Rangers 3 - 1 Aberdeen

ABERDEEN'S unbeaten record was smashed at Ibrox, where Rangers won by 3-1. The Dons dropped the points mainly because they lost their spirit of adventure in the second half.
It was during this period that they should and could have made the points secure.

Rangers led 2-1 at the interval. Smith, the Ibrox leader, retired from the game injured a few minutes after the resumption, and later Young was crippled. Here was the Dons' opportunity to throw everything into the fray, but instead, they invariably adopted a defensive role when they should have been going all out on attack.
The deployment of their forces was wrong. There was a big gap in the middle and into this gap the Rangers plied the ball, and Waddell was generally there to get it.
It is true the Dons made a great effort in the closing stages, but it was too late, for by that time the Rangers had the game won.
Smith opened the Rangers' account four minutes after the start. Armstrong had the teams on level terms in ten minutes. A few minutes from the interval the Rangers, who had been fighting hard all the time, got that fortunate break which put them on the victory path. Waddell scored a second goal when the Aberdeen defence was decidedly at fault. Then came the penalty goal four minutes from time. The award was hotly disputed, but the referee did not alter his decision and Waddell scored from the spot.
It was great struggle in the first half, with the Dons playing as good football as Rangers, but after the internal the homesters, even with ten men, were definitely on top.
The defeat cannot be attributed to Johnstone, the Aberdeen goalkeeper. He effected several brilliant saves. Cooper was the better back, but the half-backs were not too happy in their work. Forward, Baird occasionally was in the limelight and Armstrong led the line skillfully, although not always well supported.
Although Rangers were not the Rangers of pre-war days, they were undoubtedly worthy of their success. Shaw was a great back and Symon was the outstanding half-back. Waddell took the honours in attack.
The crowd numbered 66,000, the largest attendance at a match Scotland this season.

Source: Press & Journal, 15th october 1945