Football: Aberdeen profit from Moroccan connection

THERE WAS a Moroccan party in Aberdeen yesterday as the Dons finally overcame their bogey team, Dundee United, in a thrilling game which saw three penalties, two of which were brilliantly saved.

Hicham Zerouali and Rachid Belabed both scored, and the Aberdeen manager, Ebbe Skovdahl, was delighted with a 3-1 victory that narrowed the gap between themselves and Kilmarnock at the foot of the league to one point.

"Both Moroccans played very well, as well as Eoin Jess who had an important role to play," Skovdahl said.

"I think we can now beat teams in the upper half of the league."

The Hibernian manager, Alex McLeish, revealed that his striker Kenny Miller, who has been watched by Chelsea, is close to signing a new deal at Easter Road. The youngster came off the bench to score an injury time equaliser as Hibs secured a 2-2 draw against Kilmarnock.

"We are not far away from a deal," McLeish said. "He wants to stay and we want him to stay, and we shouldn't be too far away. He scored a quality goal today and I've told him he shouldn't get too downhearted that he didn't start the game. I have three good strikers and they are keeping each other on their toes."

Dundee and St Johnstone had to settle for a point apiece in the Tayside derby at Dens Park. A draw was a fair result in a game played in freezing conditions that still leaves the visitors a point ahead of Dundee in the league.

The Premier League match between Motherwell and Hearts was postponed because of frost.