Aberdeen 3 - 1 Heart of Midlothian

Baird Best Of Pittodrie Forwards

ABERDEEN will have to improve on Saturday's form if they are to win the North-Eastern League championship. They deserved their 3-1 win over Hearts, but it was not altogether a convincing victory. There were periods when the team played good football but there were also spells when the standard of play was poor. The team, as a whole was not so compact at it should have been. There was a lack of power and drive at times. It was not a case of full steam ahead all the time. It may have been that some of the prayers were affected by the summerlike weather conditions prevailing.

More all-out methods will have to be adopted in the next tnree matches when the Dons are opposed to East Fife, Dundee, and Rangers respectively. There were scoring chances missed, too, and had these been accepted, Hearts would have been beaten by a much bagger margin.
The defence was none too sound at times, and there was mach mistiming of the ball by both backs and half-backs. There is need for improvement in this respect.

Shortcomings in Defence

Johnstone in goal had quite a busy afternom but he performed his work well. Cooper was the better back McKenna being a mixture of good and bad. He has developed a rashness which is spoiling his game.
The half-back line, while not a failure did not function too well. The wing halves in partictLar did not shine in a constructive sense. Higgins although he did well enough in a position to which he is not accusomed, was inclincd to go too far upfield and was unable to recover, while Cruickshank failed to produce his form of the previous two weeks. Dunlop was a sound pivot for most of the game, but in the closing stages showed a hesitancy in clearing the ball.

Forwards Not Happy

The forwards were not altogether a happy combination. Pattillo was below form. He did not seem to judge the bounce of the ball too well. Armstrong, although always a trier, was not so skilful as in some of his previous appearances. The best of the inside men was Baird, who must have impressed the 10,000 spectators. He has still something to learn but he is progressing on the right lines. He showed clever control, tricked an opponent cleverly, and parted to advantage. He is inclined to shoot from too long range, however.
Miller and Lloyd were good wingers. Miller was opposed to the best back afield in Johnstone, but he came through creditably. Lloyd performed very satisfactorily, and should be persevered with on the wing. He may not aiways be available, however.
Hearts had to thank Watters in goal for keeping down the score. The half-backs were clever enough, but lacked power. Hearts have certainly a very promising right wing in Aitkman and McQuade.

Source: Evening Express, 26th March 1945