Heart of Midlothian 1 - 1 Aberdeen

The majority of the 13,000 spectators who were at Tynecastle were disappointed at the display the Heart of Midlothian gave. Aberdeen were short handed for an hour after McLachlan had been sent to the pavilion, but despite the advantage the home team thus had in men, and the fact that they pressed for most of the time, they could not secure the winning goal. Against a daring defence they lacked the craft necessary to beat it. In its earlier stages the Hearts had the better of play, and Smith and Murphy did good forcing work, which after several minutes brought a goal by Edgar, after Smith had struck the cross-bar. Following that success, the Hearts fell into a style of play that made them easy prey to a stout defence, and gradually Aberdeen worked up to an equality in the exchanges. Then, after half-an-hour, McLachlan fouled Murphy, and as he had been warned earlier in the game, he was sent off. Still the Hearts could not take advantage of Aberdeen's handicap; instead the A. Jackson - Paton wing raced away, and the latter scored a good goal. The second half was more or less continuous attack by the Hearts, with the Aberdeen defence foiling them at every point, and Blackwell having few dangerous shots to deal with. In reply, Aberdeen raided, and gave White good shots to save. The closing stages were fought in front of the Aberdeen goal, and with the defence beginning to flag under its exertion, the issue was in doubt up to the end. Hutton, at centre-half, had a big say in baffling the home side.

Source: The Scotsman, 10th November 1924

Aberdeen accomplished a good performance at Tynecastle where they effected a meritorious draw with Heart of Midlothian, each team scoring once. The result was all the more creditable to Aberdeen by reason of the fact that after the first twenty-five minutes of the game they were without MacLachlan, who was ordered off as the result of an incident in which he figured with Murphy, the Heart' outside right. Had pressure counted Hearts would have won easily, but so fine a defence did Aberdeen offer, and so dangerous were their forward thrusts, that they not only deserved to draw, but came very near to winning. In a superb defence, Blackwell while severely tested on several occasions, might have had more to do, but the Hearts forwards were weak finishers. J. Jackson and Forsyth were brilliant at back, as was Hutton at centre half. These three put in a great afternoon's work. Repeatedly they smashed up the Hearts attacks and always had the situation well in hand. Edward, Grant, Paton, and even Smith and W. Jackson also contributed their share to the fine defence put up by Aberdeen, and A. Jackson and Smith were two very speedy and very dangerous raiders.
White in the Hearts goal had two wonderful saves. On one occasion he dived at a hall from A. Jackson and got it away just before W. Jackson could net it. He had more difficult situations to cope with than Blackwell. Wilson was easily the better of the Hearts backs, and Wright was on his own in the half-back line. Forward the Hearts players indulged too much in individual effort, and lost in effectiveness in consequence. There were 18,000 spectators.

RESOLUTE DEFENCE: SPIRITED ATTACK.

At the outset, Hearts made the running, and Smith sent wide after clever play on the right. When Aberdeen got away, Walter Jackson shot wide, and following this the Aberdeen defence was kept busy, both J. Jackson and Forsyth effecting several splendid clearances. A. Jackson brought out a corner, off which Wright transferred play, and then, after eight minutes Hearts took the lead. Smith, after manoeuvring for position, sent in a strong shot, which found the crossbar, and the ball rebounded to Edgar who netted from close range. After this, Hearts were rampant, and it was due to fine defensive play by Hutton, Jackson and Forsyth that further disaster was staved off. It took some time for Aberdeen to stave off the pressure, but when they did Hutton just missed the mark with a powerful free kick. The Aberdeen rally was sustained, and two centres by A. Jackson had Hearts' defence in a tangle. A fast shot by Grant was fisted into the air by W. White, and in the subsequent scrimmage in front of the Hearts' goal Aberdeen had a claim for hands ignored. The Aberdeen left wing came into prominence, and with his head W. Jackson just missed converting a centre by Smith. John White shot wide for Hearts from and after Blackwell had fielded an awkward ball from Edgar, the Aberdeen goalkeeper, while harassed, had to throw the ball behind, after stopping a shot from Murphy. In another Aberdeen attack, W. Jackson was fouled just outside the penalty area, but his free kick was wasted on a defensive wall. The Aberdeen right wing again had the Tynecastle defence in a tangle, but ultimately A. White cleared. After 25 minutes' play, Aberdeen were unfortunate to lose MacLachlan, their captain, who was ordered to the pavilion. MacLachlan had previously been warned for robust tackling, and the referee considered his tackling of Murphy was not in accordance with the rules. Handicapped, Aberdeen played up in spirited fashion. Grant fell back to left half and they set up a vigorous attack. They were rewarded after 30 minutes' play, when Paton received from A. Jackson and, running on, beat two opponents to score with a ground ball which entered the goal at an angle. End-to-end play followed. W. Jackson and A. Jackson both had runs which were only stopped in time, and Blackwell cleared a hard drive from Murphy. Near the interval, A. Jackson sprinted three-quarters the length of the field, but his pass to Smith was anticipated by Wilson, and there was no further scoring up to half-time.

EXCITING INCIDENTS.

When play resumed, Hearts launched a vigorous offensive, but Aberdeen concentrated in defence, And Blackwell was well protected. Murphy shot against the outside of the net and J. White tested the Aberdeen keeper with a ground shot from long range. The home team forced three corners in quick succession, but Aberdeen crowded their goal, and the defence prevailed. Off a long pass by Paton, Smith broke away, and, after cutting in, delivered a fierce drive which hit W. White on the chest, and, in the scrimmage which followed, Wright scraped the ball away At the Aberdeen end Blackwell had to save from Welsh, and then A. Jackson broke away, and, rounding several opponents let go a fast shot, which White only managed to save at full length. Welsh (injured) changed places with Edgar in the Hearts' attack, who although often pressing, could make nothing of such as Hutton, Jackson, and Forsyth. Edward and A. Jackson carried out a bewildering movement on the Aberdeen right, and it was a wonderful diving save by White that prevented W. Jackson netting off his brother's lobbed pass. A. Jackson was fouled by Wright and injured, but was able to resume after treatment. The free kick, taken by Hutto, was stopped by White, who subsequently had to dispose of a high ball from Smith. Following these frights Hearts again took up the attack, and John White hit the crossbar with a terrific drive. Later, the Aberdeen goalkeeper twice thwarted John White and Welsh. On one offasion Smith got past the Aberdeen defence, but harassed by J. Jackson, he shot high over. In the closing stages Hearts had Aberdeen hemmed in, but, although forcing several corners could make no impression. It was a hard fast struggle from start to finish.

Source: Press & Journal, 10th November 1924