Aberdeen 1 - 2 Hibernian

 Edited Norman Mac Donald
THE Dons have taken two points out of a possible twelve in their last six matches. Their only success was against East Fife at Pittodrie on Wednesday January 2, and it was only a late solo effort by Hamilton that gave them victory on that occasion.
The Aberdeen defence has come in for a good deal of criticism and there can be no denying that it could be improved, but the attack has also developed a limp in recent games.

THE team put up a sturdy fight in the first half against Hibs. Aberdeen had the balance of play during this period, but the forwards seldom became a real menace to the Easter Road defence. There was a lack of devil.
The gamble of playing Billy Smith at centre-forward was not a success. It was asking too much of the former Sunnybank player suddenly to transform himself from a full back to leader of the attack.
Aberdeen's style of play makes the centre-forward’s job a difficult one. Hamilon has filled the berh with distinction, but Scottish defences are becoming wise to his tactics.

DURING the last ten minutes against Hibs, Yorston took over the leadership from Smith and scored an excellent goal. I may well be putting forward an idea that is already germinating in the mind of the Pittodrie management when I suggest that Yorston be given a chance as leader and Hamilton switched to inside right, his original position.
Yorston is a bit of a lone wolf and there can be no argument that at inside right he is always prepared to have a go.

HAMILTON, who will be fit this week, would have more scope at inside forward and he and Yorston could indulge in the two centre-forward play.
At the same time an experienced and skilled football mechanic of Hamilton’s calibre is just the man to bring the best out of a young winger.
The Dons were weak, on the extreme wings against Hibs. This was the type of game in which most people looked for Pearson showing up prominently. The left winger disappointed. He was given no chance to work his wiles by the burly Govan.

THE Aberdeen defence halted the Hibs scoring machine for an hour, but in the remaining thirty minutes they were twice caught on the wrong foot.
The Dons' best player was Harris. The left half appeared on the field with his sleeves rolled up to the elbows and that was characteristic of his approach to the game.
He was strong in the tackle, and several times during the ninety minutes Johnstone and Combe switched positions in an effort to upset him, but Harris remained unimpressed.

ABERDEEN’S most successful players were all in defence. Thomson countered the free scoring Reilly's moves and Shaw clung tenaciously to his old clubmate and kingpin of the Easter Road attack, Gordon Smith. It was only in the closing minutes that the winger cut loose to score the second goal.
Although it took them a long time to get results the Hibs forward line played some clever football and there were few signs of weakness in the Easter Road defence at Pittodrie on Saturday.

Source: Evening Express, 14th January 1952