Celtic 1 - 0 Aberdeen

ABERDEEN'S bad luck as regards injuries to players has been notorious this season. The tale ot woe was continued on Saturday when Frank Dunlop was hurt in a simple tackle in the opening Celtic attack Parkhead and spent the rest of the afternoon hirpling on the left touchline.

As if that weren't sufficient the only goal of the game came in the fifty-fourth minute from a penalty which need never have been conceded.
It is doubtful if Gallacher would have caught the ball he was chasing when McLaughlin was judged to have impeded him.
While Dunlop's injury caused a reorganisation of the Dons team - McLaughlin going to centre-half, and Millar to inside-right - it does not fully explain their inability to hold Celts. In their spasmodic raids Aberdeen had more scoring chances than the opposition, but they failed to take them.

Celtic Jitters

Celtic played as if the relegation bogey was too much for them. Even when they got the lead, their attack still had the jitters in the goal area, where the inside forwards bunched too much.
At the same time, Aberdeen take full credit for a dour defensive display. Johnstone made some grand saves, and McLaughlin was a dominating figure in the goalmouth. He blotted out Gormley.
Hardest worker in the Aberdeen team was Cowie. He took his side out of trouble on several occasions when Kapler's speed and trickery had been too much for Cooper, and he never missed an opportunity to go up in attack.
Vieing with Cowie for half-back honours was McAuley. the Celtic left half, whose shrewd passing was a feature of the game. If this pair reveal the same form on Wednesday the Scottish League forwards certainly won't lack service.
Kelly couldn't make much of Corbett, and in the second half especially he was prone to get rid of the ball too soon. The Celtic pivot was lucky not to have a penalty awarded against him near the end when he grassed Kelly as the centre raced for goal. It seemed a more flagrant offence than McLauchlin's earlier on.

Source: Press & Journal, 12th February 1948