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Aberdeen vs Kelty Hearts Predictions & Tips - Dons to See-Off Kelty in League Cup Clash

Ryan Allan

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Last updated: Thu 23 Jul 2026 17:14

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Ryan Allan 23 Jul 2026

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Aberdeen host League Two visitors Kelty Hearts
Home Win & Over 2.5 Goals tipped on Saturday
Get our Aberdeen vs Kelty Hearts tips in the League Cup

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Kevin Nisbet of Aberdeen FC (Getty Images)

Aberdeen vs Kelty Hearts Predictions
Aberdeen to Continue Winning Run
Aberdeen and Kelty Set For First Competitive Meeting
Aberdeen Closing In on Perfect Record
Kelty Hearts Face Difficult Final Test
Aberdeen vs Kelty Hearts Team News

Aberdeen vs Kelty Hearts Predictions

Aberdeen welcome Kelty Hearts to Pittodrie aiming to complete a perfect League Cup group-stage campaign.

The Dons have won all three matches in Group A and should have too much quality for their League Two opponents.

I have my stake on Aberdeen to win with over 2.5 team goals.

Aberdeen to Continue Winning Run

Aberdeen won their last 4 matches
Aberdeen scored 8 goals in their last 3 matches
Kelty Hearts lost 6 of their last 9 matches
Kelty Hearts conceded 3+ goals in 3 of their last 5 matches

Aberdeen and Kelty Set For First Competitive Meeting

Saturday's League Cup contest will be the first competitive meeting between Aberdeen and Kelty Hearts.

Aberdeen Closing In on Perfect Record

Aberdeen complete their Group A campaign after making it three wins from three with an impressive 4-1 win at Queen of the South.

Nicky Clark had given the hosts a first-half lead, but the Dons fought back with Kevin Nisbet helping himself to a second-half hat-trick before Bradley Lyons put the seal on the points.

Aberdeen have made a strong start to the new season under Stephen Robinson. The Dons began their League Cup campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Brora Rangers before beating Queen's Park 2-1 at Pittodrie.

The Premiership side have scored eight goals in the group phase, while conceding only twice.

Kelty Hearts Face Difficult Final Test

Kelty Hearts make the trip to Pittodrie after a well-deserved 3-2 win against Brora Rangers earlier this week. Ryan Shanley bagged a first-half brace before Finn Moffett’s stoppage-time goal secured a first win of the season for Kelty.

Michael Tidser's side began their League Cup campaign with a penalty shootout win against Queen of the South before a 2-0 home defeat against Queen’s Park.

Defensive frailties have been a concern for the League Two side this summer. The Maroon Machine leaked 14 goals in their last six games, including three pre-season friendly fixtures.

The League Two outfit are no longer in contention for qualification after collecting five points from three matches. Kelty sit third in the section, four points behind Aberdeen.

Aberdeen vs Kelty Hearts Team News

Aberdeen: (4-2-3-1) Marius Muller; Lewis Mayo, Jack Milne, Dan Happe, Nesta Guinness-Walker; Brad Lyons, Afeez Aremu; Tony Yogane, Connor Ronan, Toyosi Olusanya; Kevin Nisbet.

Stephen Robinson could make one or two changes to his selection on Saturday. Kevin Nisbet will be pushing to retain his place after scoring a hat-trick in Wednesday's 4-1 victory at Queen of the South.

The treble was Aberdeen's first in a competitive match since Ryan Hedges struck three times against NSI Runavik in August 2020.

Robinson admitted that Nisbet had appeared tired during the contest but praised the striker's goalscoring instincts.

"At one stage, we were thinking Nizzy looked a little bit tired," Robinson said. "But you know when he's on the pitch he's going to score goals."

“Both wide men (Tony Yogane and Lewis Smith) struggled a little bit tonight with the pitch and the surface. It was very, very sticky and a game where you just need to get in behind people – you don’t need to dribble behind them."

“If you put balls in the box, as we’ve done in the second half, you score goals”

“We learned from the first half and applied it in the second half.”

Kusini Yengi remains sidelined with a long-term thigh injury.

Kelty Hearts: (4-2-3-1) Jamie Smith; Dylan Corr, Callum Flatman, Jack Brydon, Callum Hannah; Ross Cunningham, Alex Ferguson; Connor McManus, Lewis Moore, Ryan Shanley; Kallum Higginbotham.

Head coach Tidser will be keen to retain much of the same side that edged past Brora Rangers. Finn Moffett could come back into the side after his winning goal earlier this week.

Verdict

Aberdeen v Kelty Hearts

Aberdeen should have too much quality in the forward areas, and will have plenty of backers this weekend.

I have my money on Aberdeen to win with over 2.5 team goals.

Aberdeen/Over 2.5

Result/Team Goals

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Aberdeen 4-1

Correct Score

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Ryan is a Barcelona-based football fanatic with 10+ years of experience as a sports writer and statistical analyst. He covers a number of leagues including from his native Scotland, Italy, Germany and more.

A huge fan of the goal markets, he specialises in BTTS and over 2.5 goal picks from the MLS to the Bundesliga and beyond.

He has also been featured on MightyTips and you can find more from Ryan on Muckrack and LinkedIn.