Rangers 2 - 1 Aberdeen

DESPITE their 2-1 defeat at Ibrox Park last night the Dons are still live candidates for the knock-out stages of the League Cup.

The Light Blues have still to come to Pittodrie and assuming the same teams are on duty there is no good reason why Aberdeen should not reverse the result.
Had they shown a more adventurous spirit yesterday evening they could have avoided defeat. Rangers won because they were prepared to have a go. They played aggressive football. They held a decided advantage territorially, but even so they only got through by the odd goal.

HAPPY with the lead at the interval the Dons evidently decided that they would concentrate on holding what they had. It was the wrong idea. Rangers launched an allout offensive, equalised, and then went on to get the winning goal.
It was only when they were one down that Aberdeen players threw aside the defensive policy. In the last quarter of an hour they looked capable of saving the game.
In fact they would have drawn level but for Brown, Light Blues' 'keeper. He made first-class saves from a Delaney header and a full-blooded drive from Pearson in the closing stages.

THE Dons blundered when they permitted Rangers to take the initiative after the interval.
If I were asked to name the two outstanding Aberdeen players at Ibrox last night I would unhesitatingly choose Fred Martin and Kenny Thomson.
The Dons' goalkeeper was right at the top of his form again. One save alone last night stamped him as a 'keeper of the top flight.
It was a Findlay special inside the penalty area. The Ibrox inside man released a magnificent drive. Four yards out of his goal Martin, in mid air, bent backwards to push the bail over for a corner.

IF anyone wants a testimonial as to Thomson's ability they have only to apply to Simpson, the Rangers leader. The Aberdeen centre-half never gave him the ghost of a chance. The backs were decidedly better than against Queen of the South, and Shaw must be given credit to for his tenacity against Waddell, the best Ibrox forward.
Harris played hard at right half and Lowrie was game without touching his best form.
In attack Hamilton and Delaney were most aggressive. Hay has any amount of pluck, but he tired in the closing stages. Yorston has yet to recover his sparkle and Pearson on the left was inconsistent.
Rangers are as sound ever in defence but the rhythm is still missing in attack. The fact that Paton and Rutherford on the left switched in the second period is significant.

ABERDEEN got the opening goal in thirty-seven minutes when Hay moved up the left and crossed. Hamilton edged the ball to Yorston, who ran it into the net.
It took Rangers sixty-three minutes to get their first goal. McColl put Findlay in possession and the inside right crossed for Rutherford to send into the net.
With thirty minutes of the second half played the Light Blues scored what proved to be the winner. Cox started the move by delivering the ball to Rutherford. From the latter's cross Paton netted from close range.

Source: Evening Express, 16th August 1951