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Be the first reader to comment on this story Aberdeen are heading to the Republic of Ireland and Holland for their preseason build-up in the summer. Manager Jimmy Calderwood is in Dublin today finalising details of a possible six day trip to the Emerald Isle in July. The Dons have two options open to them. They could remain the Irish capital and play friendlies against two Dublin sides. They are also looking into the possibility of playing Galway United and Glentoran. Calderwood said: "A lot will depend on the quality of the training facilities." The Dons will them head for Holland for 10 days from July 23, where they will play at least two more friendly matches. It is understood Manchester United have also been approached to play a g lamour friendly at Pittodrie to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Aberdeen's European Cup Winners' Cup triumph.

Not sure if Charlie or Moir though: BATTLING DONS NO LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER 12:00 - 03 March 2008 The Rangers fans held up a banner saying "The silence of the sheep since 91" mocking the fact it is 17 years since the Dons won at Ibrox. It was soon out of sight, however, as the Bears sat nervously and watched the Dons over-run their team in the first half. I can't recall seeing the Dons create as many chances in such a short spell at Ibrox, which offers a lot of encouragement ahead of next Sunday's equally tough cup clash with Celtic. Sadly, the Dons failed to take those chances and it cost them in the end. Steve Lovell should have opened the scoring in the 15th minute after Lee Miller had split the Gers defence with a great through pass. The striker had only McGregor to beat from 15 yards but the keeper got a touch on Lovell's shot to deflect it inches wide of his left post. Lovell had another chance when De Visscher sent him clear but the striker delayed shooting and the effort was blocked for a corner. De Visscher's corner reached Diamond and his powerful six-yard header was held by McGregor as the Dons threatened to run riot. Rangers responded by forcing De Visscher to boot Dailly's diving header off the line. Charlie Adam then rattled the Dons crossbar with a delightful chip from the edge of the area. The Dons got the goal they deserved in the 28th minute, after McGregor had made another save to push Nicholson's 10 yard shot behind for a corner. De Visscher sent the corner over from the right, Miller nodded the ball on at the front post and LOVELL was well placed to nod it into the net at the far side of the six yard box. Aberdeen should have made it 2-0 a couple of minutes later when De Visscher broke clear on the right. Weir rescued Rangers with a last-gasp challenge to deflect the Dutchman's 16 yard shot wide of McGregor's left post. Rangers made the best of that let-off by equalising in the 38th minute. Adam sent a corner in from the right and DAILLY sneaked away from Nicholson to deftly flick the ball home with his right foot at the front post. Slack marking by Alan Maybury helped Rangers make it 2-1 in the 51st minute. Broadfoot swept a cross over from wide on the right and ADAM was allowed to drift unchallenged to head flick the ball past Soutar from the edge of the six yard box. Considine should have equalised in the 55th minute, when McGregor missed a Maybury cross, but sent his header over. Dons hopes died in the cruellest of fashions when referee Clark awarded a controversial penalty in the 83rd minute. Novo threw himself theatrically to the ground after a challenge from Maybury and Clark, to the fury of the Dons players, pointed to the spot. Soutar parried the BOYD penalty but Richard Foster, attempting to clear the rebound under pressure from the Rangers striker, appeared to touch the ball into the net. Only then did those Light Blues fans feel confident enough to raise their banner again.

Dons strikers Darren Mackie and Steve Lovell are out of Sunday's Scottish Cup showdown with Celtic. Mackie, who was listed as a substitute, missed the 3-1 SPL defeat by Rangers at Ibrox due to a recurrent hamstring injury. Dons manager Jimmy Calderwood fears Mackie could be out for more than a month. Lovell scored the Aberdeen goal but then suffered a foot injury that could sideline him for two weeks. Calderwood admitted the loss of both strikers is a massive blow ahead of the cup-tie, which the Dons must win to keep their season alive. Calderwood said: "Darren got the injury in the first minute of our last session before going to Glasgow. "He didn't even travel and be out for as much as six weeks. "That is a massive blow, especially with Lovell struggling as well. "He is in a in a lot of discomfort as well and it looks as if the injury will keep him out for two weeks." Derek Young and Jamie Smith could ease the pain for the Dons by declaring themselves fit for Sunday's showdown. Both are expected to return to full training this week. Calderwood said: "Derek and Jamie can both play up front, so that would be a boost." Celtic hammered the Dons 5-1 on their last league visit to Pittodrie but Calderwood is convinced his men can bounce back in the cup match. "I doubt if Gordon Strachan will be coming here thinking they are in for an easy time." he said. "Even though we lost 5-1 the last time, we still had some great chances at crucial stages of the game. "Darren Mackie missed a good one early on and we also let another go when it was only 2-0. "If we get the first goal on Sunday it will be interesting to see how things work out. "The players are also fired up because they taken a lot of flak in recent weeks, even though we've had key men missing for long spells. "Sunday will be all about showing enough belief and determination and I can promise the fans we are in for a rip roaring cup tie."

