NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES
ASH TAYLOR remembers Chris Long the team-mate as the one who’d doze off in the back seat.
But the defender knows Chris Long the rival will punish Aberdeen if they nod off for a moment tonight.
The former Northampton pals will be reunited at Pittodrie in a battle for third place in the Premiership.
Well sit a point clear of the Dons having returned to winning ways up at Dundee in Saturday’s Scottish Cup fourth-round showdown.
Long scored all three goals – his first hat-trick since arriving from Blackpool in the summer – and Taylor is well aware he’s a livewire.
Unless, that is, the 24-year-old is getting a lift to training.
Taylor said: “I played with Chris at Northampton and we got quite close because we travelled together every day. There were a few of us in the car – Sam Foley, who is at St Mirren, and also a lad Dave Buchanan who is at Chesterfield now.
“But Chris didn’t drive much – he preferred to get a lift and sleep. He had a Range Rover so didn’t
want to spend on the fuel.
“He’d get into one of our cars and doze off.
“The commute was three hours so you get to know people and you have good banter.” Taylor touched base with Long after he moved to Fir Park and said: “It hasn’t surprised me at all he has done
BY SCOTT BURNS well since coming up to Scotland because he’s a very good player. You don’t get signed by Everton and Burnley if you don’t have something about you – and he’s showing that.
“You saw from his hat-trick what he brings – he scores goals, has pace, can shoot with both feet and, above all, he has that killer instinct.
“He scored a few goals for us and his pace was an asset. He’s a good player and I’m looking forward to playing against him.
“We want to finish third and push as high as we can so this is an important game.
“Motherwell have good players so I am not surprised at all by how well they have done this season.”
Derek McInnes reckons Well’s consistency should be commended after winning four games on the road.
The Reds boss, whose side have not lost at home since October, said: “You would have to say the turn of the year is when you get a clear of idea of where teams are going to end up. Give or take a position or two, that’s usually the case. Ourselves and Motherwell have shown the best consistency.”
Aberdeen have confirmed the signing of 18-year-old midfielder Mark Gallagher from Ross County.
The youngster goes into Dons’ development squad and McInnes said: “Hopefully if he shows the same level of commitment my staff and I will put into him he can become a first-team player in the future.”