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How Does That Taste Russell? Bitter?


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Get it roond ya!  :001:

RUSSELL Anderson leapt admirably to his goalkeeper's defence last night but no amount of gloss could cover up the strange fragility and lack of composure that proved so costly for Aberdeen.

The Pittodrie captain indicated Jamie Langfield felt he had been fouled as he went for a high ball that spilled embarrassingly from a crowd of players, allowing Barry Wilson to tuck away with gleeful ease. Stevie Crawford's crisp first-half finish should have created an unassailable platform on home soil for the then-dominant Dons, but they drew timidly drew deeper and deeper into their own half and eventually buckled.

Anderson, ahead of his testimonial against Premiership Everton on Tuesday, cut a dejected figure as he rather uncharitably denied Inverness credit for their strong recovery. "I don't think we really played well at all in the second half," said the skipper. "It was down to our own sloppiness as I don't think their own play did enough to create genuine chances. Jamie shouted when he went up for the high ball in [from Richard Hastings] but he says he was pushed."

Jimmy Calderwood, fresh from what he described in match notes as the best pre-season of his career, kept faith in the side who drew at Hibs. But he may be tempted to make changes next week after watching what he described as "a fear" creep into the hosts' play.

"We were asking for trouble," Calderwood growled. "The most annoying thing for me is we are putting ourselves under unnecessary pressure. A fear crept in for no real reason."

Calderwood was far from protective to keeper Langfield, stating only that he "should have been favourite for the ball."

After the costly errors on their opening day 2-1 defeat to St Mirren, Caley Thistle's culpable central defence were spared their places. But skipper Stuart Golabek, Stuart McCaffrey and Russell Duncan made way for Ross Tokely - back from a serious groin injury - Richard Hastings and Roy McBain.

Initially, whenever the Dons' exuberance ebbed, Caley Thistle were quick to counter, with Barry Wilson always the likeliest to inflict harm down the right flank. After 10 minutes, the veteran's dangerous ball across the face of goal had to be nicked away by Barry Nicholson, before a Dennis Wyness strike was held.

On another rapid foray, the Highlanders' record signing John Rankin's expertly-weighted through pass released Wyness again. A player who thrives on confidence, but not flush with it lately, Wyness was weak with his shot. Later, that apparent cringe saw him opt out of an opportunity that was crying out for a crack at goal, in favour of a harmless pass, as he tore through the middle at Aberdeen.

In the home camp, it would be the recovering form and confidence of a striker much-maligned last season that brought the breakthrough. Tellingly, former Celt Jamie Smith switched flanks with fellow winger Ricky Foster with barely 20 minutes gone. Quick-passing from the Dons in the middle of the park was the precursor for Foster's cleverly angled ball forward from deep.

Catching the away defence unawares, the despairing Munro couldn't recover ground to prevent Stevie Crawford tucking the ball low past Mark Brown from 12 yards. It was a cool finish reminiscent of Crawford at his international peak and one that surely augurs well for a striker who managed only seven goals last season.

From then on, Crawford buzzed around all over the field as the Dons recaptured their early verve and it took a sharp save from Mark Brown at his right hand post to deny Jamie Smith's curving free-kick after 37 minutes.

But as half-time approached, the home side were revelling in the Pittodrie sunshine and spraying the ball about at crackling pace.

The second half was at first uninspired with Caley Thistle trying to grapple their way back into play and the Dons stifled by their will. While Wyness, subbed for Graham Bayne after 72 minutes, fell short of his best, last season's 20-goal striker Craig Dargo was starved of service amid mostly unimaginative attacking efforts.

Sheer grit saw the visitors begin to dominate, though. When Rankin's flicked pass did find Dargo in the box, he was lively enough to wrench a shot goalward but on to the top of the net.

Scott Severin's return to action barely three weeks after a knee injury brought the house down, but hinted at Calderwood's nervousness as he nestled in as an extra defender.

The slender lead offered Aberdeen no security at all and their work was to be undone.

Tokely's strength and persistence on the right flank led to a ball inside to Dargo, who turned elegantly into space but flighted his 12-yard shot just over the bar. Then, in the dying seconds, a Richard Hastings delivery was spilled as Langfield leapt with Graham Bayne, Anderson and Richie Byrne. The ball trickled to the feet of Barry Wilson who gleefully executed a simple finish at the post.

"I've never seen us dominate Aberdeen so much at Pittodrie as we did in the second half," said Caley manager Charlie Christie later. It took a break to equalise - but a deserved break, unquestionably."

From http://sport.scotsman.com/football.cfm?id=1139142006

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