Abiola Dauda on a Thursday night.

The last person to score a winner for Heart of Midlothian at Pittodrie. More than eight long years ago. 3038 days to be precise. It would be a nonsensical wait at Celtic or Rangers let alone Aberdeen. 

When Hearts go to the Granite City this afternoon ending that long wait for a win over the Dons at their home ground could be vital in the context of the league season going into the second international break. It could see the gap cut to a far more mangeable 13 points rather than be extended to 19 points.

The latter would represent a 39-point swing in space of just a few months from when Hearts finished 20 points clear of Aberdeen to finish third.

The Jam Tarts come into the match off the back of their first win of the season, defeating Dinamo Minsk in dramatic fashion in Azerbaijan to open their Conference League campaign with a win. It is a result which could do wonders for the confidence of the team, individually and collectively.

Looking forward to what interim boss Liam Fox could do with the starting XI it is perhaps easiest to start with the front three. Alan Forrest and Barrie McKay were ineffectual in their time on the pitch against Dinamo. Whereas Kenneth Vargas and Yan Dhanda were more positive performers. 

Dhanda is someone fans are desperate to see given a runout. He has started just three games since joining in the summer but provided an assist and scored the winner in his last two outings. He could play from the left an area of the pitch he liked to utilise when as No.10 with Ross County. On the other flank, Vargas gives pace and directness. He just needs to provide a bit more composure and productivity in terms of chances created or goals scored.

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In the backline, Fox could replace James Penrice with Stephen Kingsley. Aberdeen like to win the ball in midfield and spring forward with numbers. Hearts have not been great at defending when in transition from possession to defence mode. Kingsley could tuck in on the left providing a bit more solidity.

The midfield is perhaps the hardest area of the pitch to second guess. Blair Spittal played 90 minutes on Thursday while Cammy Devlin and Beni Baningime played deep into the match with the latter coming off with fatigue.

Malachi Boateng and Jorge Grant would be natural replacements in the midfield but the former doesn't appear to be rated as highly as others by Fox while Grant is usually more impactful as a substitute.

Baningime will play if he is fit. Devlin should play to go up against the energy of Graeme Shinnie. They could be joined by Macaulay Tait played on the left of the three. If Kingsley and Dhanda were to play as inverted, the midfielder could provide a wee bit of balance on the left.

(Image: BeFunky)