Dons - Aberdeen Voice

Black & White: Gothenburg Winners And Hidden Aberdeen

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

May 172013

Last week, Voice offered two copies of Richard Gordon’s marvellous Glory In Gothenburg as prizes for answering the question, “Who tripped as he dashed from the dugout at the final whistle in the Ullevi Stadium and was trampled all over by his fellow occupants of the dug-out?”. By David Innes.

It was, of course, the man who couldn’t be kept out of the news last week as he announced his retirement, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Hang your heads Bryan Gunn, Stuart Kennedy, Doug Bell, Ian Angus, Eric Black, Archie Knox, Teddy Scott and Roland Arnott. You have no respect, but I bet you laughed like overflowing Ullevi drains at the time! The gaffer probably did too.

Our lucky winners are:

Richard Simpson of Aberdeen whose book I posted through his letterbox personally on Tuesday night and Richie Bisset of Queensferry, whose copy was put in the post the day after. Both Richards are probably devouring their namesake’s mellifluous prose at a single sitting as we go to press.

Enjoy the prizes, fellas, and thanks again to Black and White Publishing for their donation. Commiserations to the others who entered but were unsuccessful.

Further good news from Black and White.

“Hidden Aberdeen, a fascinating look at the history of the Granite City. From Dr Fiona-Jane Brown, folklorist, educator, storyteller and founder of Hidden Aberdeen Tours, comes a book that will open your eyes to the hidden, the forgotten and the abandoned remnants of the past which lie under your feet as you walk round the city today”.

This is being published very soon and the author will be signing copies in WH Smiths on 8 June and Waterstones (we’ll find out which one) on 18 June. A review copy is on its way and we’ll do the honours, of course. With a bit of luck we’ll have a word with the author and run that in Voice too.

Reminiscences Of Gothenburg: Prize Competition Question

Aberdeen City, Featured, History, Sport 3 Responses »

May 092013

Reminiscences of Gothenburg 1983 are appearing everywhere this week, and quite right too. At the time we thought such success would be forever. Now we know better but we have vivid, rainbow-hued, life-affirming memories never experienced by the plastic pretenders who would crow over us now.

It was quite a week thirty years ago. Here’s what David Innes remembers.

On Monday 9 May I went to the old Odeon cinema to see Local Hero, then just out but still relevant today when events just north of Balmedie are taken into account.

As I emerged blinking into the afternoon sun, the headline on the Evening Express mannie’s billboard proclaimed that Thatcher had called for the dissolution of Parliament.

Although the dissolution didn’t actually happen until Friday 13 May (feeling lucky, punk?), I still maintain that the Dons greatest triumph DIDN’T take place under the Tories since she’d already decided to go to the country. It’s just a pity that she didn’t go to one far far away from here.

We flew to Gothenburg early in the morning of Wednesday 11 May via one of the fleet of charter planes that Britannia Airways had laid on.

The airport was jam-packed with Dons fans, the duty free shop had queues a hundred yards long and all everyone seemed to buy was dreadful gold-canned Carlsberg and half bottles of Whyte and Mackays. It did the trick.

This was my first time in the air, unless you count the times that clogging midfielders of opposing Division V amateur teams dealt with my silky skills by decking me. Or maybe it was the other way round. Anyway, somewhere above Great Western Road, a gap in the cloud appeared. Through it, I saw an Alexanders yellow service bus looking like a Matchbox toy. I wasn’t happy, but a giant swig of the duty free worked wonders.

Gothenburg was overcast. It was still mid-morning local time. A few Real fans greeted us as we came off the airport bus. One of them was El Bombo, the geezer with the drum in the Ullevi later on. One of our crew swapped his Dons scarf for El Bombo’s purple and white Real one.

We had Carlsberg for lunch and went to explore the city. Reds awye, the strains of Here we go, here we go, here we go and The Northern Lights seeming to be in the air everywhere, along with that dreadful European Song.

It began to rain. Hale water. Hosing it doon. It was like every Monday holiday of the year rolled into one. I’m not sure that it’s stopped yet. My trainers are still sipin.

In the hotel, I changed into my new Dons shirt, bought in Simpsons Sports at the weekend. “A special one, wi writin on it”, the Simpsons’ shop quine had announced. I still have it. It’s worth a fortune due to its rarity, but it no longer fits me. I guess it must have shrunk in the wash. Or something.

