Stand-in keeper fails to please Jordan

GRAEME SMITH

19 Apr 1993

HEARTS' striker Ian Baird will not be volunteering again to take over as goalkeeper in future emergencies.

Baird went into goal after keeper Nicky Walker had injured himself in the pre-match warm-up at Aberdeen on Saturday and, although few observers blamed the striker for Hearts' 3-2 defeat, manager Joe Jordan clearly felt that Baird could shoulder some of the blame for two of the goals.

Jordan was disappointed that his side, 3-0 down at one stage, failed to take any points from the visit.

He thought his players were nervy about having a striker in goal and it took them some time to settle.

When it was suggested that Baird had done a commendable job and should not be blamed, Jordan would say only: "I suggest you look very carefully at the first and third goals."

Baird himself did not believe he was at fault but, none the less, he said he will not volunteer again.

With half an hour gone, it looked as if the only talking point would be Hearts' need to put a striker in goal, but everything changed when Aberdeen went three goals up, conceded two, and only just hung on for victory.

Nicky Walker tore a leg muscle stretching for a high ball in the warm-up and, with referee David Syme insisting on an immediate decision, Baird took over in goal.

He was able to boast that he had never let in a goal in his career, although he has been substitute keeper only once before, for 20 minutes nine years ago when with Leeds.

Aberdeen failed to test him until, in 36 minutes, Booth crossed from the right and Shearer got a foot to the ball in the box, poking it in for his twenty-fifth goal of the season.

The Dons stepped up a gear and two minutes later Paatelainen scored their second.

Baird had no chance, because not even the Finnish striker knew where it was going.

He miskicked and it bobbled to the keeper's right.

Aberdeen came out looking to settle the issue early in the second half, which they appeared to have done when Mason, lingering unmarked at the back post, headed in a Booth cross for the third.

The Dons clearly thought that was their day's work over and, as they relaxed, Hearts took control.

Craig Levein headed their first goal from a Derek Ferguson corner.

Four minutes later Eamonn Bannon floated a ball over McLeish and, by the time he turned, Ian Ferguson had nipped in behind him to grab the second.

Hearts battled bravely and clearly panicked Aberdeen.

The Dons should, however, have had the game out of reach when Booth netted but the linesman, who was not as quick of eye as the striker was of foot, mysteriously ruled him offside.

If that was unjust then the denial of a penalty for Hearts when Snelders floored Gary McKay a few minutes later evened things up.

The game became scrappy in the closing stages but Aberdeen held on for victory.

Willie Miller, the Dons manager, was able to maintain his sense of humour, at least for the public, although one imagines his dressing room chat was somewhat less amiable.

"We just thought we would make a game of it in the last half-hour," he quipped.

In more serious vein, he was pleased that they had extended their lead over Celtic but disappointed they had not kept pushing for fourth and fifth goals and that they gave away two "nonsense goals."

Taken from the Herald