HJK Helsinki v Aberdeen: Dons playing for travelling fans – Robson

Barry Robson has rejected any suggestion Aberdeen’s penultimate Europa Conference League game away to HJK Helsinki is meaningless.

Robson believes the Dons’ haul of two points from four Group G games has not reflected their performances.

“Tell 1,500 fans that are coming over here that it’s a dead rubber,” said the manager.

“It isn’t, you are playing for Aberdeen.

“We want to make sure we put some points on the board and we want to put a really good performance on for the fans who have spent a lot of money to come over here, that is the most important thing for us.

“It is a game that we want to try and win, the frustration for me is that for the performance levels we have had in Europe, I don’t think we are sitting on the points that we deserve, so hopefully we can go out tomorrow and put a good performance on and pick up some points.”

Aberdeen’s last Conference League outing was an impressive 2-2 draw at group leaders PAOK in Greece.

If they can get their first win on the board in Finland, it would mean their opponents – who currently prop the table up – would not be able to leapfrog the Dons, with one round of fixtures still to play.

HJK’s domestic season ended five weeks ago and they have only played two competitive fixtures since – a Conference League double header with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Robson said: “We are probably the opposite, playing a lot of games, so it is probably two totally different teams coming together.

“I thought they were a good side when they were over in Aberdeen [the 1-1 draw] so I know it’s going to be a tough night for us but one we are looking forward to.”

As well as HJK, Aberdeen will be facing the cold and harsh conditions of the Finnish winter but Robson cited the sub-zero temperatures at Aberdeen’s training ground on Wednesday morning.

“It’s not too much different to what we’re used to,” he added.

Team news

Aberdeen have no fresh injury problems with winger Shayden Morris still missing.

Bojan Radulovic, the Serbian striker who has scored 24 goals in 40 games this season including against Aberdeen, missed HJK’s home defeat by Frankfurt but is fit to play on Thursday.

Choose your starting XI. It’s up to you how to approach it – you could go for the team you WANT the manager to pick or the one you THINK he will.

Select formationConfirm team

What do we know about Helsinki?

Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland commentator in Helsinki

With their domestic season over, HJK have played just twice – home and away against Eintracht Frankfurt – since clinching their fourth straight Finnish title five weeks ago.

The league was sealed in unconvincing fashion with Helsinki losing their last two games, including to their closest rivals, KuPS, on the final day, only to hold on to their crown on goal difference.

It means they have lost all four matches since their 1-1 draw at Pittodrie in October and it was announced that head coach Toni Korkeakunnas will leave the club at the end of their Conference League campaign.

HJK are stronger at home, having won 12 of their 20 matches at the Bolt Arena this season – and six of their past 12 in European competition. They have only failed to score in three of those 20 games, including the 1-0 defeat by Frankfurt last time out, while PAOK left it late to secure a 3-2 at the Bolt Arena in the opening round of games.

Given the artificial surface and the freezing conditions that are forecast, HJK will look to utilise home advantage in their final match in front of their own fans this year.

What they said

Aberdeen defender Richard Jenson: “It’s a very skilful and disciplined team. We had a good game against them in Aberdeen. We had chances enough to beat them. We hope to do that now in Helsinki.”

Match stats

• Aberdeen last defeated Finnish opposition in a 2019 Europa League qualifier, beating RoPS 4-2 on aggregate.
• The Dons are seeking their first European group stage win since 2007.
• Barry Robson’s side, who are 10th in the Scottish Premiership, are without a win in their past three games in all competitions.
• HJK Helsinki, who have won the 2023 Finnish title, have lost their past four games and have not played since losing 1-0 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on 9 November.
• The Finnish champions have featured in all three of the Uefa competitions this season, having parachuted from the Champions League to the Europa League and then the Conference League.
• The Helsinki side and Aberdeen cannot progress from Group G, but either team could yet finish third.