Leighton Clarkson has benefited from a loan spell at Aberdeen this season, but Monday night’s Scottish Cup defeat by Darvel is not a game he will remember fondly.
The Liverpool midfielder, who joined Aberdeen on loan last summer for the 2022/23 season, played the full 90 minutes when his team lost 1-0 to sixth division side Darvel.
This result was called by local media “the worst in the 120-year history of the club.”
Darvel, the champion of the Premier Division of the West of Scotland League, scored the only goal of the game in the 19th minute thanks to a deflected strike by Jordan Kirkpatrick.
DARVEL IN WONDERLAND 🙌
Jordan Kirkpatrick gives the home side the lead! ⚽️#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/py7VubsKFy
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) January 23, 2023
Aberdeen had several opportunities to equalize in the second half: Clarkson helped a late equalizer, which was credited due to a questionable offside, but the home team resisted to secure a place in the fifth round.
Liverpool left-back and Scotland captain Andy Robertson was among those who congratulated Darvel on his historic victory.
— Andy Robertson (@andrewrobertso5) January 23, 2023
The 21-year-old received a 5/10 rating for his performance from The Press and Journal, which is the highest rating among all Aberdeen players.
Manager Jim Goodwin is currently believed to be on the verge of being sacked: Aberdeen have only won one game in their last nine matches, losing seven, and his team is currently fifth in the SPFL.
A change of coach may, of course, affect Clarkson’s time on loan in Scotland, but given that the midfielder has been one of their outstanding players this season, one can hope that this will not affect his playing time.
There was speculation earlier this month that Clarkson may have been in line for a loan move to a “higher level” and Neil Critchley’s QPR was among those linked with the January raid.
In total, Clarkson has made 22 appearances for Aberdeen this season, scoring five goals and providing two assists in midfield, as well as striking impressive long-range shots against Rangers, St Mirren and St Johnstone.