Something historic and emotional and ace and fab happened out on the pitch

We gathered in the bar to await the bus to the stadium and got a rebuke from the BBC’s Gordon Hewitt who we’d accused of being an Old Firm gloryhunter. He wasn’t. He’d paid for his own trip as a Dons fan and had taken his nephew from Oldmeldrum with him.

We bought him beer after the game as an apology. He waxed lyrical about our full backs Rougvie and McMaster, both playing out of position, but his heroes of the evening.

It was raining outside. We smuggled our half bottles into the stadium. Others were allowed to bring in their entire beery carry-outs when the Swedish Police saw, “how much that beer means to you sir” as thrifty Reds decided to neck a dozen cans there and then rather than dump them in the skip. I was the beneficiary of my old friend from Keith, Beel Murdoch’s stash of McEwans Export, a welcome change from bloody Carlsberg.

Something historic and emotional and ace and fab happened out on the pitch, I think. Bedlam broke out around me at the final whistle. I removed myself from the mass greet-along, tear-athon terracing cuddle being simultaneously enjoyed by 12000 delirious Reds just to soak (aye…) it all in, to take a mental photo of the mental goings-on and the spectacular denouement taking place out there.

My sister’s kitchen still has a blurry Instamatic photo of the scoreboard reading Aberdeen 2 Real Madrid 1 in pride of place. It still gives me an emotional tug every time I see it.

Back in the hotel we drank Swedish beer, commiserated with the Real fans who were very decent people, celebrated with the locals who had taken the Dons to their hearts and asked about getting a shottie in the swimming pool, politely turned down. Maybe the hotel staff thought we were wet enough already, on the inside as well as the outside.

We stayed up all night drinking bloody Carlsberg, reliving the triumph, planning excitedly for future trips to European Cup finals and ended up playing football on a disused railway line across the motorway from the hotel at 0500.

A couple of hours sleep and off we headed to the St Machar Bar to celebrate with something other than bloody Carlsberg

Gothenburg Airport was like Merkland Road East. The spirit was akin to “the first Hogmanay aifter the war” as Scotland The What? Might have put it.

We greeted friends we’d only seen a couple of days before like heroes returning from El Alamein. We tried to offer them a drink. “Nae bloody Carlsberg?” they enquired before refusing politely.

We flew home and got to Dyce only half an hour after we’d left due to the time difference.

All the papers were bought, even the scummy sleazy salacious tabloids and right wing loonypress. They’re still in my loft. A couple of hours sleep and off we headed to the St Machar Bar to celebrate with something other than bloody Carlsberg. Jim Alexander, the licensee, even stood his hand, almost as remarkable as the Dons’ win.

Then we raced to Pittodrie and waited hours to see our heroes, who had taken forever to wend their way through the suburbs and a city centre crammed full of north-easterners delirious at the triumph.

We celebrated for weeks. Cans of Carlsberg seemed to multiply in the hastily-discarded kitbags we brought home. I doubt that another can of the goddam vile brew was ever drunk by anyone who returned with any.

We thought that this high would last forever, but it didn’t. Ach weel. We had our few years in the sun, skelping arses all over Europe, dominating at home and generally just being ace.

We’re still ace, of course. We are the chosen ones.

Now, about that something historic and emotional and ace and fab that happened out on the pitch…

Richard Gordon has written beautifully about the entire history of that battle campaign in The Glory of Gothenburg, and thanks to Black and White Publishing, we have two paperback copies to offer as prizes to readers of Voice.

Answer me this, Reds – Who tripped as he dashed from the dugout at the final whistle in the Ullevi Stadium and was trampled all over by his fellow occupants of the dug-out?

Post your answer to competition@aberdeenvoice.com .

The first two correct entries will get the books.

Please include your name and postal address when you respond to us, it’s really difficult for the postie to deliver to an e-mail address.

Come on you Reds.

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Glory In Gothenberg Waterstones Signing AND Giveaway

Aberdeen City, Featured, History, Sport No Responses »

May 022013

By David Innes.

As every Dons fan knows, 11 May this year will be the thirtieth anniversary of Aberdeen’s historic, memorable and emotional capture of the European Cup-Winners’ Cup in Gothenburg. I think my jacket may be dry now after three decades in the airing cupboard.

It wis an affa nicht o rain. And beer. Even at Swedish prices.

We’re the fans who celebrate success, you see. There are others who mark the jubilee of losing, yes losing, a European final by arranging a dinner. Then again, we’ve never lost a European final.

