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Dons gear up for decider after hearts drop points
7th April 2008
DONS GEAR UP FOR DECIDER AFTER HEARTS DROP POINTS
Jimmy Calderwood will have been absolutely delighted that Kilmarnock managed to hold Hearts to a goalless draw on Saturday. The draw meant that the Tynecastle club can not finish in the top six and the final spot in the top half of the table will be decided at Pittodrie on Monday night when the Dons take on Falkirk.
Aberdeen must win the match to leapfrog the Bairns into the final spot in the SPL?s top-tier. The Dons should be fired up for this crunch encounter and hopefully it will be a packed Pittodrie to give the fixture the atmosphere it deserves.
There are still some people who think the split is a waste of time, especially for those clubs stuck at the bottom of the table with nothing to play for but pride. However when you have two clubs fighting it out for that final spot in the top half of the league it certainly adds a real element of drama and excitement.
The financial implications for both clubs will be a massive. Reach the top half and you will get extra television money and full stadiums watching as the Old Firm roll into town once more. Lose and you are stuck playing Gretna in front of one man and his dog at Fir Park.
Kilmarnock?s Jim Jefferies believed that his side had lost out on at least £400,000 by missing out on the top six, in terms of estimated revenue generated by matches against Celtic and Rangers as well as higher SPL prize money.
The Kilmarnock gaffer also felt it was unfair that the Aberdeen-Falkirk match was switched to the Monday night so that it could be shown on television. He believed this gave Hearts a real disadvantage as both Aberdeen and Falkirk would know exactly what they would have to do to reach the top six come kick-off. However with the money that Setanta pay for the rights to the SPL, football clubs have to be prepared for fixtures to be altered to suit the viewing audiences.
It is likely to be a nervous occasion on Monday night. Falkirk have played some decent football this term, especially in the first half of the season. It will not be an easy game but you would have to fancy Aberdeen?s chances of sneaking into the top six.
Jimmy Calderwood has said that it is Falkirk who deserve to make it into the top half of the table but come Monday evening there will be no time for sympathy when the matches kicks off in front of a packed Pittodrie.
CELTIC GIFT LEAGUE TO RANGERS
The pressure on Celtic?s Gordon Strachan is mounting after another defeat in the league. This time it was Motherwell who piled on the misery for the Parkhead club with a 1-0 win despite playing with only ten men for the majority of the second half after Bob Malcom was sent off.
Rangers could only manage a point against Dundee United in an enthralling 3-3 draw but the SPL trophy looks certain to head back to Ibrox. With a seven point lead and a game in hand, Walter Smith?s men appear too far ahead to be caught.
COMPLY OR DIE WINS GRAND NATIONAL
Joint favourite Comply Or Die stormed to victory in the John Smith?s Grand National on Saturday. Irish jockey Timmy Murphy rode the 9-year-old to a win by four lengths over King Johns Castle.
During the week building up to the race, it had been Cloudy Lane that was tipped for triumph but the horse trained by Donald McCain could only finish in sixth place.
It was a fairytale ending for Timmy Murphy who rode the winning horse. The Irishman had been troubled with drink problems and spent time behind bars in the past.
Tony McCoy, probably the best-known name in the sport at present, is still searching for his first win at the Grand National. He was looking promising on Butler?s Cabin but fell at the 22nd fence. No doubt the Northern Irishman will be back next year for another attempt at the sport?s most prestigious race.
TALKING A GOOD GAME
?Dirk Kuyt is earning himself the reputation as Anfield?s Prince Harry ? in the frontline for three months and no one knows anything about it.?
Phil Thomas from The Sun on Liverpool?s goal-shy striker.
?We have scored 101 goals this season. Not bad considering we don?t play with any strikers.?
Rangers boss Walter Smith takes a pop at his critics.
?It?s been more Steve McClaren than Mercedes McLaren today.?
Steve Rider after the Malaysian Grand Prix.
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