St. Mirren 0 - 1 Aberdeen

Only Fleeting Glimpses of Cup-final Brilliance
By NORMAN MACDONALD

JUDGMENT on the Dons is reserved until after Wednesday's game with Hibs at Pittodrie. The manner of their victory at Paisley was not impressive.

It would be foolish to over-estimate the value of Saturday's success. The result was satisfactory, certainly, but there can be no denying that there were faults in the Pittodrie side.
The team as a whole will have to show better form if Aberdeen is to remain at the forefront of Scottish football.
They were a better side than St Mirren. There was more craft and cohesion behind their play. Yet there was a suspicion of panic about their work in the opening stages.
Gradually they settled, but only in fleeting glimpses was their play reminiscent of the brilliancy of the cup final.
Johnstone's Brilliance

Few of the players won medals on Saturday. One exception was George Johnstone, in goal. The lanky 'keeper had three positively brilliant saves.
Cowie gained confidence the longer he played. His kicking was clean and he was the best defender.
If he continues as he has started he looks like providing the solution to the right-back problem.
The half backs can play better than they did at Paisley. They will, have to. There was far too much loose passing. Interception was made easy for the St Mirren defenders.
Taylor redeemed himself with a strong second-half display and Dunlop also improved after a somewhat shaky start.
Scoring chances were allowed to slip bv the forwards. Williams, Hamilton, Baird and Harris, when he switched places with Williams in the closing stages, could all be criticised in this respect.
The extretne wingers could have been more dangerous. McCall might, with justice, complain of the poor service received, but Harris can't offer the same excuse.

Promise of Big Things,/p> The best play undoubtedly came from Hamilton and Williams. The understanding and mobility of this pair gives promise of big things in the future.
The all-important goal twenty minutes after the start provides a good illustration.
Baird put Williams in possession and he in turn transferred to Hamilton. The Paisley defence converged on the inside right and he smartly laid the ball on for the unmarked Williams.
The centre received a knee injury in the closing stages, and is a doubtful starter on Wednesday.
The Aberdeen team can play a good deal better than they did on Saturday. Of that I haven't the slightest doubt. They will have to get down to serious business on Wednesday.
They would be well advised not to make the mistake of laying too much stress on Hibs' failure against Hearts.
The Easter Road club have a good team, and they will provide the Dons with a much more severe test than did St Mirren.
To me the Paisley team were no better or worse than they were last season. Newlands, Smith, Lindsay and Telford were their best against Aberdeen.

Source: Press & Journal, 11th August 1947