Aberdeen defence returns to bad habits in dismal defeat
winning run ends for calderwood’s men to allow their opponents to rise off bottom of table
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Aberdeen were left feeling sick at New Douglas Park on Saturday and it was nothing to do with the flu virus which ripped through Pittodrie last week as the Dons’ four-match winning streak was bluntly halted in Hamilton.
The pitch was narrowed but the gap on third was widened thanks to a controversial second-half penalty from Simon Mensing and a late second goal from Richard Offiong, who was also sent off in the final minute after a temporary bout of lunacy.
The match was almost abandoned but for a touch of ingenuity from the Hamilton officials. New Douglas Park suffered an undersoil heating malfunction, leaving an area by the touchline frozen, with referee Stephen Finnie ready to call it off after a 1.30pm inspection.
Instead, after receiving permission from the SPL and Aberdeen, the pitch was trimmed by two yards at either side and the game went ahead – although the Dons must now wish it had not.
Aberdeen's preparations for the match had been in turmoil after a bout of flu flattened half of their squad but it was not just the virus which left them feeling bunged up.
The tighter playing surface, combined with the hosts congested midfield, choked the life out of the Dons and they never looked like extending their impressive unbeaten run.
Aberdeen looked like a side who had just clambered out of their sick beds and could barely wheeze out of first gear until it was too late. Andrew Considine, Jared Hodgkiss, Derek Young and Stuart Duff were all flu-ridden. Charlie Mulgrew had a knee injury joining long-term absentees Jamie Smith and Tommy Wright in the treatment room.
It left Calderwood with a bench of youngsters and little room to adapt his squad to the change in dimensions, instead forced to go with two wide players on a pitch narrower than a cricket crease.
Space was a rare commodity in the away end also, as the Red Army invaded in large numbers, forcing the hosts to send for the emergency chairs in their temporary stand for one last time this festive season.
There was not much to get the Reds supporters on their feet, however, as Accies took control of a dire encounter. The opening 45 minutes were forgettable with an Offiong blast over the bar the closest the hosts came and Jeffrey de Visscher's shanked cross which had to be tipped over by goalkeeper Tomas Cerny the Dons best attempt.
The first half was miserable but the match lurched into controversy after the break.
James McCarthy was a stand out in the last two meetings between these sides and was so again, eluding Zander Diamond in the 52nd minute before going down on the edge of the box.
Referee Finnie initially signal-led for a free kick, but assistant Billy Baxter, who ruled a Rangers goal at Pittodrie offside earlier in the season, insisted McCarthy was inside the penalty area and Finnie pointed to the spot.
Mensing wrestled the ball off Offiong and drilled it past Jamie Langfield. The goal gave the Dons something of a jolt and they pressed forward.
Lee Miller's free kick had to be beaten over the bar by Cerny and Gary McDonald fired wide.
The match reached another crossroads on 72 minutes when de Visscher picked out Darren Mackie at the back post but the Dons forward slashed his header wide with the goal at his mercy.
Just five minutes later and it was game over when McCarthy beat Diamond in the air at a throw in before Offiong flicked the ball over Scott Severin and then smashed it past Langfield from a tight angle.
Aberdeen's defending has been resolute in recent weeks but this performance was a throwback to earlier in the season.
Offiong could have added to the advantage on the break but instead chose to forfeit his goal bonus by getting himself sent off.
The forward petulantly kicked the ball away to earn a second yellow card and must have regretted it immediately.
Similarly, Aberdeen must regret agreeing to play the match in the first place.
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