Scotland's show game is a monumental bore Bolton manager Todd confirms Aberdeen striker Booth is his goal

Ian Broadley

11 Feb 1997

ABERDEEN...0, HEARTS....0

Scotland's football reputation was further undermined last night when millions of Sky's armchair viewers witnessed Aberdeen and Hearts enact a match of unremitting boredom.

Considering that both teams required victory to sustain their ambitions of competing in Europe next season, the lack of passion and inspiration was baffling to the 9000 supporters at Pittodrie.

The Dons, whose need for all three points was the greater, could point to the ordering off of defender John Inglis in 67 for a second booking.

But even before then the poverty of their performance indicated precisely why they have now won just once in their last 13 games.

Hearts, two points ahead in fourth place in the premier division, were little better in attempting to close the gap on Dundee United.

The one bonus for Aberdeen manager Roy Aitken was the contribution of Russell Anderson, who played the second half with a broken nose.

He may be only 18 but the full back outshone many of his more experienced contemporaries and could be one of their best discoveries in recent years.

Both clubs later insisted that supporters were being short-changed by asking players to play two vital games within three days.

Aitken blamed the fatigue factor for the desperate performance.

He said: ''Sky TV is now a major part of our sport and we are all thankful for the revenue.

But it makes it very difficult for our players to perform in such a short space of time.

''Normally in England players are not asked to play on Saturdays and then again on Monday.

We had to use our three substitutes to ensure there were fresh legs on the park.

This game was originally scheduled to be played on Wednesday so I can understand the reasons for the switch..'' But Aitken and his backroom team could not comprehend the red-carding of defender John Inglis in 67 minutes which left them raging.

Hearts manager Jim Jefferies added: ''I felt for both teams tonight as I know the weather conditions were bad, but it did not help that they both had hard matches on Saturday.

Down South don't play games as close together.

''People are being short-changed as the quality is affected.

Players do not have the time to recover.

There was no zip about tonight's game and the players did not look as if they could raise a gallop.

This was never played like a competitive and meaningful league game.'' Bolton manager Colin Todd was present at Pittodrie for a final assessment of Scotland striker Scott Booth before proceeding with a £625,000 deal today.

Whether it was the pressure of the occasion and the opportunity to advance his stagnant career, Booth who was recalled into the attack for suspended striker Dean Windass, rarely showed any glimpses of the form which had made him such a potent performer for Scotland over the last two season.

Nevertheless Todd revealed his intentions to acquire the transfer-listed Booth before the game with Hearts when he said: ''Booth has had more caps than John McGinley which shows the quality of the player.

''Booth has very good know-ledge and ability and is looking to make a fresh start in his career.'' Booth has already agreed terms with the Burnden Park club and is keen to join an ambitious club destined surely to return to the Premiership.

Aberdeen had to do without Bulgarian international Tzanko Tzvetantov who failed a pre-match fitness test on recurring hamstring injury.

This meant a recall for defender Colin Woodthorpe, also up for sale, who is reputedly attracting interest from Manchester City.

Sadly he, too, was just as anonymous.

Hearts, too, had their injury problems and Tynecastle groundsman Roddy McKenzie was handed his competitive debut after Frenchman Gilles Rousset had to be ruled out.

John Robertson's bid to become Hearts' all-time record goal-scorer had to be put on hold as well through a leg knock and veteran defender Dave McPherson was also sidelined.

While a biting cold wind made conditions extremely difficult and was reflected in the standard of play throughout the first half it did not prevent Hearts from being the more aggressive and determined side.

Jefferies side were the first to threaten when former Norwich defender Woodthorpe was weak with a headed clearance which was scrambled away under extreme pressure.

Then Aitken was warned by Burnside referee Stuart Dougal for protesting too vociferously.

Hearts were invariably the more dangerous side with more attacking options available in a sterile first half which could have done nothing to satisfy those armchair TV viewers.

That was underlined when the Edinburgh side carved out the best chance through Neil McCann which forced keeper Michael Watt to concede a corner with a magnificent one-handed save.

Rookie keeper McKenzie, signed last year from Stenhousemuir, surely proved he has a future at Tynecastle.

Aberdeen - Watt; Anderson, Woodthorpe, Rowson, Inglis, Kombouare, Miller, Dodds, Booth, Young, Glass.



Subs: Shearer, Kiriakov, Buchan.

Hearts - McKenzie, Locke, Pointon, Weir, Bruno,Ritchie, Salvatori, Fulton, Hamilton, Cameron, McCann.

Subs: Mackay, Paillie, McManus.

Aberdeen.................0 Hearts......................0

Taken from the Herald