Inspired Dons all set for season ahead

GRAEME SMITH

15 Aug 1994

ABERDEEN kicked off the season with the kind of performance which will have the fans queuing to help pay off the club's close season investment in new players.

They showed skill, determination and imagination in a game which Hearts helped make entertaining for the 13,800 crowd.

Aberdeen scored three outstanding goals for a well-deserved victory, albeit against a Hearts side suffering from a shortage of players.

"We had thoughts of Walter Kidd playing, that's how bad things were," said new manager Tommy McLean.

Places in the Aberdeen team will have to be earned this season because of the strength and depth of their pool and the attitude of the players suggested they were well aware of the fact.

Youngster Hugh Robertson, who has formidable opposition for a midfield slot, made his mark in just 28 minutes.

Paul Kane rolled a free kick in front of the 19-year-old who unleashed a ferocious left foot shot from 30 yards which gave Henry Smith no chance.

The only people not surprised by the goal were his team-mates who have seen him do the same in training numerous times.

Hearts bounced back after the break when Colquhoun was waiting at the back post to net a deflected cross from Stevie Frail but Aberdeen then stepped up the pressure.

Billy Dodds, Aberdeen's £800,000 signing, made his home scoring debut with a tremendous goal.

Paul Kane, who was the dominant midfield player of the day, sent a long high ball towards the box.

It looked certain to be the keeper's ball but Dodds nipped in, flicked it over Smith's head, and rounded him to roll it into an open net.

"I just shut my eyes because I sometimes play better that way," quipped Dodds after which it was cruelly suggested that Henry Smith had also shut his eyes.

Scott Booth, showing an encouraging hunger, took just four minutes to get his first goal of the season when he came on as a substitute after 70 minutes.

Kane sent the ball to Booth who was waiting on the right hand corner of the box and he turned without the hesitation which Aberdeen's strikers sometimes showed last season, and rattled it past the luckless Smith.

Willie Miller was delighted with the performance and can look forward to Wednesday's Coca-Cola Cup match against Stranraer with confidence.

Tommy McLean will be relieved to get the week past although the speculation about a move to Celtic for Saturday's captain Alan McLaren continues.

McLean said: "Good players always bring speculation but I have never said Celtic are the club making an offer for him.

What I will say is the offer we have been made by a club has not a hope in hell."

Taken from the Herald