Heart of Midlothian 3 - 2 Aberdeen

For their return home League fixture with Aberdeen, the Heart of Midlothian had to rearrange their forward line owing to Battles crying off because of damaged toes. White took up his old position at centre, and with Smith and McMillan playing, the attack was made up of Smith, Chalmers, White, McMillan, and Murray. In the first half, at any rate, it played well, McMillan being very good at forcing the game, while Chalmers was clever and White was a forceful centre. Falloon came in for Cooper in the Aberdeen defence, and played a sound game, though he had the misfortune to be ordered off before the close. He had been rather keen in his attentions to Murray, and had been warned because of this, but the game had only ten minutes to run when he again upset the Hearts' left winger and got his marching orders. Unless fo a spell of dull play in the second half, the game was always interesting. There were some fine rallies in front of goal, good saving by Harkness and S. Smith but in the outfield many slips were made owing to the treacherous nature of the pitch, the thaw having left the surface soft on the top, and hard beneath. The opening goal was scored by Hearts when McMillan took a pass from Chalmers in the air and scored with a swinger. Ten minutes passed and then the ball was driven up to the Aberdeen goal, and White rushed the goalkeeper, the ball going into the net. The two goals lead was only held for a minute. Anderson failed to hold Smith, whose cross went over to Love to score. Minor accidents to players were numerous. Towards the interval the Hearts were on top, and Chalmers had bad luck on two occasions, once striking the side post with the Aberdeen goalkeeper beaten. The second half saw play fall away for a time. Then an Aberdeen revival led to McLean scoring from a pass by Smith. This was immediately followed by a goal to the Hearts by White, after the ball had bounced twice. In a stirring finish Aberdeen lost the services of Falloon (ordered off), but Smith almost equalised when he beat Anderson and brought Harkness to his knees. The attendance was about 10,000.

Source, The Scotsman, 6th January 1931

Heart of Midlothian are not putting their supporters in very good form for the approaching Cup-ties, as after being "bunkered at Methil" something better was expected from them than just to get the verdict over Aberdeen.
The spectators, who numbered about 10,000, were never allowed to weary, and they had one ten minutes in the first half which was worth the admittance money alone. This was after ten minutes' play. Hearts within four minutes went two goals ahead through McMillan and White, while Love scored for the visitors. Shortly afterwards the home side were given a penalty, but White missed. That meant that Hearts only crossed over with a single goal lead, whereas a three goal lead would not have flattered them. S. Smith was in capital form in the Aberdeen goal, and if Falloon had the measure of Murray, Hearts ought to have made more out of their right wing attacks. Chalmers was not at his best, and he had quite a say in the ineffectiveness of the home attack.

Player Ordered Off

In the second half the two goals scored both came within a minute after 30 minutes' play, through McLean and White. Then an unfortunate incident occurred which led to Falloon being sent to the pavilion. Even playing against only ten men Hearts could make no further impression on the visitors, with the result that the game was in the balance to the very last minute, when J. Smith broke through and caused Harkness some difficulty ere he saved.

Source, Glasgow Herald, 6th January 1931