Shirt Won't Hit Fan This Time

Nov 11 2007 By Euan Mclean

Barry: I've Learned Lesson Hearts V Aberdeen Today, Kick-Off 2pm Live On Setanta

LAST time Barry Nicholson was at Tynecastle he scored a last-gasp goal then got himself sent off for taking off his shirt in the celebrations.

Looking back on it now the midfielder smiles at the daftest red card of his career but you can't blame the guy for going over the top when you consider how crucial that 90th minute strike proved to be.

By snatching that 1-1 draw onMay 6, Nicholson kept Aberdeen four points clear of Hearts in the race for the UEFA Cup place they are currently enjoying to the full with glamour games against the likes of Panathinaikos and Athletic Madrid.

Now the Dons star returns to Tynecastle this afternoon aiming to complete a hat-trick by scoring against the Jambos for the third game in a row.

But the 29-year-old vowed there will be no strip show this time if he hits the net again.

Nicholson smiled: "It was a vital game the last time at Tynecastle and one we had to take something from if we wanted to get into the UEFA Cup.

"It was good to get the goal but disappointing to find myself getting sent off so if I score this time I will keep my shirt on!

"I thought at first the ref had yellow carded me for going off the field of play but to be fair he had warned us beforehand that if you score, then stay on the field and keep your shirt on. The gaffer told us the same.

"It was silly from my point of view but hopefully I won't make that mistake again."

Nicholson admits there is a special atmosphere when the teams go head-to-head, usually due to the fact they are challenging each other in the battle for Euro places.

But a look at the SPL table this season wouldn't suggest today's game is an early skirmish in the season-long battle for a UEFA Cup spot.

Looks, however, can be deceiving and Nicholson reckons today's visit to the capital could prove crucial to both teams' hopes of being back on the European stage next season.

He said: "It's always a great occasion between these clubs. In the last few years our games have been pretty feisty.

"We were going for Europe one year and they were doing it the year before. That helps make it extra special.

"The league positions of both clubs now doesn't tell the whole story and come the end of the season they will be there or thereabouts again.

"We want to be pushing for the third spot again so this is a vital game. They are three points behind us at the moment so if we can get a win to edge further ahead of them we will really kick on."

It seems Aberdeen have already set about the job of kicking on in the league having put together a run of four wins and a draw in their last five SPL games.

That they have managed to do so in the midst of an injury crisis and the extra pressures of playing midweek in Europe makes their recent results even more impressive.

Nicholson added: "We've taken 13 points out of the last 15 and that's excellent form.

"The boys prefer to play games than train but it has been hard with injuries and the fact we have a small squad so the lads have had to dig deep.

"Hopefully we can do the job again at Tynecastle and the fact I have scored in the last two games against Hearts might be a lucky omen. I want to keep adding goals to the team. I have a fair record but we should be scoring more goals from different areas.

"Strikers always have the onus on them to score but the midfield can chip in too and the gaffer and Jimmy Nicholl often talk to us about that."

Nicholson is loving life at Pittodrie just now and reckons he's at last back to the form he hit when he earned a call up to the Scotland squad during his days with Dunfermline.

He said: "I feel more like the person I was when I got the Scotland cap earlier.

"I feel fitter than ever even though I'm nearly 30. I still try to work onmy game, work hard in training and try and make myself better.

"This is probably the best start to a season I've ever had and I aim to keep that going."