TIME TO GIVE A LITTLE RESPECT

Burnley’s Lindegaard knew Aberdeen would demand full attention...

THE sneering disdain in England for the standard of Scottish football was laid bare by the 2,000 travelling Burnley fans. ‘1-0 to the Sunday League,’ they chanted after Aberdeen’s Gary Mackay-Steven had given the Premiership hosts a first-half lead in Thursday’s Europa League qualifier at Pittodrie.

But the goalkeeper fishing the ball out of the net would certainly never class himself as part of any group that looks down on the game north of the border.

Having grown up in his native Denmark watching ‘Great Dane’ Brian Laudrup star for Rangers during the Nine-in-a-Row years, Anders Lindegaard is well-steeped in Scottish football history.

And he won’t be underestimating Aberdeen ahead of next Thursday’s return leg at Turf Moor, with the tie finely balanced at 1-1.

‘Scottish football definitely has its place in Denmark,’ said Lindegaard, who replaced England international Nick Pope after the keeper suffered a serious shoulder injury after just 14 minutes.

‘Not so much among the younger people, but the older people definitely remember the glory days of Glasgow Rangers. I think there are more Glasgow Rangers fans in Denmark than there are Celtic fans.

‘I followed Scottish football when I was younger and you had Brian Laudrup playing for Glasgow Rangers and you also had Red Erik — Erik Bo Andersen.

‘Erik played for my childhood club, Odense, and one time he actually came back to the club when I was a youth player.

‘But was the standard of Scottish football better than I thought on Thursday night? Yes, Aberdeen were difficult to play against.

‘It was hard to find openings because they were well-structured. Their manager has done a good job with his team. They were difficult to break down.

‘So it would be a mistake to think it’s going to be easy at Turf Moor. The game is nowhere near done. The tie is still very much open.

‘We were pleased with our away goal, of course. But we were certainly not sitting in the locker room afterwards with the feeling that we have won it and that the tie is a done deal.

‘We know we have to fight for the right to get through to the next round. We expect another tough game next week.’

Danish international Lindegaard, who spent five years at Manchester United after being signed by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2010, rated the Pittodrie atmosphere as superior to many grounds down south.

‘It was fantastic,’ he nodded. ‘It was a really great atmosphere — better than many English Premier League stadiums.

‘European football obviously means a lot to the Aberdeen fans and that shone through. That makes Pittodrie a very difficult place to go.

‘I felt the game opened up a bit more when we started playing more long balls. The first 60 minutes we were passing it around too much and being a bit too nice.

‘But it was not a catastrophic result. It was a decent result. It’s always good to get an away goal.

‘We are confident ahead of next week. We have a lot of quality in the team but the job is only half done.

‘We need to approach next week’s game like it is a Premier League match.’

Burnley substitute Sam Vokes was delighted to silence the Pittodrie crowd by levelling ten minutes from time.

He then warned the Dons that as impressive as their north-east cauldron was, a similarly hot reception awaits McInnes and his men in Lancashire next week.

‘The atmosphere at our place will be similar to Pittodrie,’ said the hulking Wales international.

‘The stadium is always rocking for evening games and Aberdeen will bring a few fans down, so it will be a good occasion.

‘We’re still early in pre-season, so we’re playing games in front of small crowds. Then you go to Pittodrie and see that kind of atmosphere — but that’s the kind of occasion you want to be involved in.

‘It was good we got something out of the game to repay the fans. It was a great night for them.’

Vokes was thrilled to score Burnley’s first European goal in over half a century, since the late Brian Miller netted in both legs against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Fairs Cup in 1967.

The 28-year-old is now determined that the club’s continental adventures do not start and end in neighbouring Scotland.

‘That away goal could be crucial and it’s great that it was a historic goal for the club,’ added Vokes.

‘I haven’t followed Scottish football massively but I know Aberdeen had a great season last season, so we knew it would be tough.

‘The lads all want to be part of a journey in the Europa League and hopefully this is the start of a run. But we know Aberdeen will be tough.’