Dundee 4 - 0 Aberdeen

ONLY consideration for their Scottish Cup prospects has prevented me expressing more emphaticailv my views that the Aberdeen team wasn't good enough.
All along I have had an uncomfortable feeling that they would let their supporters down with a bump. It happened at Dens Park on Saturday.
As a team they were out-classed by Dundee. There can be no excuses and there were no extenuating circumstances attached to their 4-0 defeat. They were a poor team - weak in defence and shockingly ineffective in attack.

I'M sorry they are out the cup, but the club have only themselves to blame. I'm sorrier still for the 10,000 enthusiasts who travelled from Aberdeen to Dundee expecting the Dons to make a real fight of it.
From the Aberdeen point of view it was a fiasco, but from the football connoisseur's point of view Dundee put up a very good show. On this form they must be considered live candidates for the trophy.
The man who left his name printed indelibly on this game was Billy Steel, the Dark Blues’ inside left. So far as the Dons were concerned he played with devilish skill and ingenuity.
He was every inch the internationalist. Not one of the Aberdeen forwards was in the same class.

MANY Pittodrie reputations were badly tarnished in this match. In fact, only three players deserved to escape criticism. All three - Martin, Shaw, and Thomson - were located in the defence, and but for their courage the Dons  would have suffered a heavier defeat.
With the team out of the cup and their position in the League secure, the bottom has been knocked out of the season in Aberdeen. The Dons’ record this season does not make inspiring reading.
What of the future? If Aberdeen's prestige in Scottish football is to be restored in season 1952-53 the officials must start the reconstruction work right away.

FIRST essential is the discovery of a first-class back. This department has been unreliable throughout the season. The Aberdeen management must be aware of this and steps must be taken to find a solution.
The half back line and the attack too, require attention on Saturday's form at Dens Park. More driving power and guile are needed.
No ready-made players have been signed by the Pittodrie club this season. If the officials are to view the future realistically they must secure players before August.
From now until the end of the season they have an excellent opportunity to try out their reserve talent in the league side.
It is an ideal time for stocktaking. Aberdeen have a big playing staff and the time is rapidly approaching when they will have to decide which plavers are be retained and which to be released.

Source: Evening Express, 10th March 1952