St. Johnstone 1 - 0 Aberdeen

IF Aberdeen are to survive their visit to Falkirk this week in the third round of the Scottish Cup they will have to show a big improvement on the form they displayed against St Johnstone at Perth on Saturday.

They were beaten 1-0 but had the home forwards been marksmen Saints would have won by a more decisive margin. There was not a single redeeming feature from the Aberdeen viewpoint. The defence was rocky, and except for the opening fifteen minutes the forwards were unenterprising and disjointed.
The Dons' form was too bad to be true. It may be. of course, that they were holding something in reserve for the game against Falkirk on Saturday first. Let's hope so.

PATTILLO MISSES

Aberdeen started brightly enough. They should have taken the lead early on. Pattillo lofted the ball over Hunter's head, and gave Warnock a clear run. The winger made ground, and crossed the ball well. Pattillo was left with nobody to beat but the 'keeper, but hit the ball first time and it went past.
For a time Wylie in the Saints' goal was busy. At this stage the Dons were playing well. The forwards combined cleverly, and prospects of a victory were bright. The sudden falling off in form is inexplicable, but from this point onwards St Johnstone held the upper hand. The home team on chances should have been ahead at the interval.
Aberdeen were never in the hunt the second half. Wylie in the home goal had not one direct shot with which to deal. St Johnstone pressed almost continuously, but all they had to show for it was the winning goal, scored in the twenty-second minute. Simpson was the marksman. He found the net with a splendid drive after Cowie had blocked a shot by McIntosh.

DEFENCE UNCERTAIN

The Aberdeen defence has been playing well recently, but they blotted their copybook on Saturday. Under pressure they were uncertain and their kicking was erratic. Johnstone was the only member of the rear division who seemed to be unperturbed.
Nicholson never appeared to be at ease. He was beaten too often by McIntosh, the opposing centre, and another fault he displayed was in delaying his clearances too long. Cowie was the more reliable back. The former Dundee player gave Caskie little rope, but his play was not so polished as usual. Graham worked hard, but he allowed Hird too much latitude.
The most consistent players in the Aberdeen side were Dunlop and Thomson, the wing half-backs. In the opening half they gave good service to the forwards, but it was not appreciated.
The forwards were a poor lot. Except during the first quarter of an hour there was little sign of cohesion. What a difference compared with their display against Queen's Park in the Cup the previous week! Biggs was probably the best of the five, but he was far from being a star. He was inclined to hang on to the ball too long.

POOR WINGERS

Mason kept Hamilton subdued, but the inside right was handicapped by an ankle injury. ? Warnock. on the extreme wing, did nothing of note. It was his poorest display of the season. Strauss fell away after starting in promising style. Pattillo could make little progress against the lanky Moulds, and was never dangerous.
St Johnstone's weakness lay in attack. Their forwards were poor. In the second half in particular they sinned badly at goalmouth. The defence was sound. Welsh and Hunter were a pair of good backs, and had the better matters against the Aberdeen wingers.
Little fault could be found with the halfback line. Mathers and Mason were good in defence and attack, and Moulds played a big part in wrecking the Aberdeen attacking movements. Of the Perth forwards only Simpson and McIntosh revealed any enterprise.

Source: Press & Journal, 13th February 1939