Heart of Midlothian 5 - 2 Aberdeen

DEFENCE BLUNDERS MEANT GOALS

Aberdeen's challenge for honours is fading. The 5-2 defeat at the hands of Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday was a bad blow. The fact that Dunlop, the Dons' right half, received a shoulder injury half an hour after the start and played at outside right in the second half, upset the balance of the team to a certain extent, but the probability is that they would have been beaten anyhow.
The team did not play well. The defence, despite the return of Cooper, was too easily penetrated, and the attack was disjointed and revealed little thrust. There seems small hope of improvement until the management's search for talent is successful. The greatest need is a left back and a strong, forcing inside forward.

PULL ON WINGS

Hearts were sounder in defence and faster and more dangerous than Aberdeen in attack, but the Tynecastle team's main advantage lay at wing half. In Robson and Miller they had players who could combine defence and attack very effectively.
Although there was an element of luck attached to both Hearts' first half goals, on play they deserved the lead at the interval. The first score came after fifteen minutes' play. Johnstone, Dunlop, Nicholson and Phillips all went for a cross from Donaldson. The right half in attempting to clear sent the ball against Phillips' chest and it rebounded into the net.
Five minutes later Cooper headed the ball into the middle instead of towards touch and Walker hit the ball on the drop. There was not a great deal of force behind the shot, and Johnstone appeared to have it safely covered, but Nicholson stuck out his foot and deflected the ball away from the 'keeper.
Aberdeen opened their account just on the half-time whistle. Strauss gained possession and cut into the middle before sending the ball ahead to Hamilton. The inside right let it run past and then hit it with terrific force to give Waugh chance.

HOPES DASHED

Any hopes that the Dons had of making a draw of the game were dissipated two minutes after the restart. Dunlop had taken up the outside right berth, and Warnock was at right half. The regular winger stopped a shot from Walker with his body and Phillips fastened on to the rebound to find the net with a good drive which passed through a crowd of players.
With thirteen minutes played Miller made the home total four. He picked up a loose ball, barged his way past Nicholson, brushed aside a challenge from Warnock and beat Johnstone with a fierce oblique shot.
In the last quarter of an hour the Dons got a second goal. When Dunlop managed to get the ball across Anderson was slow to clear. Strauss did not give the right back a second chance. He fastened on to beat the keeper from close range. Six minutes from the end Warren gathered a pass from Walker, and, eluding Cooper, cut in to score with ease.
Although beaten five times Johnstone in the Aberdeen goal played well. But for two brilliant saves by the 'keeper from Walker and Phillips in the closing stages Hearts would have won by a bigger margin.

DEFENCE WEAK SPOTS

Warren and Donaldson, the extreme wingers, were allowed too much scope by Cooper and Thomson. The right back, who was making his first appearance in the League side since he was injured on September 3, lacked his usual confidence. Thomson was slow in the tackle, although he kicked well enough.
Nicholson was Aberdeen's best defender. The centre-half never wavered in the face of Hearts' most persistent attacks. He cleared time and again with head and feet. Dunlop shaped quite well until he was injured, but Taylor found the task of subduing Walker too much for him.
The attack was disjointed and revealed little snap. Strauss was lively at times, but was not consistent, while Hamilton, who played hard, suffered from lack of support in the second half. McClure had to keep a watchful eye on Warnock in the first half.
McKenzie, who was called in to deputise for Brady at the last minute, was clever on the ball but was not thrustful enough.

BEST BACK

In McClure Hearts had the best back afield. Anderson was sound but has lost some of his dash. Miller was brilliant wing half and Robson also proved a success. Dykes was good but by no means brilliant.
Hearts have not yet found a solution to their centre forward problem. Black could not escape Nicholson's grip. Phillips was a strong and dangerous inside forward, and Walker showed cleverness and carried a powerful shot. Warren was the better winger. Donaldson showed promise and will improve with experience.

Source: Press & Journal, 24th October 1938