Wish he would talk his own team up instead of worrying about opposition. But whilst no great shakes i wish he would concentrate on us and keep his mouth shut and stop bigging up the old firm constantly as just alienating our own support even further.

SHOULD win our last 4 games pre split but suspect we wont and cannot afford any slip ups. Going with 7th.

Think it was just the EE they weren't speaking to and P&J escaped their boycott. Mainly aimed at Charlie Allan. Will see at lunchtime if still silent.

A choice made and nobody any problem with it. Personally post on all 3 main sites but the constant sniping by some sad, bitter folk is pretty pathetic and childish.

Yawn - which incorrect financial figures are these then? Or is your sad bitterness just reaching new levels.

Surely the Beeb will show it either on BBC2 or via red button?

Quite fancy going even if we are not in the final.

Scores still not saving on Chain Reaction.

Aye - same story almost word for word as we had for Diamond, Hart and Nicholson!!

I agree with this. Looks well off the pace and out of his depth although looks like he has promise. But with the run of games we have coming up don't think we have the time to wait for him to settle in just in time for him to bugger off back down the road.

There on Sunday again with hope that things will improve but really fearing the worst!!

Back page headlines in The Sun today.

1 Season tickets £280 2 Home match tickets 0 3 Domestic Cup match tickets (Home or away but split price in half as proceeds are normally shared) Inverness Cup £21?, £15 Falkirk, £19? Partick away, £18 Falkirk away, £22 semi final on Tuesday 4 Home UEFA Cup match tickets (use full price) £21 Dnipro, £42 for Loko/Copenhagen, £28 Bayern, 5 Merchandise from the club shop. £40 home top, £40 third top x 2 (one for missus pre Madrid) £12.50 scarf and hat set for her pre Madrid. If programmes count aswell then extra 17 x £2.50 643.00

Think that is most likely and maybe even a bit less. 6642

Today's evening express. Steve Lovell looks to have blown his hopes of securing a new contract with the Dons. Striker Lovell was totally ineffective as the Dons crashed 3-0 to Dundee United at Tannadice in the SPL. Manager Jimmy Calderwood last week warned Lovell, whose contract runs out in the summer, that he would need to raise his performance levels to get an extended deal. But Calderwood was clearly unhappy with the display of the Englishman, who was signed from Dundee for £250,000, against United. Lovell played as a lone striker in front of a five man midfield and Calderwood admitted his poor contribution was a major factor as United recorded a crushing victory. Calderwood said: "They dominated because anytime we got the ball up front it was coming back at us within 10 seconds. "It meant we never got the chance to break forward in support and were pinned in the whole game." When asked if Lovell now has any chance of getting a new contract, Calderwood replied: "I will answer that once I've spoken to the player. Figure it out for yourself." It's expected the Dons will now try and recoup some of the money they paid for Lovell by selling him this month. When asked if the Dons have had any approaches for the striker, Calderwood said: "What do you think? If there had been any interest he probably wouldn't be here now." Lovell will be replaced by Lee Miller, who was suspended for the United game, for tomorrow's Scottish Cup replay with Falkirk at Pittodrie. Calderwood admitted it will need a much improved performance by everyone for the Dons to dump the Bairns. "If we keep going on like we have everything we've worked so hard for will be gone within a month," he said. "I'm not looking for a reaction tomorrow, I'm demanding one, just as our fans will be. "If we don't get one then one thing you can be sure of is Falkirk will win. "We should not be playing like that with the quality of players we have in our ranks. "But it takes more than talent, victories are earned in lots of ways. "Our biggest problem is the players aren't doing the things that got us into such a favourable position in the first place. "Those are staying organised, passing well, playing with pace and showing vision when they have the ball. "There's none of that there now and that's why we've struggled so badly since the Copenhagen game. "I'm hoping one good victory will help to change all of that. "But if it's to come in tomorrow's cup tie everyone is going to have to give themselves a right good shake." Calderwood at least took comfort from the fact long term crocks Jackie McNamara and Darren Mackie appeared as substitutes at Tannadice. Both start against the Bairns. "I'm not keen on throwing them straight back into such an important game but I might be forced to," he said.

"tactics"

Someone summed the situation up perfectly elsewhere saying:

Scores not saving on chain reaction. Get message: Score was not saved because session is missing

Sense prevailed as in after 1 divot posted songs everyone rightly condemned it.

Dnipro - by a million miles!!

Our fitness last 2 seasons looked brilliant and that carried us late on in games so often but this season so many players seem shattered after 60 or 70 minutes. Something wrong there.

Think that will be the dude from The Red Final's column