Heart of Midlothian 0 - 3 Aberdeen

At Tynecastle, Edinburgh, before an attendance of about 8000. The Hearts opened in good style, and a fine piece of work by their right wing put the Aberdeen goal in dager, but King cleared. Continuing to force matters, the home eleven gave the visiting defence plenty to do, and Walker was just a trifle high with a capital shot. Aberdeen gradually wore down the opposition, and their first call upon Robertson yielded a point. McIntosh scoring after the goalkeeper had saved from Murray. Shortly afterwards Travers capped a splendid piece of work by the Aberdeen forwards with a second point, and at the interval the visitors led by two goals to nothing. For a while after the resumption play was fairly even, the Hearts being, if anything, oftener near King, but the latter was in good form and saved shots from Sinclair and McLaren. Another piece of fine combination by the Aberdonians ended in Murray putting his side three goals up, and although the Hearts tried strenuously to reduce the leeway, they were beaten by that margin. Result:- Aberdeen, three goals; Hearts, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 19th December 1910

The Aberdeen team revisited Edinburgh on Saturday, and met the Hearts at Tynecastle in their return Scottish League fixture. The ground was heavy, but otherwise the conditions were favourable for the game, which was witnessed by fully 10,000 spectators. Teams were:-

Hearts: Robertson; Graham, Walker; Mercer McLaren, Nellies; Sinclair, Walker, Buchanan, Harker, Sanderson.
Aberdeen: King; Colman, Hume; Wilson, Wyllie, Millar; Soye, Murray, McIntosh, Travers, Neilson. Referee - Mr. R. G. Kelso, Hamilton.

The Hearts opened in promising style, mainly as the result of nice combined play on the right wing, where Walker was greatly in evidence. Sinclair responded with equally good work on the extreme wing. A long, drooping shot from Sinclair was cleared by King, the ball eventually landing at Sanderson's feet on the left wing, but his attempt at goal went wide of the mark. Travers opened out the game for Aberdeen, and when he passed out to Neilson the latter easily beat Mercer, but McLaren rushed across the field and pulled up the left winger. The Hearts, however, were the better team in the opening stages, Walker being very difficult to hold, and with Sinclair always ready to catch up the clever passes from his partner, the Aberdeen defence were kept continually on the move in checking the raids of the Hearts' right wing pair. Later on Sanderson came to the front in an attack on the Aberdeen goal, and a splendid centre by the left winger was caught up by Sinclair, who headed straight for the net. King, however, the capital clearance, and eventually the ball was sent strongly out to the Aberdeen right wing. Nellies failed to stop Murray, and the latter in turn passed out to Soye, but Roderick Walker stepped in and relieved with a strong punt. Next minute Harker had hard luck with a neat header, King saving close to the crossbar, while Walker followed with a stinging shot that just missed. At this stage Aberdeen came away strongly in the front rank, due in great measure to the effective play of the half-backs. For a time and the Hearts' defence experienced the utmost difficulty in clearing their lines. A terrific drive by Murray struck one of the backs, the ball rebounding to the Aberdeen left wing. Neilson recrossed the ball to the centre, and Wilson rushed in and let drive for goal. Robertson stopped the ball, but failed to clear, and McIntosh finally scored an easy goal. Aberdeen were thus a goal up, although on the run of the game they did not deserve this lead. However, it was Aberdeen's game after they had opened the scoring, for the Hearts' fell away greatly, particularly in their forward play. Their half-backs, too, failed to check the opposition forwards, although McLaren was an exception, his work at centre half being ahead of anything witnessed on the Hearts' side. The backs kicked with great power, but were weak in their tackling, and it came as no surprise when the visitors placed themselves two up. Soye sent across a long pass from the right, which was picked up by Neilson. The latter in turn back-heeled the ball to Travers, who scored a lovely goal - the best in the match. Aberdeen maintained their superiority all along the line, the effective work of the half-backs being always in evidence. Neilson and travers were a lively pair, and gave no end of trouble to the Hearts' defence. Close on the interval the Hearts' should go off the opposition, and for a time Coleman and Hume were severely tested. The backs, however, defended skilfully, although Wilson rendered capital assistance in covering up the defence on one occasion when Harper and Walker were close in on King. At the finish of a lively 5 minutes' play in front of goal, Wilson got the full force of a shot on his body, the ball rebounding down the field, and once more Aberdeen were the attacking side.