We’re the last Scottish club to win a European trophy and are the only Scottish club to have a 100% record in winning European finals.

It was Real Madrid who we cuffed too – European fitba royalty, Franco’s team, dumped on its Iberian arse by a team of swaggering Scots loons who played with pride and passion, fuelled by oatcakes and Aitken’s rowies.

Proper mannies’ fitba, if you will.

Never desist from making that known to our critics and foes. It’s your duty. Go to it.

We reviewed Richard Gordon’s marvellous commemorative Glory In Gothenburg when it was published at the end of last year. Some lucky readers won copies in a Voice competition at the time.

Now, courtesy of Black and White Publishing, we have a further two copies, this time of the paperback edition, to give away. We’ll set the prize question during the week leading up to the anniversary celebrations, so look out for it.

Those who can’t wait that long and who are pessimistic about their chances of landing one of our giveaways, can get their hands on a signed copy however. Author Richard Gordon and The Best Penalty Box Defender In The World, according to Sir Alex Ferguson, the blessed skipper and sweeper Willie Miller, the man who held the trophy aloft in cool, gallus trademark one-handed fashion as the bedlam ensued, will be signing copies of the book at Waterstones, Union Bridge, Aberdeen on Thursday 9 May at 1830.

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S’miles Better With AFC In The Community

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Apr 182013

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

AFC is now travelling in style, thanks to the Club’s official vehicle supplier Morrison Motors, who have very kindly donated a brand new Volkswagen Golf for AFC in the Community staff as they travel the length and breadth of the north-east.

Head of AFC in the Community, Ally Prockter commented:

“We’re really indebted to Morrison Motors for what is a fantastic gesture. The guys run up a huge mileage travelling to and from courses, training camps and other events and the new vehicle is going to be a tremendous asset. The branding is great too and you most certainly can’t miss it! It’s basically a mobile advert for AFC on the Community and we’ve already received numerous positive comments as we drive around.”

Eddie Morrison of Morrison Motors added:

“As a long standing partner of Aberdeen Football Club, we work extremely closely with the Club and we were more than happy to supply the vehicle which will assist in delivering the much lauded community programmes that AFC are involved in throughout the area.”

*Picture shows Brian Morrison (Morrison Motors), Steven Sweeney (AFC), Mark Astridge (Morrison Motors), Max Stewart, Aaron Chapman, Leyton Boyd, Reece Maryan, Lauren Chambers who all attended the recent holiday programme at Turriff Sports Centre.

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Golfers Urged To Keep Charity’s Family Centre Running

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Mar 142013

With thanks to Claire McBain.

N.E. charity VSA, with principal sponsors Brewin Dolphin and Munro’s Travel Group, and Golfers Scotland have launched the 2013 VSA Tartan Pro-Am golf day, encouraging local businesspeople to sign up for a day of golf and entertainment that will keep VSA’s desperately needed Family Contact Centre – the only one of its kind in Aberdeen – running.

The VSA Tartan Pro-Am, part of the PGA Professional Tartan Tour, will take place on Thursday 15 August at Aboyne Golf Course, followed by a prize giving dinner at The Marcliffe.

Anna Garden, general manager of VSA’s Children and Family Services, said:

“Our Family Contact Centre is a volunteer-run facility where children from separated families can spend valuable time with the mum or dad who no longer lives with them. Just think what that would mean to a child. And for parents, it means they don’t have to meet, so there’s less chance of hostility in front of the children. It’s actually a really happy environment to be in.”

Bruce Angus, divisional director for Brewin Dolphin Aberdeen, said:

“The Family Contact Centre is an amazing local facility. But it depends entirely on voluntary income. It’s thanks to the success of fundraising events like the Pro-Am, and the enthusiastic, generous local people who attend, that VSA can continue to provide much needed facilities like this in the north-east.”

Murray Burnett, managing partner at Munro’s Travel Group, said:

“The Pro-Am is an opportunity to be part of a fantastic golf day and entertaining evening but more importantly, in supporting the event you are playing your part in helping the VSA bring vital assistance to families across AberdeenCity and Shire. The charity and the Family Contact Centre in particular provide an invaluable service to the local community and we are delighted that through our participation in the event we are able to help ensure that VSA can continue to carry out its outstanding work.”

