Source: The Scotsman, 18th March 1926
BLACKWELL'S BIG PART.
Kilmarnock deserved their win, and Aberdeen have Blackwell to thank that the margin against them was not greater than it was. Blackwell, indeed, was the hero of the match, and time and again his brilliant saves won him the applause of Kilmarnock's supporters. For an hour of the game he was kept really active, and many of the shots he handled might have been expected to count nine times out of ten. The plain truth is that the shadow of Tynecastle on Saturday was over the Aberdeen players; they were obviously reserving themselves for the bigger event, and were not troubling themselves about the outcome of this League game. It was in the forward line that Aberdeen's weakness primarily lay. The two outside men, and especially Reid, were good, but they got little support from their colleagues. Reid was the brains of the line, and although he was shadowed throughout by McEwen, the best of the Kilmarnock halves, he had many characteristically clever touches. Doolan was very poor and unenterprising at centre, and the finishing of the Aberdeen forwards as a whole was deplorably weak. The Kilmarnock custodian was only once or twice in any real difficulty, and many excellent opportunities were lost through erratic shooting.ABERDEEN'S DEFENCE.
Cosgrove was the best of the Aberdeen halves, and was up against Kilmarnock's best wing. Ritchie played a strenuous game, but got little support from his partner, who took things very easily - too easily. Indeed. A feature the game was the big International's encounters with Crump, Kilmarnock's left winger. It was a case of speed versus weight, for physically Hutton could make two Crumps. It was obvious that he found Crump's speed disconcerting, and he was not infrequently worsted in these encounters. Both backs allowed Weir, Kilmarnock's wily centre-forward, far too much scope, as the result amply proves. For three-fourths of the game Kilmarnock were in rampant form, and few league teams could have resisted them. What they lacked in height and weight they made up for in nippiness and eagerness. Weir showed great dash, and was not seriously disturbed by the attentions of the visiting defenders. He was ably supported by McCall and Crump, the latter of whom showed great enterprise and trickiness. McEwan was the bright particular star of the Kilmarnock halves, but the play of the whole trio, notably as regards accurate placing, was an improvement on recant displays by them. Kilmarnock's backs had a comparatively easy time, and were seldom stressed, while Climie did efficiently the little that was asked of him. Altogether, it was an off day for Aberdeen.Source: Press & Journal, 18th March 1926