Demolition Derby

Forget everything I said in my last report about our games with Inverness, Wednesday was a walkover.

Finally, God’s 2nd son, Sone Aluko, was given his chance and broke into the starting eleven. However, although he shone through the clouds yet again, he failed to make his way onto the scoresheet.

But with Aberdeen, with every up there’s a down and reverse and while young Sone could not find the net, another of Jimmy’s gems did and that man is Barry Nicholson. After a great start to the season, things went a bit downhill from there. But with skipper Scott Severin out for the midweek clash, when Derek Young took a tumble in the box there was no doubts over who would take the honours. Nicholson stepped up and cooly curled the ball into the right hand side of the goal.

It was hard to believe that after last season’s one and a half year penalty award drought that that was Aberdeen’s fourth penalty in three games. But wait, when Miller was clean through on goal on the edge of the six yard box and pulled down by Stuart McCaffrey with 20 minutes played Nicholson had the chance to strike again. Five penalties in three matches turned five converted penalties in three matches.

Things only got better from there for the Dons and it really was a nightmare on Halloween for Inverness goalkeeper Fraser when he forgot about the ball as Miller chased him down and slid in to make it three. The goal had striking similarities to Darren Mackie’s last minute one against Celtic in the famous 2-0 Christmas special.

Solid as a brick but Zander Diamond’s good work was almost forgotten when he lost the ball near his own penalty box and after a scramble in the box Graham Bayne hammered the ball past Langfield.

With 10 minutes to go some neat play by Andrew Considine and Chris Clark set up Nicholson to restore the three goal advantage. Clark skipped past his man before playing an inch perfect ball to Nicholson at the back post who blasted the ball into the back of the net from two yards. Yet another moment of deja vu, with incredible comparisons to his last minute European qualification goal at Tynecastle last season.

A fine performance all round, with Langfield making a few saves Buffon would put on his own highlights reel. Confidence restoration and goals galore capping off the night.