Aberdeen 1 - 0 St. Mirren

Left Wingers Take Honours

Aberdeen's 1-0 victory over St Mirren at Pittodrie Park on Saturday will doubtless act as a pick-me-up after the earlier disappointments, but it would be pointless to pretend that a complete cure has been found for the team's ailments.

The match confirmed earlier impressions that the standard of Scottish football has not improved, and the splendid crowd of 22,000 could readily be excued for thinking that the game didn rate very high in entertainment value.
There was plenty of individual effort - too much at times - but flashes of combined play were not often in evidence. St Mirren were slightly ahead of Aberdeen in teamwork in the opening half, but the finishing of both sets of forwards was weak.
Evel Lesz, usually a reliable marksman, failed with easy chances for Saints, although Aberdeen had to thank McKenna for kicking the ball of the line on one occasion. In the first fifteen minutes after half-time Glen, Kelly and Kiddie all mised reasonable opportunities of putting Aberdeen's winning margin beyond doubt.
Further changes in the Pittodrie line-up are likely, especially in attack, where there was little sign of cohesion. Kiddie was not a success on the right, and Pearson was the most menacing forward.
His methods were in disticnt contrast to those of the hard-hitting Lesz, but the two left wingers took any honours that were going among the forwards.

Steadying

There was alack of snap in the Pittodrie inside-forward berths. Glen apparently has not got over the effects of the knock he received at Paisley, and neither he nor Yorston came much into the game, although it should be said that the service from behind was not all it should be.
Roy's return certainly had a steadying influence on the home defence. There is nothing showy about the former St Mirren players, but he invariably clamps downupon the opposing centre, and this time Milne was the victim.
All the other Aberdeen defenders did their share, and the backs compared favourably with the St Mirren pair. In this department Martin of St Mirren seldom put away a bad ball, and is obviously a good half-back wasted.
Anderson and Harris, the Dons' wing half-backs, could profitably have taken a leaf out of Martin's book. This pair were really strong in defence, but some of the dissapointing forward play could be traced to the fact that the wing half-backs' distribution was poor.
St Mirren may have lost their chance of qualifying, with this defeat. They will obviously have to improve a lit if they hope to beat Rangers tomorrow, and both they and Aberdeen have weak spots to strengthen before the league campaign begins on Saturday, September 10.
St Mirren did the early probuing in attack, but Curran was not troubled except for a vicious shot by Lesz which the 'keeper palmed down and cleared at the second attempt. McKenna later kicked off the line.
The only goal of the match came rather unexpectedly. Anderson, up in close support of the home attacked, loosed a vicious grounder which Miller allowed to hit his chest and rebound to the advancing Yorston, who did not hesitate to sweep the ball high into the net.
The last thrill came a minute from time, when Lesz got clear of all opposition, but placed the ball beyond the far post.

Source: Press & Journal, 29th August 1949