Goal Hero Jamie: I'll Be Singing In Ukraine

Sep 30 2007 Ewan Smith At Pittodrie

ABERDEEN 2

GRETNA 0

JAMIE SMITH insists Scotland's famous Euro 2008 victory in France can inspire Aberdeen to a £2million slot in UEFA Cup group stage.

Smith and Zander Diamond bulged the net to sink bottom dogs Gretna and send Dons into the crucial Euro clash against Dnipro with confidence soaring.

It could easily have been a five or six-goal rout but Aberdeen's superb first-half display has given Smith the belief they can capture some glory in Ukraine on Thursday.

Jimmy Calderwood's side travel knowing a score draw or better will take them through.

And Smith reckons they can ride on the current wave of good feeling in Scottish football after the national team's historic defeat of France earlier this month - and the promise being shown by the Old Firm in the Champions League.

Former Celtic winger Smith said: "Beating Gretna gives us an important three points and we showed a great desire to win. The way we played in the first half hour is probably the best we've played all season and we should have scored more.

"That sets us up for Thursday but we're under no illusions - it's going to be a tough task.

"It's going to be a massive match but we're going there with belief.

"We showed in the first game against them we are a capable side and with our pace in attack we can cause them problems.

"Scottish football is on a high at the moment. Rangers got a great victory in the Champions League, Celtic are still in there and Scotland got a great result against France so that has shown us the way.

"You get inspired when you see performances like that and hopefully we can carry on the good work and fly the flag for Scotland."

Aberdeen were up for this one from the off. Smith twice threatened Greg Fleming's goal inside the first four minutes.

First he curled a Derek Young cutback over the top before firing wide from a 20-yard free-kick.

Dutchman Jeffrey de Visscher just failed to lob the advancing Fleming from 15 yards and the keeper then parried a powerful Scott Severin strike in 15 minutes.

From the rebound de Visscher crossed and Young just failed to put in from six yards, with Fleming turning round for a corner. But from Smith's kick Aberdeen went ahead as Diamond's looping header went over the line despite David Cowan's best efforts to boot clear.

Two minutes later Smith doubled their advantage after robbing deposed Gretna skipper Chris Innes on the halfway line and going on to blast home a fine strike from 20 yards.

Smith was proving a menace and also missed with a low drive before Darren Mackie's second-half effort was saved by Fleming.

Gretna had just one real chance as Uruguayan striker Fabian Yantorno fired over from 20 yards after being put through neatly by Gavin Skelton.

In truth Gretna escaped lightly and had Aberdeen been more clinical in front of goal their long trip home to the Borders would have been even less enjoyable.

Gaffer Davie Irons said: "In our previous games I've been happy about something - but we just didn't turn up.

"We can't keep giving teams a two-goal start. There is just no way back. The disappointing thing is we didn't compete well enough.

"You have to earn the right to win games and we simply didn't manage to do that."

REF WATCH

WILLIE COLLUM was only really involved in one questionable incident as Gretna's Collin and Aberdeen star Miller clashed late in the game following a rash challenge by the Frenchman. Both were booked, Miller harshly. Decent show. Rating 7/10.