Hearts and Aberdeen shine on SPL Saturday
2 games and 2 big winners
With only two SPL games on the Saturday, the four teams involved had a chance to grab the headlines but most involved at New Douglas Park were hoping for fewer headlines than the time these clubs clashed there last season.
Clash being the operative word (well, yesterday was also Joe Strummer day) but this clash referred to what kicked off in the tunnel after a tough and nasty game.
Neither side came out of the debacle with much credit but yesterday, all the glory was Hearts…but Hamilton fans should start to worry about the season ahead.
Player sales and injuries have depleted the Accies and when more bodies are available, Billy Reid will feel more confident about the battle ahead but an 8-0 deficit after two games is not good. When you’ve only got Wigan to look to for comfort, you know you are in a bad way!
Let’s not forget Hearts though, from what we saw, they attacked with purpose and with intent. An early goal settled the nerves and then poaching strikes at the right-time to draw the sting from the Accies shows that Jim Jefferies may be getting his message across.
The Hearts boss met his comedian namesake during the week but supposedly the biggest laugh the comedian got was when he tipped Hibs for the Scottish Cup this season.
Two goals from Callum Elliot, one from David Templeton and a first Jambos strike from the penalty spot for Kevin Kyle would have put a smile on all of a maroon persuasion.
Each side picked up a red card but at least it never got anywhere close to last season’s fiasco. Next up for the Jambos are Dundee United at home…who may be suffering a European exit hangover when they arrive in Edinburgh!
There are countless of football clichés to consider but winning ugly has to be one of the most heard….and probably one of the most important. Grabbing late and scrappy goals to clinch all three points doesn’t just give you the win on the day, it can have a great psychological impact.
The fans go away absolutely buzzing and it shows the players can battle to the end and keep fighting when not everything is going their way. The St Johnstone v Aberdeen game was not a match to have the purists purring but it was an entertaining and engaging match. As the clock ticked on, a 0-0 draw may have seen both sides rewarded for their effort but a late Darren Mackie goal grabbed the lot for the dandy Dons.
Aberdeen won their first game of the season 4-0 but this result would have been celebrated more intensely. An away from home win against a team who caused major trouble for Aberdeen last season is a huge result. It also allows some momentum to be built up, perhaps giving Aberdeen a strongerbase to face their biggest challenge of the season.
Away to Alloa in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup on Tuesday. Don’t laugh…Aberdeen need to navigate these hurdles with the minimum of fuss or time will run out for Mark McGhee. That said, this game and then Saturday’s home match versus Kilmarnock are definitely winnable.
The Dons fixture list takes a turn for the tricky after the Killie game so keeping the wins going until then is a must.
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