Mark Wilson is convinced there will be no way back for Jim Goodwin if he loses at Easter Road after the “strange” situation of Aberdeen releasing a statement backing their manager before demanding an “immediate response” following their Scottish Cup shocker against Darvel.
But the ex-Celtic and Dundee Untied defender reckons the Irishman will be “rubbing his hands” at the prospect of taking on a Hibs side without their two bet players as striker Kevin Nisbet and Ryan Porteous are on the brink of moves to England ahead of the transfer window closing.
And a victory for the Dons could heap the pressure onto Goodwin’s dug-out rival following two derby drubbings at the hands of Hearts in quick succession. The game in Leith has been dubbed El Sackico with both bosses under sever pressure.
Aberdeen are two points clear of their rivals but it’s Goodwin who appears to face a real do-or-die situation after he was granted a stay of execution, albeit the Pittodrie board didn’t exactly give him much confidence he will be around in the long term.
Wilson told Sky Sports: “I find the full situation a bit strange. The statement in itself means to me that that the Aberdeen board - or Football Monitoring Group, whatever that is - are expecting Jim Goodwin to go there and win. Will that be enough to keep him in a job? St Mirren visit on Wednesday night, then Motherwell and Celtic at Parkhead.
“It’s an odd situation to be in. I’m delighted Jim is still in the job because football boards are all too reactive sometimes just to pull the trigger and get rid of mangers right away. So it gives Jim an opportunity to get a result but it’s going to be difficult, going to Easter Road against a Hibs team also fighting for their lives. It’s by far the most intriguing and standout game in Scottish football this week.”
Asked if it was as simple as defat spelling the end for Goodwin, Wilson said: “You’ve got to think so. If the board are saying they need an immediate response and they lose it then where do you turn from there? What other statement can you put out to appease your fans. The Aberdeen fans aren’t happy already. The run of the results after the World Cup haven’t been good enough, followed by the worst result in their history. Many would say that would have been enough but the board came out with a statement like that so if they lose again then you would think there’s only one way for Jim.”
But Hibs’ own transfer activity could play into Aberdeen’s hands with Nisbet heading to Millwall and Porteous to Watford. He said: “If you’re Jim Goodwin and Aberdeen looking at that then you’re rubbing your hands and thinking ‘the two best players are out the team, we’ve got a real opportunity’. Lee Johnson is going through a sticky period himself. When you lose 3-0 to your rivals twice within a couple of a weeks and lose your main striker, the only one scoring goals, and lose your best defender at the other side of the park then it spells trouble so he has a job getting a squad together that can battle and keep him in a job. That’s why it’s a crucial game for both managers because Hibs fans will be saying the same as the Aberdeen fans - they want change at the club.”
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