Hamilton 1 – 1 Aberdeen
SPL
25/11/20
Aberdeen let the lead slip and came away from South Lanarkshire with a deary point on the day footballing legend Diego Maradona dies.
Ryan Hedges’ first half goal off a Matty Kennedy cross was cancelled out by Marios Ogkmpoe’s header five minutes into the second half.
The draw takes Aberdeen back to third after Hibs were unable to beat St Johnstone on Tuesday night.
Covid decimates Dons and Cormack snubbed by Sturgeon
Since the restart after the international break Aberdeen have lost their two star midfielders to covid restrictions, the Dons got trounced by Rangers at Ibrox and Dave Cormack’s pleas to speak with the Scottish Government about supporter return in Scotland, after England announced they will permit up to 4000 fans to games, falls on deaf ears.
Aberdeen were without star midfielders Lewis Ferguson and Ross McCrorie as well as Connor McClennan after they came in contact with a covid outbreak that started in the Scotland U-21 camp over the international break.
Clubs were furious with the situation, Neil Lennon describing the state of affairs as “a shambles” after his Celtic side were affected by the outbreak.
Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell issued an apology to all affected clubs saying the SFA will try to prevent this happening again.
Maxwell released a statement saying: “We want to make sure that everybody knows just how sorry we are that it’s got to this stage and how much we’re going to work to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”
Dons boss Derek McInnes seemed to graciously accept the apology, telling BBC Sport: “The chief executive comes out, issues an apology, recognises things could have been done better and they would look at improving it. I think that’s all we can ask for.”
Dave Cormack might not be so gracious after the Scottish Government refused to budge on the Dons’ chairman’s pleas for fans to return to stadiums.
Cormack’s calls come after Aberdeen announced a massive five million pound loss of profit in their latest accounts.
Cormack has gone to Twitter to call for a meeting with the First Minister, saying: “Scottish football needs urgent dialogue, encouragement and a plan. Will Nicola Sturgeon and Jason Leitch meet with us?”
Sturgeon responded to league chief executive Neil Doncaster’s request for talks, saying: “We (the government) can’t see any sector or any part of society in isolation because there is only so much we can do overall to keep the virus under control.”
“Never a free-kick” as Aberdeen caught cold in Lanarkshire
“It’s never a free-kick in its life.”
Derek McInnes was convinced Hamilton’s equaliser was not a free-kick and Marios Ogkmpoe was offside when he headed in Scott McMann’s set-piece to secure Hamilton a rare point.
Ryan Hedges put the Dons ahead in the first half, scoring his seventh goal of the season after drilling in Matty Kennedy’s cross.
A minute later Sam Cosgrove’s shot was pushed on to the post by Accies’ keeper Ryan Fulton.
The Dons looked comfortable then, in the forty-ninth minute, Accies’ striker Marios Ogkmpoe was inexcusably left free in the box to divert McMann’s free-kick past Joe Lewis.
McInnes said of the decision to award the foul: “It’s never a free-kick in its life.”
McInnes went on to say after the free-kick was given, Ogkmpoe must have been offside to find the space he did in the box.
McInnes said of the goal: “I feel we’re a touch too high with our line, but we have to trust the officials and I think he’s a half a yard offside.
“He must have been offside to get a free header there.”
Aberdeen had a great chance to go ahead on eighty-three minutes but for the acrobatics of Fulton who saved superbly firstly from Kennedy then the follow-up by Hedges.
If Joe Lewis ever proved his worth it was in this his 200th game for the Dons.
The Aberdeen captain made a superb save to deny David Moyo in injury-time and only give the Accies their eighth point of the season, but for manager Brian Rice it was a point to relish.
The Hamilton boss told the BBC after the game: “We’re delighted that we got the point.
“The lads gave it everything they’ve got, sticking to the game plan and trying to win games against good teams.”
The draw moves Aberdeen to third in the SPL a point ahead of Hibs with a game in hand and three behind Celtic who’ve played one game less than the Dons.
Further articles
-Fans back in stadiums in Scotland? Fat chance, even after England prepare to welcome 4000 into stadia
-Dons great Willie Miller says getting fans back into stadiums is nothing to do with finances
-Honest hard working win over top table rivals Hibs takes Aberdeen to third: Reaction
-They did it. Scotland are in Euro 2020 after beating Serbia on pens: Match Report
-99 Open Champion and local legend Paul Lawrie calls time on European Tour and heads into seniors
Diego Maradona dies aged 60
Considered one of the greatest players to ever play the game, Diego Maradona has died, reportedly of a heart attack, in Buenos Aires at the age of 60.
The Argentinian legend will most famously be remembered for his exploits with both Napoli in Serie A and Argentina in four World Cups.
Tributes have been sent by members of the football community from across the world.
Two of the most high profile compliments to Maradona’s legacy have been left by fellow greats of the game Cristiano Ronaldo and compatriot Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo said Maradona was a friend and “eternal genius” in his Instagram tribute.
Lionel Messi, who played under Maradona when the fiery Argentinian was manager of the national side between 2008 and 2010, wrote on his Instagram page “a sad day for all Argentines but Diego is eternal.”
One of the things Maradona is most well remembered for is his ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final.
The Argentine legend was also known for his talismanic role in making Napoli a powerhouse of Italian football in the 80s, winning Seria A in 86/87 and 89/90, and leading Gli Azzurri to Uefa Cup glory in 1989.
Maradona played in four World Cups, winning the 86 competition held in Mexico.
During that tournament Maradona scored five goals and produced five assists in seven games to lead his country to World Cup glory.
Maradona led Argentina to another World Cup final in 1990, which they lost to West Germany.
In his final World Cup in America in 1994 Maradona played two games, one of them including the infamous goal celebration and, later on, failed drugs test after scoring against Greece in the group stages.
Maradona is survived by daughters Dalma Nerea and Gianinna Dinorah, and son Diego Sinagra.
Hamilton, 3-4-3: Fulton, Stirling, Martin, Easton (C), Hodson, Odoffin, Martin, McMann, Callachan, Smith, Ogkmpoe
Subs: Hamilton, Hughes, Stanger, Mimnaugh, Winter, Moyo, Munro, Gourlay, Thomas
Aberdeen, 3-4-3: Lewis (C), Hoban, Considine, Taylor, Hedges, Main, Leigh, Kennedy, Cosgrove, Campbell, Ojo
Subs: Woods, Logan, Ngwenya, Hernandez, McGinn, Devlin, Ramsay, Duncan, Edmondson,
Goals: Hedges 19′, Ogkmpoe 49′
Up next: St Mirren away, Betfred League Cup
The Dons head to Paisley for the second round of the Betfred League Cup where they face fellow Premiership side St Mirren. Saturday, KO 17:15.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 