I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…Oh what a difference a few months makes!
A few months ago, this same fixture ensured headline after headline in anticipation of the ‘cauldron of hatred’ awaiting two blokes that go by the name of Jimmy. The Pars fans were preparing themselves to ‘welcome’ back the ex-Pars men to
With Calderwood’s new side enjoying a somewhat rollercoaster ride at this moment in time – i.e. 3-2 demolition of against Celtic followed by a 5-0 capitulation against Rangers – Saturday’s fixture could bring just about any outcome whatsoever. Suffering various injury worries, with Zander Diamond, Marcus Heikkenen and Noel Whelan – among others – expected to miss the game, the Dons’ already small squad could look decidedly thin come the weekend. However, after losing in somewhat controversial terms against Hearts last weekend – Christ…if McNaughton had been any further over the line he would have been in the back row of the Dick Donald stand! – the Pittodrie side will undoubtedly be out to get the bandwagon on the road once again. With the Dons hovering close to the European qualification places, Saturday’s fixture will prove equally as vital – for slightly different reasons – for both sides. Its amazing how one season and two managers can reverse the roles so dramatically!
In grim times such as these it doesn’t offer any kind of encouragement to have a quick glance back to the Pars overall record against
You know, previewing these games is becoming a bit of a depressing activity these days. Trawling through the fixtures to find the Pars’ previous result against the side in question brings up nothing but painful memories – let’s hope I never have to preview a Pars v Hafnarfjordur game in the near future! – with this fixture proving to be no exception. The Pars last encounter with
With the Pars already facing an uphill task in the upcoming trip to Pittodrie, an ever-growing injury list makes the job all that bit harder for the Pars to get what would be a vital three points. Although Noel Hunt and Gary Dempsey are close to achieving full fitness, the Pars face even bigger injury worries. With Andrius Skerla, Greg Shields and Darren Young all suffering late call-offs before the Hearts game, all three – in particular Skerla who is currently on compassionate leave – may struggle to make this Saturday’s starting lineup. With Craig Brewster limping off with a calf injury in the Hearts fixture, and Gary Mason himself struggling with injury, a minibus instead of a team coach may be more suitable for the Pars squad for their trip up north this weekend.
Whether or not Jimmy Calderwood actually had any sleepless nights before the last Pars-Dons fixture, one could imagine that the ‘tanned man’ will not exactly be losing sleep over this fixture, with the Pars away – and indeed home – support diminishing week upon week. Although with the drivel served up recently who could blame any Pars fan for voting with their feet?! Just so long as they don’t all come running back the next time we reach a cup final!
But for those of us who do actually turn up to Pittodrie on Saturday to follow our team, let’s hope the Pars can break the norm and perform well for a change. Enough of all this ‘Judas’ rubbish, a nice Pars win would get the message across to the Jimmies just fine!