Back from the Brink

What a difference two games can make. Calderwood was on the footballing equivalent of death row before the Falkirk game, a win and a draw later and he's on probation, despite some media mischief-making on Saturday. Despite the club's fervent backing of the manager, two defeats and a bottom placing going into November would have tried the patience of most supporters.

Firstly, it was a rather bizarre story that JC would be getting sacked the Monday after the Hearts game, having won at Falkirk and with the potential to win at Tynecastle. Normally sackings are preceded by abject hammerings, rather than two good results on the bounce. Nonetheless, the story had no foundation, to the frustration, it has to be said, of at least 50% of the Aberdeen support.

However, performances and results have been a little more positive lately. The first half at Falkirk was utterly dreadful (for which the team selection was certainly to blame), but when Aluko came on in the second half we looked a different side. Falkirk had their chances, of course, but we got the little bit of luck we've been missing for most of the season when Lovell inexplicably scooped the ball over the bar. The team sitting back for the last half hour was not pretty, but with JC under so much pressure, the need for 3 points over-rode the need to entertain.

Against Hearts we looked a bit better as well, with Seve back in the middle. It was a great game, and full marks to the linesman at the end. It is all very well saying a referee shouldn't change his decision, but when it is clearly incorrect, of course it should be reversed. Michael Stewart's explanation on Setanta, that he "anticipated contact" fooled absolutely no-one...he took a dive of the sort at Mikoliunas would have been pilloried for. Justice was done, and a deserved point went back up the road.

Next thing is to sort out our home form. One point out of a possible fifteen means that Kilmarnock will be confident of getting something on Saturday, but we badly need a home victory. With Seve, Aluko, Miller and Mackie firing on all cylinders, it's more than possible. Three points and we're right back in the mix before heading for a difficult game at Tannadice. In Cald we trust!