Scottish Premier League - Saturday 14th August 2010
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Aberdeen today recorded their first opening day victory in eight years, and how! The Dons sit proudly on top of the league on goal difference after a comprehensive 4-0 rout of Hamilton. New captain Paul Hartley trebled his predecessor’s goal tally in a single afternoon, with a hat trick of penalties. Vice-captain Zander Diamond added the other goal in what was an impressive performance.
It was Accies who created the first half-chance of the game in the second minute, a shot from the edge of the box flying comfortably over Howard’s bar. Two minutes later Cerny was put under pressure with an awkward backpass but managed to get the ball clear. The first real chance though, fell to the home side in the seventh minute. Sone Aluko sent a fantastic 25-yard free kick crashing off the underside of the bar. Cerny, who was beaten all ends up, took a knock in the ensuing goal mouth scramble and had to be given treatment.
Hamilton went close again in the 11th minute. A dangerous cross was cut back teasingly across goal but Jerel Ifil managed to put it behind for a corner. In the 18th minute, a rejuvinated Aluko produced a great bit of skill on the right; the Nigerian beating two players as he broke into the box before being taken down by Mensing for a clear penalty. Captain, Paul Hartley stepped up and coolly converted the spot kick to the despairing keeper’s left.
Hartley nearly grabbed his second in the 21st minute. The skipper tried to catch Cerny out at his near post but his free kick from wide on the left flashed just wide. Hartley was playing a blinder on his debut, and went close again in the 25th minute, firing a shot wide after a clever short corner.
Aberdeen were now in full flow, and unrecognisable from last season. A mistake from Gary McDonald in the 31st minute let Aluko in, his effort from 25 yards bounced awkwardly in front of Cerny, but the Hamilton keeper gathered at the second attempt.
Hamilton's McDonald had a chance in the 32nd minute, but the ex-Don was forced wide and his shot did not cause Howard any problems. Five minutes later, young striker Josh Magennis did well to get a shot away surrounded by three defenders, but the keeper got down sharply to block the forward’s effort. In the 40th minute Aluko, who had been a constant threat, won his team a second penalty after he was blatantly pulled back in the box. Hartley stepped forward again and confidently blasted Aberdeen into a 2-0 lead, sending Cerny the wrong way.
Aberdeen started the second half where they left off in the first. A goalmouth scramble in the 51st minute had Dons players queuing up, but it was Zander Diamond who managed to drive his shot high into Cerny’s net for 3-0.
The game was now over as a contest, but as the fans began to relax, the players continued to play some great stuff. Fyvie then replaced Pawlett, and was put through on goal in the 57th minute, only for the linesman to foil him with an offside flag.
The third penalty came in the 64th minute as Maguire charged into the box and was sent tumbling. There was only one man to take the spot kick, and the captain dutifully completed his hat-trick in fine fashion; giving the goalkeeper no chance with another powerful penalty. It was to be his last contribution in the game as he and Aluko were replaced in the next few minutes. Both left the field to deserved standing ovations, Hartley looking a fantastic signing while Aluko looks to be back at his best.
It could have been five in the 72nd minute, when Magennis thundered a header off the underside of the bar after a great cross from Considine. Claims from the fans that it had crossed the line fell on deaf ears though.
The remainder of the game passed with ease for the Dons, without any major chances. Howard pulled off a few decent saves as the game drew to a close, and seems a worthy challenger for Langfield's gloves this season.
A fantastic start then to the new season: three points, a debut hat-trick, a clean sheet, and sitting on top of the league. Pittodrie seemed a completely different place today, compared to last season. Off the pitch there was a decent atmosphere, thanks in no small part, to the new Red Army 12 group. On the pitch, players looked interested, hungry, like they wanted to be there. They fought for the ball all over the pitch, and weren’t afraid to put tackles in.
And the vast improvement in captaincy was plain to see. Apart from already scoring three times as many goals for us as Kerr did, Hartley took charge from the off, shouting instructions and generally being a proper captain, something we previously lacked. But as Hartley said post-match, it was a team performance, and the whole team performed, the new signings looked good and should all be great additions to the squad.
The Red Revolution is well and truly underway.
Ronaldanho
Danny McKay won RedTV's Junior Reporter competition: click here
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