The second half opened with the Hearts' leading off in great style on the left wing, where Sanderson was prominent. He crossed the ball to the centre, but Buchanan literally threw away a very easy chance of scoring by shooting high over the bar. He had a clear field, and could have run right into the goalmouth had he tried to do so. A break-away by Aberdeen was checked by Graham, and then followed another cross from Sanderson, but King rushed out, caught the ball, and punted down the field before the Hearts' inside forwards could close in on his goal. Play on the whole was lacking in interest, Aberdeen being apparently content with their two-goal lead, while the Hearts' made poor attempts at reducing the leeway, even although the enjoyed a monopoly of the play. Still, Aberdeen occasionally came away with clever combination in the front rank, and a fine cross from Soye was missed by McIntosh when within a yard of goal, although the ball was traveling some what fast at the time. Another pretty movement by the Aberdeen forwards brought a third goal, and this practically settled the game. The player leading up to the goal was a lesson in the value of combination. Murray sent the ball out to the left, and Neilson caught it up on the goal line; he then back-heeled to Travers, whose shot was blocked by Graham. This was followed by a pass to Murray, who let drive from fully 20 yards out, and beat Robertson with a low shot. The goalkeeper partially stopped the shot, but ultimately the ball rolled into the net. Soye had two very fine tries a few minutes later. The goalkeeper fumbled the ball at the first attempt, and then one of the backs rushed behind him and cleared under the bar. The right-wingers second shot went spinning off are Walker's foot, and just as the ball appeared likely to land in the net, Robertson made a spring and turned the leather round the post. Near the close to king saved thrice from Sinclair, one clearance on the ground being specially good. Aberdeen, however, were easily the better team on the day's play.

This is the first occasion on which Aberdeen has beaten the Hearts' in a league game at Edinburgh. The result has enabled Aberdeen to detain the top position on the league table.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 19th December 1910

The conditions in Edinburgh when Aberdeen arrived on Saturday forenoon were much better than those they had left behind in the Granite City. It wee a decidedly bad arrangement that they should have to visit the capital two weeks in succession, and there were fears that it would affect the attendance. The latter was not justified, for the good impression Aberdeen had created at Easter Road only stimulated the enthusiasm as to how they would fare at Tynecastle. The spectators were slow in coming owing to the early start, but they came with a rush when the teams took the field, and the enclosure has only once held a larger crowd this season.

Colman won the toss, and set the home side to face the breeze which was blowing, the Tynecastle eleven being the strongest they have had out for some weeks back. Lennie was again an absentee from Aberdeen, otherwise the side were the same that fell to the Hibs last week. For the first half-hour or so we were treated to some class footwork, the Hearts showing up well in the open, with Bobby Walker ever in the van.
It was a treat to watch the old warhorse feinting and dribbling at his best, plying the ball at one time to the right, next to the centre, and so on, making splendid openings. At this stage Tommy Millar and Hume had their hands full, but with a perfect understanding they kept out the side from scoring. King was also in the picture, for he cleared not one, but several dangerous-like shots in the most capable manner.
Most noticeable on the Aberdeen side were the left wing, who pushed ahead more methodically for a time than the right, and it was due to a fine cross by Neilson that Macintosh early almost brought the first goal. While the play veered from end to end, Wylie initiated the first fruitful attack by stopping Buchanan, and parting to Tom, Murray, who made off and shot hard and true, Robertson could only stop the ball and nothing more, when Macintosh was on him and from the return beat the goalkeeper without much ado.
Soye, with a little luck ought to have put his side two up, and it was left to Travers to do the second point from as clever a back heel on the part of Neilson as we have seen. Finding he was to be tackled, the left winger let the inside man have the back pass, and, being ready, he had the ball past Robertson before the goalkeeper had time to realise there was anything in the movement at all.