Former footballer Alex McLeish attended last year’s event:

“The atmosphere was brilliant and the course was in excellent condition. The prize giving and fundraising dinner was a great end to a fun-filled day. The entertainment was second-to-none and a welcome change from your usual after dinner speakers. I’m already practicing my swing for this year.”

Debbie Fotheringham, events co-ordinator at VSA, said:

“As well as supporting a really important cause close to home, the Pro-Am is a great opportunity for companies to treat clients and staff. I’ve re-launched the corporate sponsorships this year, with an extended range of cost-effective ways to get involved. It’s the perfect way to promote your brand to some key north-east businesspeople.”

For more information about VSA’s Tartan Pro-Am, or to book a place at the golf, dinner or both, contact Debbie Fotheringham on 01224 358617 or e-mail debbie.fotheringham@vsa.org.uk

New Don In Expanded Community Role

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Feb 282013

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

Aberdeen Football Club has appointed a former Grampian Police Inspector as its new Head of Community, a role that will see its areas of responsibility grow considerably over the coming months and years.
Although born in Dundee, Ally Prockter considers himself to be a life-long Dons fan and, as he explains, his new position will involve community in its widest meaning:

“When George Yule outlined his vision to me for AFC in the Community, one which encompasses far more than the club has previously been involved with, I was totally ‘sold’. It is also a marvellous opportunity for me personally to continue to develop my own skill-set whilst contributing positively to the North East of Scotland, and of course to Aberdeen Football Club.”

Health, nutrition, fitness, education and social inclusion are just some of the far reaching areas that the 49 year old will be responsible for.

“AFC is an important and visible part of the fabric of the north east community and I’ll be looking to develop and engage in initiatives that will add value in all areas of our community, not just those involving football supporters.

“An additional aspect of my job will be as a visible and identifiable link between the Club and our fans, and my colleagues and I will do everything we can to ensure that all those interested in positively supporting this fantastic club will have the opportunity to be involved in getting the various, two way, messages across.”

Ally, who moved to the north east at the age of eight, is married with two daughters and a son, plus two step-daughters and a step-son. His youngest daughter already plays football at Aberdeen Sports Village at the tender age of 5 while his mother remains a regular Pittodrie attendee at 80!

His career with Grampian Police began in 1980, when he joined straight from Bankhead Academy as a cadet, spanning thirty-one years before retiring in November 2011. During his time in the force, Ally gained experience in a variety of aspects of police work including staff development and training, recruitment, community policing and a spell with the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency.

Pittodrie Vice Chairman George Yule, who is well aware of the importance of the Club’s latest appointment, said:

“This is a hugely challenging position and one for which Ally ticks all the boxes. Aberdeen Football Club needs to be seen to be more accessible and transparent and one of the main driving forces in bringing the community as a whole together.

“One of his initial tasks is to review the overall structure of AFC in the Community and identify appropriate initiatives going forward.

“Ally will work closely with all of our stakeholders to enable the Club to fulfil its duties and responsibilities as a role model across the region in the promotion of health, fitness, education and life skills in addition to supporting local community sector groups involved in drug and alcohol abuse programmes, special needs disability groups, female football development, unemployed and socially disadvantaged communities.”

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Goodwin At Pittodrie, But Not For Lightweight Dons

Aberdeen City, Featured, Opinion No Responses »

Feb 112013

The game was so drab that not even a proper match reporter would trouble themselves to dissect it minute by minute. I’m only here to give you the general gist, says Voice reporter Andrew Watson, and the most I can say is that only refereeing decisions conspired to make this game even remotely as noteworthy as the goalless draw against Hibs the other week.

I can’t help but feel that the pitch, badly cut up from the Scotland game on Wednesday, was little excuse for the poor fare served up to fans.

The state of the pitch equally hampered the efforts of a high-flying St Mirren side, not just the Dons, and passes, both on the deck and in the air, were so off-target it beggared belief.

Just about the only player that merits mention, for the right reasons, is Buddies’ captain Jim Goodwin.

When Aberdeen were applying one of their few genuine periods of pressure, an incoming ball was swatted away by his diving header. A stunning sight to see. Talk about putting your body on the line. Even shoplifters wouldn’t evade his capture.

Immediately he was on his feet, castigating his defenders, urging and leading with an all-or-nothing attitude that no doubt inspired his teammates.

Unfortunately, Osbourne, the only Don showing a scintilla of that passion, was booked for his troubles. The fans were up in arms when he was shown yellow for an excellent tackle. He was deservedly declared man of the match.

