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Charlie Christie – Struggling Aberdeen are tackling challenging times


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I was very interested to read Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack’s comments on the disappointing run his club are going through.

Aberdeen have gone 10 matches without a win. Picture: Ken Macpherson
Aberdeen have gone 10 matches without a win. Picture: Ken Macpherson

He unreservedly backed his manager Stephen Glass even though the Dons have now gone 10 matches without a win and all credit to him for that support, although he must be a concerned man.

Since winning with a last-minute goal at Livingston on August 8, Aberdeen have endured a torrid time in the SPL and defeats in Europe Qarabag and in the Scottish League Cup to Raith Rovers have not helped.

Five consecutive defeats have seen them slip from a top four spot to ninth and with their next three opponents being Hibs, Rangers and Hearts things don’t look like getting any easier any time soon.

When I look at Aberdeen struggling, it reminds me of a conversation I had with four of their older supporters after a match in 2017.

I was through watching son Ryan play against Kilmarnock during his loan period at the Dons and, in a poor match in awful conditions, Aberdeen luckily came out on top which kept them in second spot in the table behind Celtic and several points ahead of Rangers.

I dared to suggest that this was as good as it could get for Aberdeen and that they should be celebrating three consecutive second place finishes which guaranteed them European football.

The four gentlemen could not disagree more! They were demanding that Aberdeen should be challenging year in year out for the SPFL title and, as is often the case when discussing Aberdeen with their fans, the club’s successes in the 1980’s were mentioned.

I tried to make the point that the disparity between resources at Aberdeen and the Old Firm were nowhere near as great then as they are now, and this has a direct consequence in terms of competing with them on a regular basis. I also stressed how well I felt their then manager Derek

MacInnes was doing with his player pool and budgetary restraints, but I felt my argument was falling on deaf ears. I did say that there could be far more challenging times ahead for the Dons and when you look at their current situation, I might just have called it correctly.

Today, the seven remaining Highland League clubs in the Scottish Cup second round and I hope many of them as possible make it to the third round.

Nairn travel to Aberdeen to play top Juniors Banks O’Dee and Rothes have an overnight trip to Dumfriesshire to play Lowland League side Dalbeattie Star and both clubs will need to be at their best to progress against their non-league counterparts.

Brechin should have too much quality at home to Haddington Athletic and I expect Brora to continue their good run of form with a home win against Albion Rovers. Formartine will need to be at their

very best at North Lodge Park if they are to overcome Forfar who have only lost once in their League

Two campaign so far.

That leaves Buckie Thistle and Huntly on their travels to Kelty Hearts and Stenhousemuir and both

are big challenges. Whilst Buckie have a talented squad it would be seen as a significant upset if they came away from Fife with a win as Kelty are flying high at the summit of League Two and are unbeaten in 10. Huntly are mid table in the Highland League and I would expect Stenhousemuir to have too much experience for them in a one off match.

Hopefully we might see as many as four in the draw as it’s always a positive for North football when our non-league clubs are involved in the third round and beyond.


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