Aberdeen accepts scoreless draw to open UEFA Cup

When Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood saw his draw in the first round proper of the UEFA Cup, he could be forgiven for a bit of disappointment. Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk is arguably one of the toughest possible opponents the Dons could have drawn. After finishing fourth in Ukraine last season, they have bolstered their squad with additions from big-spending neighbors Shakhtar Donetsk, most notably striker Andriy Vorobey. Already a tough side, they now have a reliable scorer in Vorobey, and to draw them this early in the Cup would have been a blow to any seeded side. A strong start at home would be vital, and a clean sheet would be especially important, since this is a tie that I could have definitely seen coming down to away goals. Dons got half their wish yesterday - they did not concede that precious away goal - but they also failed to score one of their own, and now face an October 2nd trip to Ukraine for all the marbles. Calderwood and his crew will get no breaks domestically either, facing Rangers this Sunday. Aberdeen has been playing below their abilities so far this season, allowing silly goals and looking generally anemic on the attack. They are still feeling the loss of Craig Brewster, who left to manage last-place Caley Thistle, as he was their most prolific scorer. I will be wearing red and pulling hard for the Dons, but that is going to be a very hard trip. Maybe if they can take something out of Rangers this weekend, that confidence will carry over to their second leg against Dnipro, but if I had to put money down, I’d put it on Dnipro 2-1 Aberdeen and another quick Scottish exit from the UEFA Cup.

Category: Scottish Premier League

Tags: Aberdeen, Aberdeen FC, Dnipro, Europe, FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Scottish Premier League, SPL, Uefa Cup, Ukraine

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