Heart of Midlothian 0 - 0 Aberdeen

But Chances Missed in Thrilling Dons-Hearts Game.

Aberdeen and Hearts were evenly matched at Tynecastle, and a draw did neither an injustice. As the visiting team, however, the honours must rest with the Dons.

Although goals were conspicuous by their absence, the game was played on fast, keen lines and there were plenty of thrills.
Either side might have won had they accepted some of the chances that came their way. Admittedly, the attacks were, in both cases, opposed to sound defences, but at the same time the finishing of the forwards was far from impressive.
Aberdeen's quintette was the more likely. There was more crispness and understanding in their movements.
In fact, for the first half hour of the game the Aberdeen forwards played splendid football. Twice Warnock came within the proverbial hairsbreadth of counting.
The first occasion was when Harkness dropped a high shot from the inside man. Fortunately he was standing out of his goal and had time to recover.
Then a Warnock drive seemed certain to beat Harkness when the ball struck a defender's leg and was deflect against the upright.
While Aberdeen held the advantage in the first half it was the other way about after the interval. The homesters got into their stride and for twenty-five minutes Aberdeen's defence were working at top speed to keep their goal intact.
Despite the heroic work of the Dons' defenders, Hearts might have counted during this period had they possessed a marksman worthy of the name.
On the whole, the honours rested with the defences. Rarely, if ever, this season has Smith in the Aberdeen goal played with more confidence. High or low shots came alike to Smith, who was quick and sure in all he did.
He was well protected by Cooper and McGill. The latter showed a big improvement on his previous week's display, and although he was opposed to a dangerous man in R. Johnstone he held his own.
Cooper tackled soundly and kicked cleanly, and vied with Anderson as the best back afield.

Untiring Falloon.

The big man in the Dons' defence, however, was Falloon. The little Irishman was untiring in his efforts to stem the Hearts' attacks, and his fierce tackling was inclined to upset the home forwards. He kept a tight grip on Battles.
Fraser was the better wing half. He worked unceasingly throughout, and combined fine defensive play with many clever attacking movements.
Thomson was seen at his best during the first seventy minutes, when his head came in useful in the breaking up of Hearts' attacks. He tapered away somewhat during the last twenty minutes.
The ground conditions seemed to suit Warnock, who was ever in the thick of the fray. He deserves credit for the fact that he was more ready to shoot than his team-mates, and his efforts were invariably on the mark.
He had an excellent partner in Benyon, who was the most dangerous winger on the field. His speedy runs and crosses proved disconcerting to the Tynecastle defence.
There was more "fire" in Moore's play than has been the case in recent matches. Although he got few chances - thanks to the close attentions of Reid - his quick flicks to either side time and again opened up play nicely.
Mills, although not so prominent as usual was clever on the ball and instigated several smart movements.

Loves Injury.

Love played under difficulties. He twisted his side in the opening minutes of the game, and midway through the first period had to leave the field to have it plastered.
One can have nothing but praise for the Hearts' defence. Although perhaps not so confident as Smith, Harkness was a sound custodian.
Anderson and McClure were a pair of class backs - sound tacklers and judicious in their clearing. The former was the better of the two.
At half-back none did was better than Herd, who was strong in defence and quick to set his forwards going.
Reid confined himself to watching Moore, and Massie, after a bright opening, faded out.

Battles Poorly Supprted.

Battles was poorly supported by his inside men. He had the ball iin the net in the first minute from a White cross, but it was over the by-line before the inside man centred.
R. Johnstone, on the right, was the only forward who showed initiative.
Like Aberdeen, the finishing of the forwards left something to be desired.

Source: Press & Journal, 11th December 1933