Aberdeen 0 - 0 Dundee

Ten thousand spectators witnessed the meeting of the northern rivals at Pittodrie, Aberdeen. A high wind prevailed throughout the game, rendering good play well nigh impossible. In the first half Dundee played with the breeze in their favour, and as a result had most of the play. King saved twice in rapid succession from Lindley and Langlands, while Crumley rushed out and cleared a swift drive from McIntosh. Play on the whole, however, was uninteresting, the ball being frequently in touch. Close on the interval Dundee came away grandly, and Hume and Wylie saved shots with their bodies near the goal line, while Lawson had a fast drive stopped by Hume. The second half was a fine scramble all through. There were few attempts at real football, and the result of the game was a correct reflex to the play. Result:- No scoring.

Source: The Scotsman, 26th December 1910

Turf in fair condition, a city teeming with enthusiastic supporters of the clubs, players on both sides determined to strain every fibre, and the eyes of football Scotland turned on Pittodrie all tended to make the game they are between Aberdeen and Dundee one of the most momentous and the teams have yet participated in. The pent-up enthusiasm of weeks was let loose on Saturday, when a huge crowd assembled, representing all classes of the community, and contributed to by thousands from Aberdeen, hundreds from Dundee, who travelled by special pains, and contingents - greater or smaller - from the district's surrounding the city. In the league competition the position of Aberdeen is second to none, yet Dundee are only two points behind, so that the circumstances of their meeting on this occasion were exceptional.
Aberdeen's team was the same as triumphed at Edinburgh the previous week, Lennie still being an absentee, but being well substituted by Neilson, the young Ellon player. Dundee were at full strength. Teams:-

Aberdeen: King; Colman, Hume; Wilson, Wyllie, Millar; Soye, Murray, McIntosh, Travers, Neilson.
Dundee: Crumley; Neal, Lawson; Comrie, Dainty, Mair; Bellamy, Langlands, Hamilton, Macfarlane, Lindley.
Referee - Mr. J Lyons, Motherwell.

The excitement started with Dundee winning the toss, and having the sun behind them, with a tricky crosswind, which was slightly in their favour. Dainty had early to draw up the dashing little McIntosh, and then a dog's encroachment accounted for a brief stoppage. Lawson twice in succession stopped balls which were meant for Soye, and then Herbert Dainty was once again in the picture with his stopping of McIntosh. Aberdeen were finding the wind difficult to negotiate, and this accounted for Dundee being so much in close proximity to King. Then Travers raised the pressure, and a file by Dainty saw Aberdeen make headway. Soye got nicely round Lawson, but Dainty cut the cross before McIntosh could get in to clinch the matter.
Mr. Lyons proved himself a very sharp referee, and by noting the minor fouls he kept the players well in hand at the start. After some midfield play, the first corner of the game fell to Dundee, King conceding it. The danger was averted, however, and after Travers and Neilson had failed to get away, Bellamy tried a wriggling run, but was bowled over before he had gone far. Hamilton had the first try at King after 10 minutes, but he failed to gauge the wind, and the effort went wide. Then came a narrow escape of the home goal. Macfarlane outwitted Colman, and Hume failed to tackle, king falling and scraping the ball round the post when all seemed lost. Nothing came of the corner, and the suspense was lifted from the home crowd. So far Dundee had been top dogs, but the home defence never allowed them to get the chance of shooting. McIntosh praised the siege with the spanking run, and had distanced Dainty and Neal, but the ever ready Crumley got his foot in first in the final sprint.
Dundee were back again at King's end, and the ball was kept bobbing from head to head, but the defence seemed always to get their first. King had had quite a succession of goal cakes, but these were not due to any superiority on the part of Dundee, but rather owing to the wind. Once more McIntosh got off, but his cross to Neilson was too strong. This was the signal for an Aberdeen attack, and following upon a foul, Soye crossed accurately in front of Crumley, and Neilson lost a great chance, Neal elbowing him off when he had got to give the ball a final touch. Exciting play followed at Kings end, but Coleman robbed Hamilton when that player was in the act of shooting. Gradually, Aberdeen, with the elements against them, had worked themselves into the game. King, however, was often in the danger zone, and once he got the deserved plaudits of the crowd for running out and clearing from Macfarlane, while later on he saved superbly after Hume had missed with his head.