With a lead of two goals at half-time, Aberdeen started the second period with confidence against the wind. Their play improved, or maybe it was the Hearts deteriorated; anyway, they were more in the picture, and it was clearly seen they were a winning side. Time and again the Hearts had to kick out for safety, but eventually Torn Murray eluded the opposition again and putting his side three up, there was no question as to the better eleven. We think other chances Could have been improved on had the Aberdeen been anxious to pile on the agony, but as their defence had shown they were able to keep the Hearts out, they had no actual necessity of increasing their total. When time came, the general verdict, was that Aberdeen were worthy winners and had their opponents well in hand after the first half-hour's play.

PLAY AND PLAYERS

A general compliment was again awarded the Aberdonians that their team had, played the best game seen on Tynecaastle this season. There were many good points on the Hearts' side from what we saw at Pittodrie, and there were also several bad ones. The goalkeeper was beaten three times, and might have been on other two occasions at least without any serious fault being found with his display. He did some smart things, but did not get that assistance from the backs which he ought to have got. They were rushers pure and simple, without any idea of working to those in front. The halves appeared to be slow, and lay too far back to keep the front line moving. This was specially noticeable after the first goal went on. The extreme wingers lasted the pace best, but Walker, bright and original as of old, failed to stay the punishing game it proved to be, and was soon tired out, so that Millar, after wearing him down, could do almost anything with him.

On the Aberdeen side, King was great at the start, and gave the side that confidence required to set them going. Colman was the best back on the field, and Hume was not far behind. Of the halves, Millar had the stiffest 'wing' to deal with, and once he got the measure of them, was ease personified in what he did. Wyllie and Neilson also did well, but the line, as a whole, did splendiidly. It would be a very difficult matter to say that any of the front line was better than another. As a line, they worked in unison, and it was this understanding that led to their success. Neilson again gave every satisfaction, and along with Travers, made a fine wing. Macintosh was ready to snap up anything that came his way. We thought Murray might have given Soye more to do in the first half, but this was remedied later on. Soye did what he got to do well.

CHATTY BITS.

The Aberdeen players felt very sore over their loss at Easter Road.
Their success at Tynecastle compensated for their failure the previous week. They understand quite well that points cannot be dropped now if their position is to be maintained.
It is quite evident that they are a drawing power, for the attendance at Tynecastle was the second largest they have had this season.
A well-known Edinburgh enthusiast remarked that Saturday's game was the best and cleanest he had seen at'Tynecastle this season.
This same gentleman had a great word for Soye. He thought he was the best outside right he had seen in the metropolis for a long time.
There was no mistake about it, the whole front line were in the mood, and individually and collectively made a most harmonious quintette.
Lennie's absence from the team will be much longer then was expected, as his illness has developed into a severe attack of tonsilitis.
The doctor thinks if he is fit for the cup tie he will do very well, as it will take some time before he will be able to do any training.
There is very little chance, of the popular left ringer appearing on the field before the Celtic match at Pittoclrie, and he will have made a rapid recovery if he appears then.
Bobby Simpson is home from Bradford, on a weeks's holiday. He was at Pittodrie on Saturday watching the A team playing and renewing old aquaintances.
While he likes the club and the playe, he has not a very good opinion of Bradford as a town to stary in, in comparison to the Granite City.
There will be cheap fares on almost all the branches of the Great North Railway on Saturday, in view of the Dundee match at Pittodrie.
Though there will be a big crowd, the early start will keep the attendance down a bit.
Dundee will have several changes in their team this week, as a few of them gave a very poor show against Clyde on Saturday.
Aberdeen have a stiff programme to get through at the New Year. They play St Mirren away on Hogmanay, Clyde at home on the Monday, and Falkirk away on the Saturday.
The Reserves have Partick Thistle A at home On Hogmanay, and then on Tuesday and Wednesday they have Peterhead Hibs (Aberdeenshire Cup) and Wishaw Thistle in the Reserve League.

Source: Bon-Accord, 22nd December 1910