Falkirk 1 Aberdeen 0: Three talking points as Dons’ need for January transfer window reinforcements clear as Premiership slump continues

Aberdeen’s Premiership slump continued with a 1-0 loss at Falkirk that underlined the need for reinforcements in the January transfer window.

The Dons have now taken only one point from the last four league matches and have dropped to eighth in the Premiership table.

Newly-promoted Falkirk have now beaten the Reds home and away this season.

Falkirk went ahead in the 58th minute when Filip Lissah punished slack defending at a set-piece to head home to deliver a dismal start to 2026 for the Reds.

Aberdeen face an injury sweat on midfielder Adil Aouchiche who was forced off in the first half.

January reinforcements required

Another flat performance underlined the need for reinforcements in the January transfer window to ignite the faltering bid for European qualification.

The Dons are lacking an attacking cutting edge and a defensive vulnerability has crept in that was exploited for Falkirk’s goal.

Boss Thelin rebuilt the squad in the summer transfer window to deliver attacking, exciting, high press football but it has failed to materialise.

After securing 13 signings in the summer the initial perception was January would be a relatively quiet window.

However, it is clear more ins than was initially expected this month are required, and the same with exits.

The defensive vulnerability was clear when Aberdeen were badly exploited at a set-play when Calvin Miller whipped in a free-kick from the left flank for the vital goal.

Filip Lissah lost his marker and was allowed a free header inside the box and powered an effort beyond keeper Dimitar Mitov.

In the 87th minute substitute Henry Cartwright rattled the post with a 20-yard drive.

In attack the Reds also failed to muster a single shot on target, with seven off target.

Falkirk had six shots on target, with another 14 off target.

The Reds’ recognised strikers Kevin Nisbet, Marko Lazetic and Kusini Yengi have registered a meagre seven goals between them in all competitions.

Reinforcements are needed this month.

Formation switch didn’t pay off

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin switched formation for the first time in months back to the 4-2-3-1 set-up he favoured last season, and for the start of this campaign.

After a disastrous start to the Premiership that left the Reds bottom of the tableThelin changed formation to a 3-4-2-1.

That initially brought a defensive solidity but that has evaporated in recent games with costly mistakes creeping in at the back.

Thelin rebuilt his squad in the summer transfer window with 13 signings to fit into the 4-2-3-1 system that he predominantly used.

And switching to a 3-4-2-1 earlier this season created a situation of pushing square pegs into round holes.

Thelin moved to a back four at Falkirk with Nicky Devlin, used as one of the three centre-backs, dropping to the bench and Dylan Lobban returning at right-back.

It was one of five changes to the side that lost 2-0 at Hibs with captain Graeme Shinnie also returned to the starting line-up, going in at left-back.

The new formation didn’t work as Falkirk controlled the first half and the Dons failed to stamp authority in midfield, looked nervous at the back and lacked attacking edge.

Possession was lost far too easily.

It was better in the second half, but still not good enough.

Aberdeen’s attacking threat improved after the break when Stuart Armstrong was pushed up from the midfield two into the more advanced No.10 role.

Frustrating first start for Bilalovic

Swedish attacker Kenan Bilalovic endured a frustrating first start for Aberdeen and was substituted at half-time.

The 20-year-old was replaced by Dante Polvara at the break after a solid debut start that lacked the explosive attacking intent of his cameos off the bench.

Bilalovic had delivered compelling arguments for his first start with impressive performances off the bench recently.

He scored against Celtic and (3-1 loss) and Kilmarnock (2-1 win) in successive games last month.

In the seventh minute he made his presence felt by slipping between two defenders in the penalty area with quick-feet and close control, but his cross was blocked.

It was an early flash of skill that showed why Aberdeen splashed £550,000 in the summer transfer window to sign Bilalovic from Swedish top flight club Varnamo.

However those flashed were limited against Falkirk in a first half where Aberdeen were flat and stilted.

Thelin made a change at the break to try to turn the momentum of the game in Aberdeen’s favour, and it was Bilalovic who made way.

Bilalovic managed only one touch in the opposition box, with that early show of skill.

He had 15 touches, with five passes of which three found a team-mate for a 60% success rate.

It was the lowest amount of passes by a Dons player.

ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1): Mitov 6; Lobban 6 (Devlin 74), Knoester 6, Milne 6, Shinnie 6; Aouchiche 4 (Heltne Nilsen 35), Armstrong 6; Bilalovic 4 (Polvara 45), Karlsson 5 (Lazetic 74), Keskinen 6; Nisbet 5 (Milanovic 80).

Subs not used: Suman, Clarkson, Jensen, Kjartansson.

FALKIRK (4-2-3-1): Bain 6; Lissah 7, Allan 7, Henderson 6, McCann 6; Spencer 6, Yeats 6 (Ross 71); Wilson 6 (Williams 74), Tait 6 (Cartwright 85), Miller 7 (Agyeman 85); Stewart 7 (Graham 74).

Subs not used: Hogarth, Nesbitt, Adams, Donaldson.

Referee: John Beaton

Attendance: 7,710

Man of the match: Calvin Miller (Falkirk)

[Source: Press and Journal]