Scottish Premier League: The Away End weekend preview

Friday, 22 January 2010 21:12

User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

Calderwood returns to Pittodrie looking for revenge, and answers

By Andrew Southwick

It had to happen one day; Jimmy Calderwood’s return to Pittodrie.

He just did not think it would be like this.

Calderwood was convinced, after five years grooming Aberdeen into a side able to mix it with the SPL’s top five that he would leave for a bigger club in England.

As he lounged in Majorca, soaking up the rays and waiting for the phone to ring with offers, he told anyone who would listen that he wouldn’t be returning to any other Scottish club as they would “be a step down.”

That was May. This is January. And as the winter chill replaces that golden Spanish sun, Calderwood is back at Pittodrie.

He isn’t strolling in with a bigger side. He’s making the longest trip in the SPL with a Kilmarnock side desperately battling relegation.

After five years in charge at Pittodrie, Calderwood has repeatedly said he doesn’t know why he was sacked in May.

He acknowledged the embarrassing cup defeats, but the stale brand of football and lack of progress to Jimmy was not something that needed to be dealt with.

Interesting though, on his entrance to Rugby Park, he was able to sympathise with their decision to bring him in as “the players need a new voice”, yet was still scratching his head for answers to his own exit.

And that is why Calderwood’s welcome to Pittodrie will not be the warm welcome he would have received had he accepted his severance package, waved goodbye, and wished everyone good luck.

The sniping at the club, the spilling of secrets about Willie Miller, Stuart Milne and certain players, the refusal to wish Aberdeen any sort of luck, and his constant question of “Why was I sacked?” have irked Dons fans.

These are fans who, though many wanted the manager out, always backed him during the 90 minutes of a match. Supporters who took hits square on the chin when Queens Park, Queen of the South and Dunfermline sent them packing from cup competitions, but always came stumbling back for more.

Fans who are now being given hope through new manager Mark McGhee’s ambition in playing young players, trying to play entertaining football, and trying to get things back to “The Aberdeen way” when the Dons attacked on the pitch and defended their name stoutly off it.

Now, nothing less than victory on Saturday would satisfy the urge to put one over Jimmy Calderwood, to stifle any gloating, or any more insufferable “I told you so.”

Aberdeen v Kilmarnock

Aberdeen have Andrew Considine out, possibly for the rest of the season, while Lee Miller is once again suspended because of the St Johnstone game being postponed last week.

However, Zander Diamond makes the bench at least.
 
Kilmarnock defender Frazer Wright faces up to six weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury, and fellow defender and ex-Aberdeen man Ryan O'Leary is also out with a knee problem. Tim Clancy and Alan Combe are still recovering from injury.

There will be polite handshakes before the game, but secretly it will hurt either manager deeply to lose this game. Both have defensive problems which could mean for goals aplenty, and with the visitors arguable having the most dangerous striker on the pitch in Kevin Kyle that might suit them.

However, the Dons expect a big crowd for this one due to a half price deal they’ve been running all week, and a big crowd will give the home side an advantage they’ll take.

Prediction: Aberdeen 3-1 Kilmarnock

Hibernian v Hamilton

Moroccan midfielder Merouane Zemmama has aggravated a hamstring injury. Goalkeeper Graham Stack has recovered from the back injury which has kept him out since November, but will probably be kept on the bench.

Hamilton manager Billy Reid has no fresh injury worries, apart from long-term absentees Derek Lyle, James Gibson and James Wesolowski.

Hibs have lost their grip on third place, and with Aberdeen and Hearts threatening a run of results, their grip on a Europa League place altogether is getting loosened.

They badly need to win, but Hamilton have pulled out three decent performances against Rangers in the last fortnight, and will fancy their chances of at least a point at Easter Road.

Prediction: Hibernian 1-1 Hamilton

Motherwell v St Mirren

Motherwell could have a full squad if Shaun Hutchinson, Ross Forbes and Steven Saunders can prove themselves fit.

Mo Camara has a virus, and Chris Smith and Tom Brighton remain on the long-term injured list for St Mirren. Lee Mair returns and Chris Innes should be available though.

With Craig Brown now confirmed as the Motherwell manager until the end of the season, there should be more stability for the Steelmen now, as they attempt to get back into the race for a European spot.

Impressive victory over Kilmarnock last week showed what they are capable of, and another win here will put the pressure on the bigger clubs above them.

Prediction: Motherwell 2-0 St Mirren

Rangers v Hearts

Kyle Lafferty will lead the line for Rangers, with Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller, Steven Naismith and Nacho Novo all injured.

Pedro Mendes returns from injury to give the champions a boost though.

If Rangers only have one striker, it’s more than Hearts, who seem to have had no strikers for years. Gary Glen is set to miss out too, joining Jose Goncalves, Ruben Palazuelos, Craig Thomson, Calum Elliot, Dawid Kucharski and Andrew Driver on a lengthy absent list.

Since the bells rang in 2010, Rangers have been poor. Three games they’ve struggled in against Hamilton, as well as an alarming one sided Old Firm game. With no Boyd or Miller to bail them out, Hearts might just have it in them to nick a point.

Prediction: Rangers 1-1 Hearts

Sunday

Falkirk v Dundee United

Falkirk have Enoch Showunmi, Colin Healy, Darren Barr and Carl Finnigan available.

David Robertson is in the United squad. So too are David Goodwillie and Danny Swanson.

United remain without a manager, but caretaker Peter Houston has recovered from his nightmare start to lead United into third place.

With players returning from injury, United look back to the side that was giving the Old Firm the chills at the beginning of the season, and despite Falkirk’s impressive result against Celtic the bottom dogs are in for a hiding.

Prediction: Falkirk 0-3 Dundee United

St Johnstone v Celtic

Collin Samuel, Kevin Rutkiewicz and Martin Hardie all remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Cillian Sheridan can’t play because he’s on loan from their opponents. Filip Morais is back though.

Ki Sung-Yueng, Scott McDonald, Stephen McManus, Mark Wilson, Daniel Fox, Paul Caddis and Lee Naylor are injured while Landry NGuemo is away on international duty, which poses a selection problem for Tony Mowbray.

Even with that long list of players out, you still fancy Celtic to take the points in Perth, but they’ll be made to work hard for it.

Prediction: St Johnstone 0-1 Celtic