Falkirk 0-1 Aberdeen: Movin’ on up!

By: TheNorthernLight | October 18th, 2008

We had two articles written for this weekend: one packed with facts and stats about how this was Aberdeen’s worst start to a season since 1999 and listing a number of candidates we think could be lined up to replace Calderwood; the other is this one.

Yes, Aberdeen finally won a game, their first win in five attempts. It was certainly not a great game with more dodgy refereeing decisions: Aberdeen where denied a penalty and Falkirk Lee Bullen getting sent off rather too easily we think (in the spirit of fairness) for a challenge on Scott Severin in the final moments of the game. Anyway, together with Hamilton losing to St. Mirren, the win pushes the Dons up into 10th place where they join Motherwell and Caley (two teams who both lost today) on 10 points. Jeez lads, just think, we’re only 12 points off the top now!

Like we said yesterday, the Dons traveled down without Charlie Mulgrew, depriving Calderwood of a full first-team selection. We were hoping Jimmy would read this column and take our advice and go with an attacking formation, but instead the gaffer went for a completely bizarre 1-3-4-2 formation, with Scott Severin in as sweeper, something we’ve not seem him attempt before. In front of him where Considine, filling in for Mulgrew, Zander Diamond and Lee Mair. In the middle we had the pairing up of two ex-United players, Mark Kerr and Stuart Duff with Derek Young and Richard Foster wide right and wide left respectively. Lee Miller and Darren Mackie played up front.

Keeping with recent performances, Aberdeen where pretty guff in the first half. Lots of hard work, but with no final product. Perhaps the somewhat unorthodox formation confused, and while the team where getting used to their new roles, it was Falkirk who threatened first. Neil McCann beat Lee Mair comfortably, put in a fine cross which found former Aberdeen player Stevie Lovell who could only put his header wide.

After the break, Sone Aluko replaced the industrious Stuart Duff. The summer signing battled his way up the wing shortly after the restart and was fouled, but the referee allowed play to go on. Andrew Considine picked up the loose ball and fired in a cross which was met with some force by Lee Miller from 5 yards out, giving the Dons the lead, and something for the Aberdeen support to cheer about.

Falkirk had a few chances to equalize in the second half, most of those falling to Stevie Lovell. His first, a shot from the edge of the box curled wide, his second saw him blast the ball over from 8 yards or so.

We controlled the rest of the game pretty much. Our midfield shut the Falkirk attack down, restricting the Bairns to long shots, while our defence performed pretty well given the unusual formation. Andrew Considine had a good game, providing the cross that led to the winner while Sone Aluko and Stuart Duff put in solid performances.

Aberdeen next play Hearts at Tynecastle on the 25th. With our losing streak finally broken, could this be the start of a decent run? Calderwood has found a new formation that seems to settle the defence down, while making use of both Young’s Fosters’ pace on the wings. We’ve always been happy with our midfield – McDonald and Kerr work well together and Stuart Duff slotted in well. If only we could get ourselves a 15 goal-a-season striker. Darren Mackie has never rediscovered his goal scoring form in the 2004-05 season when he scored 15 goals (or the 13 he got in the 2006-07 season).

Still, we’re happy with the result today. Every great journey starts with a first step, so lets hope that Calderwood and the Dons can build on this result and get ourselves up the table – where we belong. Stand Free!!

Lineup: Langfield, Foster, Diamond, Severin, Kerr (McDonald), Miller (J Smith), Mackie, Young, Duff (Aluko), Mair, Considine