ZERO TO PRAGUE ABOUT

Dons winless and bow out delivering gifts to Czechs

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SIZZLING Sparta Prague punished sorry Aberdeen and saw them Czech out of the Conference League without a win.

Sparta had already qualified for the knockout stages but needed a win to avoid the playoffs - and achieved that thanks to goals from John Mercado, Lukas Haraslin and ex-Hearts loanee Garang Kuol.

It left the Dons second bottom of the Conference League with just two points.

Jimmy Thelin’s side didn't get any luck in their draw with Strasbourg, Sparta, Shakhtar Donetsk, AEK Athens and AEK Larnaca all finishing in the top 11 of the competition.

But yet again, they played a part in their own downfall.

It’s now about Thelin trying to improve his squad to ensure they can get another crack at Europe again next season.

CLARKSON & DORRINGTON IN FROM COLD

Thelin had promised before the game to make changes. Captain Graeme Shinnie had been a driving force in the win over Kilmarnock and was rewarded with a starting berth in his old left-back position.