It was hard to sympathise with Reynolds’ reckless shirt-pulling, for which the team would later pay a heavy price.

After the interval, Magennis replaced Robertson to spruce things up in 67 minutes. Hughes left the pitch at the 71 minute mark, with Vernon coming on. Reynolds was dismissed a minute later for deliberate handball.

Pawlett was then taken off for the equally youthful Smith, 75 minutes into the game. One questions the wisdom of replacing a relatively inexperienced youngster with another after losing an experienced player through a red card.

I kind of feel for Brown. Maybe he thought fresh young legs would inject the necessary urgency to nick a late goal. I sometimes wonder if he’s suffering as McGhee did, in that perfectly capable players just aren’t playing for him?

the team were last to just about every ball, shoved off it when in possession and outfought in the air

Anyway, it seemed that only refereeing decisions were uniting the fans behind the team. I don’t know if this is fans’ short-sightedness in ignoring poor form, or a level of loyalty unacknowledged by the press – quick to point out fair-weather support and poor Pittodrie attendances.

Referee John Beaton was pedantic in his pursuit of soft fouls and continuously stopped the flow of play. The best referees, as they say, strike a balance between letting play flow and maintaining discipline, but, hand on heart, he made bizarre decisions that angered both sets of fans throughout the 90 minutes

That is beside the point, though. If the referee’s performance highlighted anything, it would be Aberdeen’s complete inadequacy against a very physical St Mirren side.

Although he did a bit to protect McGinn, the team were last to just about every ball, shoved off it when in possession and outfought in the air. They weren’t imposing in the box, and that’s why they didn’t score. Our players weren’t tall enough!

Would Goodwin’s last gasp dive to put the ball out for a corner earlier really have prevented a genuine goal scoring opportunity? At least he took no chances, unlike our favourite goalkeeper.

Credit to Jamie Langfield, though. He saved blushes late on with superb save, even enjoying a little bit of defensive luck when a teammate cleared the rebound. He then proceeded to try his damnedest to undo this, fluffing a pass back and nearly letting it roll over the line. Typical Dons!

He then got sarcastic cheers for actually making a connection, minutes later. Typical Red Army!

They were booed off the pitch, and quite right too.

Final score: 0-0.

Fantasy Predicshuns Fer 2013

Aberdeen City, Satire and Humour No Responses »

Jan 142013

By Bob Smith.

Lit me say richt awa,there wull be blue sna
Afore ma fantasy predicshuns cum richt
Bit lit us aa pray, there wull cum a day
Fin warld poverty’s nae langer in sicht

The Donald wull state,”Michael Forbes a’ll nae hate”
“An at winfairms a’ll nae hae a glower”
Afore is cums true, naebody’ll be on the broo
An hell itsel wull freeze ower

The Dons’ll aye win, their fan’s wull aye grin
In Europe Man Utd they’ll crush
Their play wull be racy, fin they sign Lionel Messi
An the green an white hordes they wull hush

Gaza Strip wull hae peace,an Israelies they’ll cease
Tae bigg on Palestinian grun
Fowk wull feel better, an guns winna maitter
An fae shell’s young bairns winna run

In oor Aiberdeen,the cooncil cums clean
An tells us aa fit’s gyaan on
Nae diggers wull dig tae bigg a new brig
Throwe the streets o puir Tillydrone

Sir Ian wull depart, in the puff o a fart
Wi his 50 odd million in a hurry
He’ll dee much mair gweed, if Africa’s hungry he’ll feed
An aboot webs an gairdens nae worry

Fit the future micht be, we’ll jist wait an see
Wull ony fantasy predicshuns cum true?
If only een wis fulfilled, a wid be richt thrilled
So a’m hopin the sna wull turn blue

New Year Reesolushins

Aberdeenshire, Creative Writing No Responses »

Jan 032013

By Bob Smith.