Dundee rushed matters at the restart, Langlands worming his way through, only to be checked by Hume. Then Bellamy had an effort, but his shot was misdirected. As was to be expected, with the strong wind in their favour, Aberdeen soon assumed the aggressive, and for long. Crumley was in the centre of the fray. First he fisted away from Soye, and then he conceded a corner to Wilson's shot, but a foul ultimately brought relief. Aberdeen were soon back to the attack, and McIntosh gave Crumley a hot header, which the keeper fisted out nicely. Two corners fell to Aberdeen after this, and the Dundee defence for a time were in sore straits, being glad to get rid of the ball at any cost other than a goal. Still Aberdeen refused to be shaken off, and still the Tayside defence held out. The tide for a period was all against Dundee, and when Lawson, their best back, was injured and had to leave the field, Aberdeen looked like being out for a win. The back was not long absent, however, and he resumed in time to block a shot from Murray. Keeping up the pressure, but failing to gauge the wind, which was increasing in velocity, Aberdeen tested Crumley on numerous occasions, but his kicking, fielding, and fisting were sound. In a burst by Bellamy, the Aberdeen captain conceded a corner, and, following upon this, Lindley missed an opening. For a time Aberdeen slack and considerably, and the game gradually assumed a more open nature, each side attacking in turn. Bellamy, with his flashing runs, tried his utmost to get the goal that never came. In the visitors' goalmouth Millar completely missed the ball with a goal at his mercy. Dundee's defence showed improvement. At least, there was not so much kicking out of the ground on their part, but still the game was minus any brilliant work, and on the whole uninteresting. On one occasion, from a cross by Lindley, the ball rolled slowly across the home goalmouth, but there was no Dundee food near, and Colman relieved. The referee had frequently to caution several of the players on both sides, and there was a deal of temper shown. A mistake by Neal almost cost his side a goal. He missed his kick, and McIntosh, rushing in, grove high and swift, but Crumley, with a tiger-like spring, tipped the ball over the bar for another of the many futile corners that fell to the lot of the ground team. On numerous occasions after this Crumley was tested, and one great drive by Murray from far out he saved grandly. Time arrived with Aberdeen pressing, but no goals having been scored.

The drawings amounted to about £325, representing an attendance of between 12,000 and 13,000.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 26th December 1910

The elements on Saturday, when Dundee visited Pittodrie, favoured the visitors, while the home team suffered by the caprices of a strong breeze which fluctuated greatly during the ninety minutes' play. A large crowd assembled to see the leaders and the aspiring champions - for there is no use disguising what is well known, that Dundee have set themselves on being champions - play their return League fixture.

