Aberdeen 0 - 1 Morton

A crowd of about 10,000 witnessed the Aberdeen-Greenock Morton match at Pittodrie Park, Aberdeen. Both teams were without several of their regular players - Aberdeen had half a dozen substitutes, and play was throughout much below the standard of first-class League football. The visitors won by the only goal of the match, within a minute of the second half commencing, Miller accepted a pass from Thom on the left wing, and giving Anderson no chance to save.

Source: The Scotsman, 28th February 1921

OFFSIDE GOAL DECIDES ISSUE.

The League game at Pittodrie where Morton defeated Aberdeen by the only goal, was a dull and dreich affair, the quality of the play being far short of the Scottish League standard. Both teams were considerably below strength, and that may have have gone a long way to account for the poor entertainment, but throughout there was an entire lack of enthusiasm and thrills, and the home supporters were badly disappointed. Individually the players were clever enough, but there were few sustained attempts to strike up combination, and spoiling work by both sets of half-backs and weakness in the inside forward positions, tended to make the game the dismal affair it proved. From the point of view of attacking, Aberdeen had distinctly the better of the game, but the result supplied yet one more instance at home where they have had to surrender points through their own weakness at close quarters. There was not a great deal of method in the play of either, but what little there was came from Morton who kept the ball lower.
Chances were missed by both sides, and the goal that decided the issue was one that ought not to have counted, as Thom, the Morton outside left, was distinctly in an offside position when he received the ball before crossing to enable Millar to score at close range.

Weak Aberdeen Side.

In view of the cup-tie re-play with Dundee at Ibrox Park, Glasgow to-morrow, it was expected that the match with Morton would have been made the occasion to try a centre-forward experiment, but this was not done. In the second half Fisher took up the leadership of the attack vice Macdonald, who went to outside right, but it cannot be said the change was much more effective, even if the Morton goal had many narrow escapes. The Aberdeen team selection was rather unfortunate as the players did not seem to fit with each other. Anderson, McCombie, and Hannah all did well in the rear, but the half-backs, of whom Robertson was the best, all showed a tendency to sky the ball, with the result that there was an absence of harmonious working with their forwards. The game demonstrates once again that Aberdeen badly needs a good leader, and one who will show the way to shoot. Flanaghan was easily the best of the bunch in this match, with Rankine next. Fisher performed creditably enough at outside right, but neither Macdonald nor Thomson were a great success.
Morton were fortunate indeed to get both points. They were a plodding team, but, like Aberdeen, did not make the best of their opportunities. Edwards, in goal, accomplished come splendid work, and had much of the credit for the victory that fell his side. Gibson was the better back, Thorpe, the ex-Clyde player, being rather easily beaten by Flanaghan. In the half-back the honours went to Wright, the internationalist, who played skilfully throughout. He did not appear as strong as of yore, and several times during the game required attention from the trainer. None of the forwards created a very deep impression, although Thom did many clever things at outride left, and Gourlay was seen to advantage at inside right. The absence of McNab and French, especially the latter, was badly felt, as Hillcoat was not at all a deadly centre-forward.

Small Attendance.

The attendance - just under 10,000 - was the second lowest at a Scottish League game at Pittodrie this season. Considering the fine weather, and the fact that the club is still interested in the Scottish Cup competition, this was surprising, but was probably accounted for by the fact that it was well known that both teams would be considerably under strength.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 28th February 1921