'Now or never' on European stage for resurgent Dons

Aberdeen ground out an excellent victory over Hearts on Sunday to continue their ascent up the Premiership.

It still feels like small steps but Jimmy Thelin has now moved beyond base camp as they climb the mountain they gave themselves with their worst start to a Premiership season since the dark days of Mark McGhee's final months.

Hearts hadn't lost a league game since being beaten at home by Dundee in April, a match that cost Neil Critchley the manager's job.

Alongside that the Dons' victory perpetuated this incredible away record in the fixture that stretches back to 2016 for the Edinburgh side at Pittodrie and 2017 for Aberdeen at Tynecastle.

The performances of Jack Milne, Mats Knoester and Nicky Devlin were crucial to the outcome and the Aberdeen fans saw what Topi Keskinen can offer after a tepid start to the season for him personally.

Momentum is king in football and Thelin will be desperate that his men continue their recent run that has moved them level with Dundee United on the 14-point mark and third in the six-game form table.

Before a trip to Livingston there is the small matter of trying to breathe more life into their Conference League season. A win over Armenian champions Noah is a must or it could be curtains for their hopes of making it through the league phase.

Noah arrive at Pittodrie having only won one of their past seven matches since a statement victory over Rijeka earlier in their European campaign.

It is now or never for the Dons on the continental front with Strasbourg and Sparta Prague still to play.