Aberdeen look towards upper echelons of SPL but can't buy a goal against Hearts

CRAIG BROWN looks to have built a decent side at Pittodrie but goalless run against Jambos stretches to eight games.
Aberdeen's Scott Vernon goes close against Hearts Aberdeen's Scott Vernon goes close against Hearts

ABERDEEN'S plans to build a new stadium might have been scrapped but it does look like Craig Brown has constructed a side capable of challenging towards the upper end of the SPL.

The foundations are in place – the only thing lacking is the finishing touches.

Yet again the Dons bossed a match at Pittodrie but couldn’t find a way to goal. They huffed and puffed but just couldn’t blow the Hearts house down.

Not for the first time either. Aberdeen have now gone eight games without a goal against the Jambos – a miserable run going back to January 2010.

John McGlynn’s side rode their luck at times but were maybe due a bit of good fortune after Liverpool’s jammy win at Tynecastle last week.

They nearly even pinched an unlikely winner when Andy Driver hit a post in stoppage time.

Until that point they largely had to scrap to keep Brown’s men at bay but the Dons boss was left scratching his head after drawing another blank.

The Reds were brutally blunt last season with just 36 goals in 38 games. Brown looked to have solved it by bringing in the likes of Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn, with the emergence of youngster Ryan Fraser also a huge boost.

But while Aberdeen are creating far more chances, they are still struggling to stick the ball in the net.

Keeper Jamie Langfield, a spectator for most of the match, said: “It was a bit of deja vu but we are creating chances which we didn’t do last season.

“We’re getting balls in the box with Ryan and Jonny and I think one day someone is going to get a battering.

Hearts battle to clear the ball in Aberdeen game Hearts battle to clear the ball in Aberdeen game

“I can’t remember the last time we created so many chances like we have against Ross County and Hearts yet we haven’t scored.

“We believe we should be four points better off than we are and that’s a good sign.

“I can’t remember the last time we got clapped off after a 0-0 draw at Pittodrie – that shows you the reaction from the fans.

“It was a very quiet afternoon for me. We knew Hearts would be a bit tired after what they put in against Liverpool but we went to extra time on Wednesday as well at Morton.

“We dominated so much but we never got the goal we deserved.”

Aberdeen battered the Jambos for the majority of the game but they almost came a cropper in
stoppage time through Driver’s effort.

Langfield said: “I never even saw it before it clipped the outside of the post.

“Thankfully big John Sutton tried to kick Andy Considine’s head off and we got a foul.

“It was a heart in the mouth moment but if that had gone in it would have been one of the biggest injustices of all time.”

Langfield reckons it won’t be long before Aberdeen find a path to goal with the likes of Fraser buzzing around in attack.

The teenage tormentor has blossomed this season and he is already a target for defenders.

He was sent spinning by Marius Zaliukas but dusted himself down immediately and demanded the ball.

Langfield said: “He just bounced back up, he’s really something else. He’s a great player with a great attitude – he just gets on with it and is loving playing in the first team.

“It’s refreshing for us older lads to see someone with so much enthusiasm. He has absolutely no fear and he terrorises people.

“It’s great to see him and Jonny on the flanks.”

Aberdeen wondered how they couldn’t find a way through. After a low-key start they grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and it was one-way traffic.

Ryan Jack latched on to a through ball from Fraser but Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald raced from his line to block.

Scott Vernon then clipped the bar with a volley on the angle but Hearts survived to the break.

The pummelling continued after the interval and Aberdeen passed up a host of chances.

MacDonald blocked another Jack drive then Vernon struck the post before heading wide. Andy Considine also nodded past as the Reds queued up and it was pinball in the Hearts box at times but somehow the capital club survived the onslaught.

It helped to have someone like Andy Webster around as the big centre-half, who scored a cruel own goal against Liverpool, was superb again – as was Darren Barr who slotted in for Zaliukas after the skipper failed to reappear after the break.

Hearts managed to hang on and Dons boss Brown said: “I can’t fault the team, apart from in one department. All that was missing was the goal.

“It was wave after wave and it was disappointing it was not a comfortable victory. Scott Vernon was very unlucky not to score, as were others. It was a similar game to Ross County but with even more domination.

“It has been frustrating but I’m confident the goals will come.”

There was further concern for the Dons as they were dealt a major blow with Gary Naysmith limping off nursing a hamstring injury.

The veteran has impressed since his summer switch but is facing up to six weeks out.

Brown said: “It’s a big concern. Gary arrived late for pre-season and it seems that has been a factor. He said right away he felt a tear so it doesn’t sound good. We have to hope for the best.”

Naysmith departed midway through the second half and the Dons’ day could have been even worse if Driver’s effort had crept it.

Instead the ball smashed off the post and that would have been an even bigger injustice than the one Hearts suffered against Liverpool last midweek.

Taken from the Daily Record