UC: Aberdeen v Dnipro: Preview

20:00 UK Aberdeen v Dnipro

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood has called on his players to solve the defensive deficiencies which have blighted their season so far, ahead of the Dons' eagerly anticipated UEFA Cup match with Ukrainian side Dnipro.

Since he took over at Aberdeen after leaving Dunfermline in 2004, Calderwood has built a side that traditionally possess a formidable defensive record, particularly on their own patch.

But in their three games at home in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this term - against Celtic, Hearts and Motherwell - Aberdeen have conceded an average of two goals per match.

On Saturday, the Dons suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Motherwell at Pittodrie, with the home defence looking decidedly shaky at times, as they continued trying to adapt to playing without former captain Russell Anderson, who moved to Sunderland during the summer.

Therefore, Calderwood insisted that on Thursday his backline must tighten up and record their first shutout at Pittodrie this season, to ensure Dnipro do not score an away goal.

He said: ``In Saturday's game against Motherwell we started very sloppily and we paid for it.

``If we do this on Thursday then we will suffer the consequences.

``I know we have lost our captain and we are still trying to find a defensive set-up that is going to work out for us, but this is not really an excuse as we should be playing the football we know we can.''

Immediately after the Motherwell match, Calderwood left Pittodrie and travelled to the Ukraine to watch Dnipro's league match against Metalist.

It was the second time one of the Aberdeen coaching staff had gone to watch Dnipro first hand, following Sandy Clark's spying mission a fortnight ago.

On Sunday, Aberdeen's opponents ran out 3-0 winners as Calderwood looked on from the stand and he is now very aware of the attacking threat the side from Dnipropetrovsk provide.

He said: ``Dnipro won convincingly when I was over and it almost looked as if they could step it up a gear if they had wanted to.

``Sandy was over two weeks ago and we both saw that they are a very strong, efficient team who are very good on the ball and very effective on the counter attack.''

Calderwood's defence will be boosted by the presence of Jackie McNamara, despite the former Celtic player losing two teeth in the match against Motherwell.

The Aberdeen manager said: ``We were glad to see that Jackie is all right despite the knock he had on Saturday and he is going to be invaluable in the game on Thursday as he has such a wealth of experience in playing in Europe.''

Source: Soccernet.com