DONS BO WITH THEIR FLOW
New boy off mark as Jim’s rebuilt team shines...but gaffer rules out Boyle bid
JIM GOODWIN praised the instant impact of debut striker Bojan Miovski in Aberdeen colours – then ruefully admitted there’s no chance of Martin Boyle joining him at Pittodrie.
Boyle was pictured in the crowd as the Dons beat Raith yesterday to win Group A of the Premier Sports Cup.
But Goodwin moved swiftly to squash any speculation the former Hibs attacker – now on £20,000 a week in Saudi Arabia – could he heading to the Granite City.
The Aberdeen boss smiled and said: “There’s nothing at all in that. As far as I’m aware Martin’s family are Aberdeen based. And we don’t have the money that the Saudis have, so we will not be able to match his terms I’m afraid.”
Goodwin was pleased with North Macedonian striker
Miovski, who scored from the penalty spot just five minutes into the game.
The Irishman added: “I’m delighted for Miovski.
“The way he dispatched the penalty was brilliant. He’s only had two training sessions with the group and he was really tired at half-time, but we just wanted to get another 10 or 15 minutes into his legs.
“He’s nowhere near as sharp as he needs to be. But that’s only natural for a guy who’s so far behind the rest of the group.”
Goodwin, who has been linked with Dutch outfit Excelsior’s former Arsenal midfielder Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, is looking to further strengthen his squad, with both a left-back and attacking midfielder in his sights.
He said: “We will hopefully have a bit of news on Monday on the attacking midfielder.
“I would like one more attacking player, one more attacking midfield player who is comfortable on the ball.
“And I think we need a bit of left-back cover as well.”
It’s early days, but there are signs that the team he has built over the summer is capable of far better than the one he inherited last season.
Next week’s league opener at Parkhead will be an acid test, but yesterday they put a lively Raith Rovers away to chalk up their fourth straight Premier Sports Cup win.
Goals from debutant Miovski, Ross McCrorie and Jonny Hayes made it 12 goals without reply in this competition.
It took the Dons – and Miovski – only six minutes to take the lead, with the North Macedonia
international winning a penalty after being fouled by Sam Stanton as he tried to latch onto an Anthony Stewart knockdown in the box, then picking himself up to smash a left-footed spot kick past Robbie Thomson.
Raith they didn’t allow the early setback to ruffle them too much and Dario Zanatta came within inches of levelling with a low strike that flicked off Jayden Richardson with Roos rooted his line.
Five minutes from the break Aberdeen doubled their lead in style through McCrorie, who stormed forward from almost the halfway line before unleashing a screamer into the top corner from about 22 yards.
Within a minute of the second half, Hayes had raced away, just onside, to calmly tuck the ball behind the Fifers’ keeper to make it 3-0.
ROSS THE BOSS McCrorie makes it 2-0