Queen of the South 1 - 2 Aberdeen

Game Should Have Been Won at Half-way Stage
By NORMAN MACDONALD

TO my mind the most satisfactory feature of Saturday's Cup-tie at Dumfries was the result. There were weaknesses in the Dons' team. Purpose and punch were lacking on the wings and in the centre. Hamilton and Baird were the "brains" of the attack.

The inside left was the match-winner. He had both goals, the winner six minutes from the final whistle.
Results count, however, and there's no denying the fact that Aberdeen have a 100 per cent, record in the League Cup.
They are well set to reach the quarter-finals. With half their matches played they have six points.
St Mirren and Queen of the South, both already beaten on their own grounds, have yet to come to Pittodrie, and the remaining fixture is against Motherwell at Fir Park.
Had the Dons accepted their chances at Dumfries on Saturday they would have had the game well won at half-time. As it was they led by a solitary goal.
Undoubtedly they were the more skilled ball workers. Some of their attacks were excellently planned and well executed, but they lacked the buccaneering adventurous spirit near goal.
Queen of the South were but a moderate side. They adopted smash and grab tactics, making the ball do the work and following up with all speed. They squandered their chances with reckless and impetuous finishing.

Defence Loses Grip,/p> The Pittodrie defence were confident enough until they lost the equalising goal in the first quarter of an hour of the second half. It was then that the Dons lost their grip. I thought that with a cool and experienced head in attack at this stage Queen of the South might nave made it very awkward for Aberdeen.
Johnstone on the Pittodrie goal, inspired confidence and Cowie confirmed his return with another sound display. Again Taylor was the most resourceful and forcing half-back. Both McCall and Kiddie were unenterprising. A dry ground and a light ball don't suit Harris and he and Hamilton changed places in the closing stages,
The overhead and underfoot conditions were reminiscent of Stan Williams' native South Africa. The little centre would have been invaluable. He may be fit for duty this week.
Wilson, veteran right back Savage, and Aird at centre half, were stout defenders for Queen of the South. Both Scott and Sharp, the wing halves had their good spells, but the forward line lacked a general.
Baird opened the scoring for Aberdeen in fourteen minutes after smart movement by McCall and Harris. Within fifteen minutes of the start of the second half Baker, who had missed a "gift" goal in the opening half, atoned to some extent by scoring the equaliser. He accepted a pass from Brown and beat Cowie at the second attempt.
There were only six minutes left for play when Baird got the Dons' second goal with the help of McCall and Harris.

Source: Press & Journal, 23rd August 1947