Aberdeen 4 - 3 Queen of the South

LITTLE LIFE ABOUT THEIR PLAY

Biggs Was Shining Light for Aberdeen and Bruce for Queens

(By "MAC.")

IT'S too bad Aberdeen are out of the Cup. Their failure seems not only to have undermined enthusiasm, but also the play of the team. There was a distinct end-of-the-season atmosphere about the game at Pittodrie on Saturday.

The Dons beat Queen of the South, but only by a short head. There was little fire about the exchanges. The home players were haunted by the Cup ghost.
Arthur Biggs, the Aberdeen inside left, saved the match. I don't mean he won it, although he certainly did his share in this direction, but by forcing football he kept interest alive.
Seven goals were scored and there were plenty of incidents at both ends, but the word thrill was not applicable. The Dons played like a jaded team.
Of course, the fact that they had that strenuous replay with Motherwell at Ibrox Park in mid-week may have had something to do with it, but I don't think that provides a complete alibi.
There's more to it than that. The players were as disappointed as their supporters over the Cup defeat and they have not yet recovered. They lacked spirit against the Dumfries team.
As a matter of fact had Queen of the South been more penetrative they might well have saved a point. I know they scored three goals. but most people who saw the game will agree that the first two should go under the category of "easy things."

Aberdeen Defence Not Too Reliable

There was an uneasiness in the Aberdeen defence. Johnstone did not show his usual judgment. He was too early in getting down to the first and too slow in getting down for the second.
Cowie played well. Lang required careful watching and it is a compliment to the play of the right back that the winger was seldom dangerous. Adey can still improve his tackling, but Oakes rarely had him in difficulties after the opening stages.
The Aberdeen half-backs can play a lot better than they did on Saturday. Nicholson had few leisure moments against Hay, a lively and alert Queen of the South leader. The Dons' centre-half was often beaten with the ball on the ground.
Thomson and Dunlop worked hard, but they never got on top of the opposition. Both planed hard in the Cup replay and they were probably still feeling the effects.
Biggs was far and away the best forward. What a pity he did not play in Wednesday's game. Had he been able to produce the same form at Ibrox Park as he did on Saturday it might have made all the difference. Still, "might have been" don't cut no ice in football.
Powerful on the ball, he opened up play in fine style and I noticed he made good use of the crossfield pass. This is a move the former Hearts player would do well to cultivate. He capped a first rate display with two goals and the first was a dandy - the best of the seven.

Dons' Attack Has Lost Its Sparkle

Strauss, his partner. did not respond as well as he might. The South African Is temperamental and in recent games he seems to have lost his flair of striking fear into the opposing defence.
Armstrong found Bruce an impassable barrier. The centre was clever, and his dainty footwork was nice to watch, but it is so much wasted effort unless he can add punch to it.
Hamilton had a poor game. He often lost possession and threatened little danger. Brady was Aberdeen's second best forward, and he only impressed in the opening half. He did not attempt to beat the back, but got the ball into the middle as soon as possible. His crosses were dangerous.
Queen of the South were a lively lot but they were prodigal with their scoring chances. Bruce at centre-half was the keystone of their defence and hut for his sound work I'm certain the Dons would have won with more to spare.
Anderson at left back tackled and kicked soundly, and Fitzsimmons and McPherson, the wing half backs, put in a power of work both in defence and in attack.
Hay was the liveliest of the forwards. He was quick and agile. but failed to seize his chances. The extreme wingers lacked initiative. Harkness showed smart touches at inside right, but little Law was unusually subdued.

Source: Evening Express, 3rd April 1939