Aberdeen 0 - 3 Hibernian

Struck Up Fine Partnership with Pearson,/p> ABERDEEN finished up with one point from their three holiday engagements, and their 3-0 home defeat by Hibs yesterday proved once more that the Dons require something more than fighting spirit to get back into the Scottish League spotlight.

Admittedly they played some grand football in the first half, and Hibs were rather fortunate to turn round on level terms. All the same, despite Aberdeen's intensive pressure, they failed to fluster the league leaders' defence.
The opposite happened when Hibs turned on the heat after half-time. Aberdeen's full backs could not cope with the Edinburgh wingers, who shared the three goals between them.
Despite their bad record over the week-end the Dons are still around the half-way mark in the League, and there were one or two encouraging features about their play yesterday. Most notable was the performance of Jimmy McIntvre, who took over from the injured Baird at inside left.
The former Kilbirnie Ladeside player has been a sort of utility forward in the Pittodrie reserve side, but he proved during the first half against Hibs that inside left is his natural berth. He and Pearson struck up a telling partnership, and it seemed hardly fair to move him to centre in the second half.
McIntyre looked slow at times, hut his ground passing was accurate and he is not afraid to have a go on his own.
While Aberdeen's close passing often took them into the danger zone they could not find a way past Younger, surely one of the most promising 'keepers in Scotland.

Backs Worried,/p> In the second half especially Watson did not get the protection he deserved. Hibs were ever ready to make the ball work, and their quick moves into the open space often had the Aberdeen defence, especially Emery and McKenna in dire trouble.
The Aberdeen pair resorted to the offside trap and it was not always successful.
On this form it was not difficult to realise why Hibs have climbed to the top of the table. They were not upset by Aberdeen's first-half onslaught, which only served tc bring out the sterling qualities of the Edinburgh teams defensive make-up.
After half-time Combe and Buchanan began to go through with the ball, although in this respect they were no better than Harris, who is showing his best form for Aberdeen at the moment.
Aberdeen were definitely top dogs in the first half, during which Younger proved himself an able 'keeper.
Watson, if not busy, got several chances to distinguish himself, and one save from Reilly had a touch of class about it.

Emery at Fault

The second half was only four minutes old when Hibs struck. Emery, the Dons' captain, must shoulder the blame. He tried to place a free kick, but there was little power behind it.
Johnstone collected the ball, dispatched it down the left to Ormond. The winger was completely unchallenged and ran on to seore.
Turnbull could have made it two when Robb brought Johnstone down in the penalty area, but the inside left sent the ball wide.
Harris gave Hamilton a perfect opening. The centre shot fiercely from close in, but again Younger was there.
That finished Aberdeen and, in the last ten minutes, Smith did twice what he had looked like doing on many occasions. His first goal was a splendid effort, but the second was scored while the rest of the players looked on, waiting for the referee to confirm an offside signal by a linesman.
They waited in vain, and Smith flicked the ball in.

Source: Press & Journal, 4th January 1950