Daily Record

WE DIDN’T HAVE A HOPE IN HAAL

Ferguson is praying for more success than the last time when Erling ruined his first trip to Norway

- BY SCOTT BURNS

LEWIS FERGUSON is hoping for better luck against Norwegian opposition - after Erling Haaland broke his and Scotland’s young hearts last time out.

Aberdeen head to Stavanger this morning looking to make Europa League progress against Viking tomorrow evening.

The midfielder’s one and only previous encounter with opposition from Norway came two years ago when a late hat-trick from Haaland saw the Scotland Under-19s lose out 5-4 in the Elite Round.

Ferguson said: “Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick against us when we were 4-2 up. We had 15 minutes to go and were going through then the big man turned up.

“That’s the only experience I’ve had playing in Norway and it wasn’t great so I’d like to have a better one.”

Haaland has since moved to Borussia Dortmund and added to his growing reputation by grabbing goals galore in the Bundesliga. And Fergie added: “We had watched videos of him and I can remember this clearly. They were playing Holland before us and he missed a sitter.

“I know he’s a top player but it was a bad miss. We all had a wee chuckle to ourselves hoping he played like that against us. But he was a different animal with his finishing and pace.

“You could tell he was going to go on to something great and he has done that.”

Aberdeen’s own striking hopes rest with Marley Watkins who has yet to open his Pittodrie account.

But fellow Welsh internatio­nal team-mate Ryan Hedges believes it is only a matter of time before the on-loan Bristol City man provides a cutting edge.

Hedges said: “I had six months with Marley at Barnsley. I know his qualities and what he can bring to the team. I know he hasn’t got the goals but what he has done for the team is to be a menace and to create opportunit­ies. It’s only a matter of time before the goals start to flood in for him.” Watkins also believes Hedges hitting form would be good for him too because it would help them both catch the eye of Welsh internatio­nal boss Ryan Giggs. The midfielder said: “You hope they will come up. We just need to keep producing and if we’re doing well then hopefully I can get back in the Wales squad. “We made our Welsh debuts together against Panama. That was a nice thing. It’s good to have that link up and know each other’s game like we do.” Aberdeen are focused on trying to get past Viking and then facing Sporting Lisbon in the third qualifying round.

Derek McInnes has never got past that stage and the Dons boss is desperate to get to the play-off round.

Hedges is still haunted by the loss to Rijeka in the Europa League in the third play-off round last season.

The on-form Don added: “That had a big negative impact on the team.

“We were all looking forward to progressin­g to the fourth qualifier but it wasn’t to be.

“The fans were unbelievab­le at home and we want that again but to go even further this year and even into the group stages.

“If you look at last season it was a bit up and down. We’re looking for consistenc­y and to keep doing what we’re doing.”

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 ??  ?? THE REAL ERLING Haaland, left, netted against Ferguson, now Dons star wants Norwegian revenge and, above, Reds pal Ryan Hedges
THE REAL ERLING Haaland, left, netted against Ferguson, now Dons star wants Norwegian revenge and, above, Reds pal Ryan Hedges

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