Aberdeen 2 - 1 Hibernian

TROUBLESOME WIND AT PITTODRIE

IT was the old, old story at Pittodrie on Saturday, when Aberdeen defeated Hibs by the odd goal in three. The Dons simply refused to take the chances that were going. Had they done so, they would have led by 4-1 at the interval.

It certainly does not reflect creditably on the Dons' attack that it required a penalty goal to win the match.
If the Dons are to finish second in the League - there is practically no hope of any of the teams overtaking Rangers now - then the forwards, particularly the inside men, will have to get more goals than they have been getting.
Bad finishing on the part of the forwards has absolutely been responsible for the Dons losing ground in their challenge to Rangers. The defence has been pulling the team through in what successes have been achieved the past two months. This simply won't do. The attack must play its part. With a match fewer played, however, the Dons are relatively better placed than Celts, who are seeond on the League.

Control Difficult

The game at Pittodrie was marred by a very troublesome wind. The players of both teams had great difficulty in judging the flight of the ball, while ball control was not easy.
Kerr, the Hibs goalkeeper, stood between Aberdeen and a much more substantiai lead at the interval. He gave a brilliant display, yet there were occasions when he should have been beaten with the utmost ease.
The goalkeeping throughout was exceptionally good and Henderson in the Aberdeen goal also distinguished himself, particularly in the second half, when the run of play favoured Hibs.
The respective pivots, Dunlop and Aird, also gave impressive displays. The Aberdeen captain had a difficult match. It was his duty to stop Milne, the Hibs' centre. That he succeeded can be judged by the fact that not once during the whole game had Milne a direct shot at goal. George Taylor, who scored the winning goal from a penalty, was also very effective at left half.

Armstrong Well Held Mr W. S. Duthie, M.P. for Banffshire, was an interested spectator.
George Hamilton, the Dons' international forward, watched the game from the stand. There is no fresh development over his request to be placed on the transfer list. The player has had a conference with the management, but nothing has been divulged as to what transpired.
He is ineluded among the players from whom the team will be chosen to play Queen's Park at Hampden to-morrow.
Armstrong is to be rested, and the selection will be made from:- Henderson; Cowie and McKenna; half-backs from Bremner, Green, Dunlop, Taylor; forwards from Miller, Williams, Baird, Hamilton, Pattillo, McCall.

Source: Press & Journal, 24th December 1945