With their usual good fortune, Dundee had this strong breeze in their favour during the first half, and credit must be given the Aberdeen defence for the masterly way in which they kept Dundee from scoring. Macfarlane was the first to make the home crowd uneasy, for he gave King a nasty one to deal with. Shortly after another peculiar sort of ball came along, which King again put away smartly, these two things giving the local spectatorate a sample of what he could do when put to the test.
Another fine bit of understanding was manifested when well through Hume missed his kick, and the ball looked like going all the way till King saved his goal marvellously. Though these incidents have been mentioned at random, we must not forget that Aberdeen, against the wind, were a very important factor in the game, so much so that Crumley had got as much work - if not more - than his vis-a-vis had got. As a proof of this, McIntosh got in a daisy cutter, which Crumley appeared to have difficulty in clearing, and another likely punt from Soye had a scoring look about it.
There were plenty of incidents, but far too many fouls, in which Dundee figured none too well. They were out for a spoiling game, and succeeded. With a barren first half, the Aberdonians were hopeful for a win in view of the fine appearance they had made against the breeze. There was a want of sting in the onening shots by Murray and McIntosh, and then, after pressing, Dundee burst away, the Aberdeen goal running the narrowest shave of the afternoon. A great deal more vigour was infused after this than was necessary, while deliberate wasting of time was frequently indulged in. Bob Crumley saved his side time and again, once in particular from McIntosh, and another from Wyllie, and Murray and Millar both missed easy chances.
There was tremendous excitement as time drew nigh and no scoring. Neither side could be complimented in giving of their best as far as football was concerned, and there was a deal of feeling that could have been done away with. We should say that the wind alone kept the home side from earning the two points.

THE PLAYERS.

On the visitors' side the players that filled the picture most were Dainty, Crumley, and Macfarlane. The centre-half was conspicuous for his saving from danger the attacks of the Aberdeen forwards and the goalkeeper was safe in everything he did. Macfarlane was the artist in the front line for initiating movements, and his shooting was the only thing that appeared dangerous amongst the Dundee forwards. Hamilton was poor (Wylie took good care that he did not make a show on this occasion), and the wing men were very erratic in everything they did. The backs - Lawson and Neal - were very uncertain; while Comrie was positively rough, and Mair little better.

On the home side, King was splendid, and the backs as safe as the bank. The halves were particularly good, Wylie being the pick. Of the forwards, the line was sometimes out of joint, due to the tactics adopted by the oppposing halves. Macintosh and Murray were ahead of the others, because they contrived to outwit their opponents. Soye and Travers worked extremely hard, but were unfortunate, while Neilson did not get the control of the ball as he has done away from home. This may be accounted for by the way he was used on the field, and the difficulty in controlling the ball against the wind.

CHATTY BITS.

There were no records broken on Saturday in the way of attendance, but the wonder is that no bones were smashed.
The attendance was a great bit less than at the Rangers game - a difference of about £30 in the drawings, due to the early start.
Dundee fancy themselves for the League flag this season, but we think they are aspiring too high with their team at present.
They were quite, cock-sure of bringing back a point from Glasgow on Monday, but Third Lanark scooped both.
There is no getting away from it that the "warriors" have made the most improvement of any of the Glasgow teams this season.
Manager Philip, of the Aberdeen, was present) at the Newcastle-Everton game at St. James's Park. Was he prospecting for talent?
Lennie is improving from his illness, but it will be a week or two yet before he is fit to do any serious football.
There is no word of any overtures being made to have the cup tie played at Pittodrie. The management are keeping their counsel.
The statement made that Bobby Simpson is on the transfer list stoutly denied by his relatives.
It was no surpriese to find Bradford City reverting to extreme measures with their players in view of the rumours that were going.
Good player though "Piper" McDonald is, we question if any club will deal with him over this affair.
A fine scheme for raising funds for the Hulton Pit disaster has been arranged by the English League, and matches are to be played in various districts for behoof of the widows and fatherless children.
On Saturday at Manclbester City's grounds over £51 was collected in the crowd.
Football is always to the front when charity puts in a claim, and in this calamity the players and officials will do their share in making their subscription as large as possible.
By their victory over Falkirk A on Saturday, Aberdeen Reserves accomplished a very fine performance.
Though they only scored one goal in the course of the game. by Robertson, they were value for more.
They did not miss any of their crack forwards, and some of the players fancy they can do better without them.
As they have a pretty busy week of it during the holidays, they trust the public will give them every support to win the Reserve League. They specially desire to beat Partick Thistle A at Pittodrie.
Third Lanark - by, their victory over Dundee on Monday, top the League table, but they have played two games more than Aberdeen.

Source: Bon-Accord, 29th December 1910