Aberdeen v Hearts: in the shadow of giants

EVEN the naked rambler's overworked legal team would surely struggle to put together a convincing defence of Scottish football these days.

Rangers' problems have cast an unflattering light on our game and the European results of SPL clubs – Celtic aside – have done little to improve an ailing reputation. Unless Motherwell and Hearts pull off unlikely turnarounds in their second legs, they will join Dundee United and St Johnstone in failing to qualify for the Europa League.

However, Charlie Adam, the Scotland midfielder who was part of the Liverpool team that pickpocketed Hearts, believes there is plenty of room for optimism.

"Celtic's result [winning 2-0 in Helsingborg in the first leg of their Champions League play-off] was terrific for Scottish football – especially after the difficult summer that everyone's had," he said. "It just shows the quality that the clubs have got. Celtic got a great result and if they do the job right they will be in the Champions League. Motherwell lost 2-0 [to Levante on Thursday night] but Hearts did well enough."

Liverpool left many of their stars at home for their tie at Tynecastle and almost regretted it. Hearts were the superior side for much of the contest before Andy Webster's own goal. Adam, though, felt his side merited the victory in what he described as "Hearts' cup final".

"The Hearts fans were terrific," added Adam. They egged their team on all night and they caused us some problems with balls into the box and when they got the ball up to John Sutton. In the end we were comfortable, though.

"We can't say we are home and dry. Anything can happen. It can just take a corner kick or a free kick and who knows? We know it is going to be tough for them at our place and if we get the next goal then we will be in a good position."

Ryan McGowan, the Hearts midfielder, ended up wishing it had been a trademark Adam shot that had done for his team that crucial blow, instead of the cruel fate that befell his captain.

He said: "We're still a bit disappointed that we didn't get a result. The way we played, I think we deserved to at least score. And it's an own goal we've conceded. We'd probably rather Charlie Adam had put a 30-yarder in the top corner, because it's a goal we could have defended better.

"We're still in the tie and if we get an early goal at Anfield you never know. If we can get an away goal, that would put pressure on them.

"We'll just give it a go and if we don't get a good result, then, hopefully, at least a good performance."

Before that trip to Anfield, however, Hearts have a less glamourous journey to Pittodrie to concern themselves with. There they will come up against a product of their own youth system who left to embark on a successful career in the English Premier League and held down a starting position in the national team. Since he decided to return to the SPL, Gary Naysmith has been looking forward to coming up against the team that gave him his break as a 17-year-old.

"The way Scottish football is going is with more focus on bringing through young players," said Naysmith.

"I only really know about the Aberdeen lads, but I have been surprised at how good they are.

"It used to be that teams would generally have more experienced players with a few youngsters. Now it's the other way about, it's a lot of youngsters with a few experienced guys thrown in.

"You need to get a mix because you can't rely on kids all the time. Their form will go up and down. But for Scottish football it's a great thing because the young kids are getting their chance and they are learning playing first-team football."

Naysmith was impressed with Hearts performance against Liverpool. He was pleased, too, that manager John McGlynn, a coach when he joined the club, appears to be making an impact as manager.

"John came in at Hearts when I had just got into the first team," he recalled. "He'd been doing the under-14s and under-15s but Jim Jefferies [the then manager] brought him in when the youth team job came up.

"He's someone I've kept in touch with and I've got a lot of time for him. He's worked his way up in coaching, working with youngsters and that makes him the ideal man to be Hearts manager now with the way the club is going.

"He did a great job at Raith Rovers where he showed he's got an eye for a player. He's done his apprenticeship in coaching at all levels and totally deserves his chance."

Brown, meanwhile, sees tomorrow's opponents as the benchmark for his Aberdeen squad. "We have to be wary of them," he insisted. "I think they will be one of the teams in contention this season and the game will be a good yardstick for us."

Taken from the Herald