ABERDEEN were the last Scottish side to lift a European trophy but that Cup Winners' Cup triumph was 13 years ago and it is a decade since they last went beyond the last 32 in Continental competition. That disappointing record looks like being extended after defeat by Brondby last night.
The Scottish side produced lots of effort but were clearly lagging behind the Danish champions in terms of control and technique and it would be a forlorn hope to expect them to turn things round in Copenhagen in a fortnight.
John Jensen was uncannily accurate with his pre-match predictions. The former Arsenal midfielder believed his Brondby side would have to withstand a fast and furious fi7st half-hour against Aberdeen and if that initial onslaught could be withstood he forecast the Danish champions would take charge.
That is exactly what happened and Aberdeen's chances of UEFA Cup survival look bleak. Aberdeen attacked with pace and passion early on only for the visitors' superior technique, which had been evident in the way they disposed of Liverpool in last season's competition, to decisively assert itself.
The eager front-running of Britain's leading goalscorer Billy Dodds proved insufficient to trouble a solid Danish defence with the goalkeeper Mogens Krogh only sporadically troubled.
The man who is in the unfortunate position of understudying Manchester United's Peter Schmeichel at international level proved the depth and quality his country possesses with a fine save high to his left-hand side as the Bulgarian international Ilian Kiriakov bent a 30-yard free-kick towards the corner of the net.
The physical nature of the contest saw Brondby's midfielder Allan Ravn replaced by Tomas Thogersen early on, while Scotland's striker Scott Booth made his first competitive appearance of the season, replacing Aberdeen's injured midfielder Darren Young.
Brondby's pattern of play was undisturbed and after Stewart McKimmie and John Inglis had produced goal-saving tackles to keep out Ebbe Sand the persistent midfielder finally profited on the stroke of half-time by deflecting in a Kim Vilfort header at the near post.
A look at the statistics amply illustrated Aberdeen's strengths and weaknesses. They had scored 11 goals in the two previous rounds while conceding eight against unimpressive opposition from Lithuania and Wales.
Those defensive frailties were always likely to be exposed against a side of this quality and Peter Moller should have put the tie beyond doubt early in the second half after Brian Irvine and John Inglis inexplicably left a loose ball to the Danish striker, who directed his shot against a defender.
Brute force seemed to be the Scottish side's only answer and a blistering shot from Dean Windass swerved enough for Krogh to push the ball on to the post while Irvine saw a header hit the top of the bar.
Bo Hansen, the Danish substitute, scored in the final minute. It was no more than the visitors deserved.
