Can Danny do it again?

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UNLESS you count Steve Simonsen for a 20-minute ‘game’ in January, Danny Rogers is unique.

Twenty-six times this season, a goalkeeper has tried to prevent Hearts from scoring in a Championship match. Twenty-five times the goalie has failed.

Danny was the one who succeeded.

That goalless draw in September was Dumbarton’s first meeting with the champions-elect this season. Saturday sees their last clash, at Tynecastle.

But, for the goalkeeper, as well as aiming for another clean sheet, there’s an extra element.

He’s the first man between the posts against Hearts since they stuck 10 unanswered goals past Cowdenbeath on Saturday, February 28.

No pressure, then. After all, Hearts have needed 270 minutes to run up that tally against Sons, having won 5-1 twice since the goalless draw.

However, does pride come before a fall? Can Sons grab an unlikely result?

Danny isn’t writing that off.

He said: “It is a nervous prospect but Tynecastle is a great place to go and play football.

“We’ve been there before this season and it wasn’t the best day for us, but it’s always a good experience.

“I’ve got my parents and a few family members coming over from Ireland, so I’ll be keen to put in a good performance.

“Hopefully Hearts don’t come out and batter us like they did Cowdenbeath. But our confidence is high after our last couple of results and we’ll be looking to get something.

“Saturday’s win against Alloa was the kind of game we’d have lost a few weeks ago. It’s about time we got a bit of luck.

“On another day they could have taken one point, or even three, but it’s happy days for us.”

The 1-0 victory against Alloa was one where Danny produced a crucial late save from Greg Rutherford to give them their first win of 2015.

But if there was somewhere else to take confidence ahead of the Tynecastle trip, it was Cowdenbeath’s ability to bounce back from their thrashing by Hearts.

They held Rangers to a 0-0 draw at Central Park, enabling them to overtake Alloa into third bottom place.

Danny continued: “It was a massive game for us and hopefully that’s us safe now with the gap between the sides.

“We defended well all game, although they had chances and could have scored at the end.

“It’s certainly up there with the best saves I’ve made in terms of the importance. Hopefully we can now aim to catch Raith Rovers.

“Cowden’s result wasn’t the best for us and we certainly didn’t expect it.

“But it’s brilliant for them to bounce back. I know their keeper [Robbie Thomson] – he’s a good lad and went through a lot at Tynecastle.”

Danny could soon be called up for international duty again, with the Republic of Ireland under-21s about to begin their qualification campaign for Euro 2017.

A home match against Andorra begins the fixtures on Monday, March 23, although it won’t stop Danny playing at Livingston two days earlier.

He was watched from the stand on Saturday by Aberdeen’s non-executive director and former Scotland boss Craig Brown, as well as Dons goalkeeping coach Jim Leighton.

And he hopes that his form can help him push for a first team place at Pittodrie when his loan with Sons expires.

He said: “I’m confident of another international call. Ireland will be looking to start their campaign well and I hope to be a part of that.

“But as it’s a home match I’ll be available for the Livingston game.

“Craig is always around Pittodrie, chatting away to me and the other players. And I’ll probably get a phone call from Jim later on.

“He’ll praise me if I do well but there are always bits and pieces we need to work on, as I am still young. I just need to keep going.”

Danny was unable to attend Stephen Grindlay’s testimonial dinner on Saturday night due to previously-arranged commitments.

But as a keen Liverpool fan, he had his eyes on a potential reward for his late heroics against Alloa.

He added: “I’ve heard Steven Gerrard’s boots are up for auction, so I wish I was going now!

“Hopefully someone else will buy them for me!”