A didna mak ony reesolushins
At the stairt o the New Year
Jist in case some o them
Widna be kept a fear
.
If a hid made reesolushins
Tae show a bit o moral grit
A wid mak the extra effort
Tae stir things up a bit
.
Keep opposin the mannie Trump
Ma main aim iss wid be
So fae oor shores he’d bugger aff
Fae his haverins we’d be free
.
A’d fecht tae keep oor kwintra
Safe fae the lan grabbin rich
Chiels fa try tae mak the rules
An democracy try tae ditch

A’d stir things wi the cooncil
Tae see oor money weel spint
An nae lan in the coffers
O fowk faa mak a mint
.
On a far less serious note
Ma gowf a’d try tae improve
So ma handicap it wis cut
An ma swing wis in the groove
.
A’d try tae be aye smilin
Fin fowk an me div meet
An look upon the positives
If the Dons they div git beat
.
Bit ae New Year reesolushin
An on iss a’ll nae bi canny
Is tae wish ye “a the best”
Fae Bob Smith “The Poetry Mannie”

Killie Capitalise As Keeper Sees Red

Aberdeen City, Featured, Sport No Responses »

Dec 162012

It is difficult to show more empathy towards injury-stricken Dons when the fare on offer is as drab as this! Andrew Watson reports from Pittodrie.

The way things were going initially, it looked like this was heading towards a rather unremarkable 0-0 draw.

As it was though, we were served up controversy and bookings aplenty just on the edge of half-time as a Killie man came one on one with Langfield before being taken down.

Although he was the last man, a red card for Langfield seemed a bit harsh as the felled man was not exactly in the best of positions to score.

The weight of expectation fell on the shoulders of substitute keeper Brown, who came on for Fallon after 45 minutes to face the resultant penalty kick.

0-1 (Kelly) after 45 minutes.

Ignoring the fact they were a man and a goal down, it seemed a curious decision to take Fallon off the pitch. Now, I must admit that I’ve given the Kiwi a hard time of late, but maybe his resurgence since scoring at Fir Park merited a longer stay on the pitch?

The only fault I could find with him is something I’ve observed throughout his stay at Pittodrie. This is his propensity not to go for headers and try and win high balls that come towards him. Why put a ‘big man’ at the top of the pitch if he doesn’t pose an aerial threat?

Back on for the second half, and the Dons were dominating possession. Plenty of passing in and around the Killie box, but nothing incisive.

Magennis did manage to bundle it over the line, but was cautioned for his clash with the Killie keeper. Masson then came on for Considine after 70 minutes.

It wasn’t the Dons’ day as the same Ulsterman rocketed a high ball towards goal. We hoped for a miracle earlier, and that Brown would save the penalty. Maybe the ball would burst the roof of the net? Not a chance, the ball smacked right off the crossbar!

However, if every dog has its day, eventually, then the terrier-like efforts of Shaughnessy were applauded when he was replaced after 80 minutes.

He was the only good thing about this game, from an Aberdeen point of view. He’s in the mould of Ryan Jack, but surprisingly silky and a bit taller. That can only be a good thing, as a defender! Youth replaced youth as McManus came on for Shaughnessy.

Six minutes later, the Rugby Park men then got away on the break and cut the ball back across the mouth of the Dons goal. The ball was expertly dispatched.

0-2 (Kelly) after 86 minutes.

To be honest, the angle available to the scorer favoured Brown more than anyone else. Would Langfield have got a touch to it? Who knows, and truth be told, who cares?

Well, some of the Main Stand faithful did. They remained adamant the delivery into the box was received from an offside position.

Perhaps they were right. I noticed a tendency of our back four to try and spring the offside trap upon wayward attackers prior to this point in the game.

No joke, I spent many moments earlier thinking ‘what if the next time, they put their hands up for offside, and neither the referee nor linesman agree?’

Anyway, it came to fruition and I have no reason to be smug. Why would I be when it’s at the expense of my own football team?

Another rather annoying tendency also became apparent.

Perhaps after realising that plenty of possession in and around the penalty area without forward motion was pointless, they changed tack and began lumping the ball forward in hope of that elusive long ball that would unlock Killie’s back four.

Unfortunately these balls were lacking in accuracy, and very disappointing to watch.

It’s therefore I admit, in a rather shamefaced manner, that I couldn’t wait for the game to end. When they announced four extra minutes I could have cried.

Final score: 0-2.

As I have previously expressed, I worry what will happen to the Dons when Fraser leaves. They’ll really have to rethink tactics to salvage this season. When you lose a player with so much creativity, coupled with the frustrating inconsistency of fellow wingers like Hayes, attacking plans go out the window.

I remain convinced any victory gained in Fraser’s absence will come out of dogged endeavour rather than the skill and incision he brought to the fore.

Dear Santa, a Scottish Cup – against all odds – for Aberdeen, please?

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