Heart of Midlothian 1 - 1 Aberdeen

Fully 18,000 spectators saw a rousing if not a very clever game at Tynecastle, Edinburgh, where the Heart of Midlothian were without Mercer and Graham. During the greater part of the first half the Hearts were the attacking side, but Aberdeen set up a grand defence, and in one of their occasional raids McDonald scored the only goal of the first half. The second period was even more one sided in the matter of attack, and Aberdeen's defence faltered at times under the pressure, and eventually Westwater equalised. There was not much cleverness in the game, but the plucky attack of the Hearts and the stout defence of Aberdeen kept the crowd interested.

Source: The Scotsman, 27th October 1919

Aberdeen did well to take a point from Tynecastle, Edinburgh, where a strenuous game with the Hearts resulted in a draw of one goal each. There were 18,000 spectators, and these saw a game which was always interesting if the standard of football was mediocre. So far as actual pressure went, especially taking the second half into consideration, Hearts should have won, and won comfortably, but while they outmanoeuvred Aberdeen in midfield they were palpably weak at close quarters, and in the end were fortunate to force a division of the points in the manner they did. Aberdeen's goal came after 23 minutes' play. McLaughlin passed nicely ahead, and Crossan, who was harassed, was beaten by Archibald, who gave to Macdonald for the player to rush in and give Kane no chance with a terrific shot at close range. For close upon an hour the Hearts battled for the equaliser, and 15 minutes from the end, when it seemed the Aberdeen defence would prevail, a soft if unsaveable goal fell to their lot. After some close work near the touchline, Birrell gave to Westwater, who, apparently with the intention of creating an opportunity for a colleague to score, lofted the ball obliquely across the Aberdeen goal, and it found the far side of the net, to the surprise of all. Up to that time the second half had been a prolonged duel between the home attack and the Pittodrie defence, and it seemed the Hearts' forwards could do well-nigh everything but score. In the period the Aberdeen rear divisions put up a magnificent resistance. Their covering up was admirable, and their display, if lacking in the finer points, will rank as one of the best defensive exhibitions seen in the Scottish capital. Hearts proved that they are not opportunists, and they even failed at a penalty kick awarded against Brewster for handling in the first half. Nellies took the kick, but shot over. In addition, on two occasions Murphy, the centre-forward, failed when he had the Aberdeen goal at his mercy. The Aberdeen forwards acquitted themselves moderately well in the first half, but in the second period they faded out of the game, and were seldom in evidence, the brunt of the game falling on a defence which was resolute to a man, and had all the credit by the point by which the northern team captured.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 27th October 1919