Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin last night admitted his job was on the line after his side collapsed to a late defeat at Motherwell to prolong their abysmal start to the season.
The Pittodrie side conceded two stoppage-time goals to slip to a fifth defeat in six league fixtures, leaving them languishing at the foot of the table on one point.
Thelin’s expensively-assembled side have yet to score a league goal this season and followed up last week’s Premier Sports Cup exit at the hands of Motherwell with a tame defeat at Fir Park.
Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov let Johnny Koutroumbis’ shot slip through his grasp in the second minute of stoppage time and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos converted from the penalty spot minutes later.
Addressing his side’s position at the foot of the table, the exasperated Swede said: ‘What can I say? We have one point and scored zero goals, of course there is going to be noise.
‘As a manager or a player you have to keep pushing. You can’t hide.
A rain-soaked Jimmy Thelin looks on from the Fir Park dugout as his side stumbled yet again
Stamatelopoulos is mobbed after scoring Motherwell’s second to seal the three points
Dorrington brings down Osong to concede a late penalty and rub salt in the Dons’ wounds
‘We know it’s a results business and we need to turn this around. Right now I’m not focused on that.
‘I think the fans really believed we could win the game, I think they feel more connection with the team.’
‘To get the goal against you in 95 minutes is super tough.’
It is now 615 minutes since the Pittodrie side last scored a league goal. Thelin may have guided Aberdeen to their first Scottish Cup success in 35 years, but the reaction of the travelling supporters at Fir Park suggested the tide is turning against the Swedish boss.
On speculation that his time in charge may be coming to an end, he added: ‘You can’t be afraid of that sort of thing, you have to be strong and have the belief and energy to do the job every day.
‘I never think about these things because there are some things I can’t control.
‘As long as I manage this club, it’s my responsibility to turn this around.
‘I always try to talk with them (the board) daily so we know where we are, but it’s not my job to talk about myself.’
