thelin's men have lost their last five games, with the latest defeat at the hands of Motherwell leaving the Reds fourth in the table, having at one stage gone unbeaten in 11 and sat neck and neck with leaders Celtic.

But up next is a Pittodrie clash with Hearts, and it's a fixture where both sides have struggled on the road, with Aberdeen the last of the pair to secure an away day victory back in May 2017.

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However, if Hearts can bag a first win in the Granite City since 2016, then Thelin and Co will match a record that almost felt unimaginable a couple of months ago.

Should they fail to beat the Jambos, it will be the first time since 2010 that the Dons have gone 11 games without success; a record amassed under Mark McGhee.

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A defeat would see them suffer a sixth successive loss - the last time they endured five straight defeats was back in 2021 in a turbulent start to the season under Stephen Glass.

The club's longest winless run stretched to 15 games, but Thelin insisted recently he is the man to stop the rot, and he has made some big signings in the transfer market.

Danish winger Jeppe Okkels has joined the Reds on loan from Preston North End to add some firepower to an attack that has just three goals in its last seven games.

And he has made a big statement in defence by bringing in Kristers Tobers, with the 37-time capped Latvia captain joining from Swiss side Grasshoppers for £700,000.

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Thelin will be praying the paperwork can be completed in time for Hearts' visit, with this side going into their clash with Neil Critchley's men with just one centre-back available.

Slobodan Rubezic's red card at Fir Park sees him suspended, while Gavin Molloy and Jack Milne are both injured, with only Angus MacDonald available.

In a campaign where the Red Army were left thrilled by their early season form, victory on Sunday suddenly feels vital, and with a trip to Ibrox looming in the midweek, Thelin will be desperate to see his side pass their biggest test yet.