Dons impress Polish coach

GRAEME SMITH

22 Oct 1990

ABERDEEN are one of the top teams in Europe and will beat Legia Warsaw if they can reproduce the form which saw them destroy Hearts on Saturday -- according to the boss of their Polish opponents.

Ryszard Kosinski, Legia Warsaw coach, had been warned by Jacki Dziekanowski and Dariusz Wdowczyk that Aberdeen were a very good side but did not realise how good until he watched them from the Pittodrie stand.

"If Aberdeen play like that against us we will not win the tie," he said.

"They are one of the best sides in Europe on that performance."

He said he was particularly impressed by McLeish, Bett, and Gillhaus and praised Alex Smith's wisdom in taking the latter two off before the end of the game to save their energy for Wednesday's Cup-winners' Cup tie.

Whether Kosinski really believes that or is trying to lull the Dons into a false sense of security he must have been impressed by their display.

While Aberdeen roared back to the form which had the superlatives flying at the beginning of the season and gave themselves a huge morale boost, Hearts do not have their troubles to seek.

It will test Joe Jordan's managerial skills to the limit to lift them for their match with Bologna at Tynecastle which they may have to face without John Robertson and John Colquhoun.

Robertson tweaked his hamstring and was taken off after 17 minutes and it will be today before it becomes clear if he will make it for Wednesday.

Colquhoun will also be in the treatment room after having taken an ankle knock.

Joe Jordan said nothing about the Hearts performance after the match, publicly at least, deciding instead to praise Aberdeen.

"The best team won," he said.

"They were not lucky.

They deserved to win."

On the positive side for Hearts, Henry Smith had a magnificent game.

He was beaten three times by unstoppable shots but his outstanding display prevented a more embarrassing scoreline.

Between the other posts Andy Dibble was denied the opportunity to make an impression in front of the home fans for the first time because Hearts seldom got near enough to shoot.

Six weeks ago Aberdeen gave Hearts a football lesson in the Skol Cup but they clearly never learned and got more of the same.

Aberdeen totally dominated and Hans Gillhaus turned on the style which made him an instant hit with the supporters last season but has been missing this season.

He scored one goal and was responsible for what his manager called "the non-goal of the season." It was not until after he had netted a spectacular shot that the whistle was blown for offside.

Taken from the Herald