Aberdeen 3 - 0 Clyde

Only Glimpses of Real Form

IMPROVEMENT IS NECESSARY

Mills and Warnock Take Eye

Although Aberdeen won this game rather easily they did not enhance their reputation.
They were superior to a mediocre Clyde team, but they gave only occasional glimpses of the form that has enabled them to lead the League for the greater part of the season.
There was a surprising lack of vim and vigour about the play of the team as a whole, and there will have to be a considerable improvement if their bid for honours is to be maintained.

EVEN OPENING

For the first twenty-five minutes of the match at Pittodrie there was really little between the teams. With luck, Mills and Armstrong might have scored! The inside left failed to get his head to a nicely placed Thomson free-kick, and later Armstrong ran through to collect a Mills pass and screw the ball across the goalmouth.
At the end of this period Warnock gave the Dons the lead. Strauss and Armstrong changed positions, and when a shot by the centre developed into a pass, Warnock ran in to turn the ball into the net.

MILLS'S HEADER

Six minutes from the interval Mills headed a second goal from a seemingly offside position, but the Clyde players made no claim.
This goal came following a Strauss corner. Warnock crossed the ball, and McKenzie lobbed it into the goalmouth for Mills to head home.
Cuthbert should have reduced the leeway in the early minutes of the second half, when he shot over an empty goal with Smith out of his charge.
In seventeen minutes one of Aberdeen's few brilliant movements led to a third goal. Mills, McKenzie, Warnock, and Armstrong all took part in the attack which led to the inside left netting from close-range.

GOAL DISALLOWED

Shortly after this Warnock had the ball in the net again when he ran through from an Armstrong pass, but the referee gave offside. Clyde were unlucky not to open their account when Robertson ran through and shot against the post with Smith beaten.
The Aberdeen defence did not concede a goal, but, nevertheless, their play did not inspire confidence. Falloon was the most reliable member, and several times came to the rescue when a goal seemed imminent.
Smith had a comparatively easy time, but Cooper had to work hard to check Cuthbert. Dunlop was never comfortable at left back and is wasted in this position.
The play of Fraser and Thomson, the wing halves, left something to be desired. They worked hard in defence, but their distribution was weak.
Mills and Warnock were the most valuable members of the attack, which never struck its best form.

WARNOCK DOES WELL

Mills was a scheming inside-left, and he took his goals smartly, while Warnock, after an indifferent start, developed into one of the most dangerous forwards. Although both Armstrong and McKenzie worked hard, they did little of note, and Strauss was afforded few opportunities.
Clyde will have to improve on this form, otherwise they will find themselves involved in the relegation struggle. Their defence was overworked but gave a plucky display, while their attack lacked cohesion and thrust.
Brown was a smart keeper, and had a number of excellent saves. Kirk was a strong and steady right back.

NEWCOMER SHINES

Robb, a newcomer from Beith, played a hard and useful game.
The centre-half was particularly prominent in the first half, when he held up several dangerous Aberdeen attacks.
Robertson was the most enterprising attacker, and it might have proved advantageous had he been moved to centre-forward earlier. Rankin was the only other member of the quintette who threatened danger.

Source: Press & Journal, 23rd November 1936