Calderwood proud after defeat

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood was proud of his side's battling display against Atletico Madrid on Thursday night despite seeing them slump to a 2-0 UEFA Cup defeat at the Vicente Calderon.

Atletico looked set to record a convincing victory as they created three decent chances in the opening seven minutes, but Aberdeen managed to hold out and limit the free-scoring hosts to a goalless first half.

"We were comfortable on the ball and defensively, and if you go in at half-time and it's 0-0, maybe their supporters get a little restless, but then they got their goal," Calderwood said.

The Scottish side suffered a hammer blow just before the break when Atletico won a penalty, which was duly converted by Diego Forlan.

Forlan was handed the chance to score when Sergio Aguero went tumbling following a sliding tackle from Michael Hart - a challenge Calderwood felt did not need to be made.

"We know how good Aguero is, he is very quick, but so is Michael and he (Aguero) was going away from goal, and Michael should never have made the tackle," the Dons boss added.

"It would have been a remarkable goal if Aguero had scored from there. Michael gave him the chance to look for the penalty and they took it.

"But all credit to the players, who kept battling away. I'm a bad loser as you know, but there is a lot of pride there."

Atletico coach Javier Aguirre was pleased with the result, even if it was not as high-scoring as recent matches at the Vicente Calderon, where 25 goals had been scored in just four previous games.

"It's an important step forward. The important thing was to get the three points and not concede a goal, and we have done both of those things," Aguirre said.