St. Mirren 4 - 0 Aberdeen

Forwards Sluggish and Unenterprising,/p> THIS Aberdeen team presents a football enigma. Against Motherwell the forwards were a joy to watch. They were quick, slick, and eager to make the kill.

Against St Mirren at Paisley on Saturday they were sluggish, unimaginative, and unenterprising at close quarters. The five names were the same, but that was the onlv similarity.
All the blame for the 4-0 defeat at Paisley, however, cannot be thrust on the shoulders of the attackers. There were obvious gaps in the defence, particularly in the second half. Had the St Mirren forwards been less impetuous they would have added to their bag.
It wasn't, very encouraging for Aberdeen as a Scottish Cup rehearsal. There may be some consolation in the fact that form is not always a reliable guide in the cup and that the Dons' display on Saturday was too bad to be true.
Waddell and Hamilton should be fit for this week's test with East Fife at Pittodrie, and the probability is that the team will return to its old formation.
There would have been some excuse for the Dons on Saturday had St Mirren struck a brilliant game. In point of fact they were only a moderate side until they got their third goal.
The Aberdeen defenders lost their nerve in the closing stages. Even Frank Watson in goal was affected. He must accept some of the responsibility for the loss of the second goal.
Emery, who took over the captaincy in the absence of Waddell, and McKenna never got a stranglehold on the extreme wingers. The Welshman was more successful against Lesz than was McKenna against Burrell.
Thomson was none too confident at centre half at the start, but he improved, and, along with Anderson, battled strongly against an increasingly confident St Mirren team after the interval.

Baikie Not Ready,/p> Baikie has the makings of a good player, but he is not yet ready for the increased tempo of "A" Division football.
There were occasional flashes from the Pittodrie forwards in the first half. Hather was the most menacing-looking attacker, but, unfortunately, he did not get enough of the ball.
Baird, in a twenty-minute spell in the opening period, tried hard to get the forward line into gear, but he seemed to become discouraged by the lack of response from his team-mates.
Yorston at inside right achieved little success. Harris had a poor game at centre forward. He was slow and cumbersome on the turn. Kiddie still lacks driving power.
The St Mirren defenders found their first-time tactics were just the thing against the uncertain Pittodrie forwards. Most of the danger from the Paisley side could be traced to the extreme wingers, Burrell and Lesz.
It was five minutes from the interval before the first goal arrived. Henderson chased an up-the-middle ball from Reid. McKenna crossed to tackle but was beaten by the spin of the ball, and the Paisley centre ran on to send low into the net.
Before this goal came the Dons might well have been awarded a penalty kick. Hather was brought down by Telfer after he had made a grand solo dash in from the wing.
Four minutes after the start of the second half Aberdeen were mourning the loss of a second goal. Watson weakly punched out a lob from Henderson, and Stewart had no difficulty in sending home.
Burrell got the third goal with a neat header from a cross from Lesz in twenty-seven minutes. The Pittodrie defence was shown up in a bad light with the scoring of this goal.
St Mirren were well on top now, and when McKenna brought Burrell down inside the penalty area Lapsley, Saints' right back, drove the ball home from the spot to make the total four.

Source: Press & Journal, 26th December 1949