There is better news of the Pittodrie casualties. George Hamilton, Tony Harris and Fred Marlin are all expeeted to be fit for this weeks game with Hibs at Pittodrie.
Hamilton is making a good recovery from the pulled muscle sustained against East Fite last Wednesday, and Harris should be fit enough to play against Hibs in spite of the cracked bone in his wrist.
Martin, who has been a spectator since he broke one of his if knuckles against Morton at Pittodrie on December 15, had the plaster removed from the injurv during the week-end. He should be ready for active service this week, as he has been keeping himself fit during his enforced absence.
Goalkeeper is the least of Aberdeen's worries. If it hadn't been for Watson's agility and ability the Dons would have suffered a heavier defeat at Airdrie.
Saturday's team certainly didn’t strike me as being likely to cut much ice against the free scoring Easter Road machine at Pittodrie.
The forwards more than the defence were to blame for the feeble display at Broomfield. They seldom looked like scoring.
Some of the outfield work was smart enough, particularly in the first half, but their finishing had as much power behind it as a powder puff.
PROBABLY the biggest difference between the teams was at inside forward. In McMillan and Welsh Airdrie had a pair of energetic and dangerous inside supports, and Lennox in the middle was a real go-getter.
Lennox, it will be recalled, played last season for Kirkmuirhill against Woodside Thistle at Pittodrie in a Scottish Juvenile cup-tie.
Rodger, who deputised for Hamilton, did not get the same service as Lennox, while Yorston seems compleely to have lost his scoring touch.
IT is doubtful if Smith is yet ready to take his place permanently in the League side. He played reasonably well in the first half at Airdrie, but later he was frequently in trouble.
The former Sunnybank player is game enough and he has shown his versatility since coming to Pittodrie by playing at forward, half-back and full back. His time will come.
Young put up a courageous display at centre half and was the best of the rear division, but he is not yet quite the dominating player he was before he broke his ankle during the Norwegian tour.
The Dons have taken only two points from their last five matches. There is little danger, however, of the Pittodrie team becoming involved in the fight for survival.
Any club with twenty-five points will be clear of the relegation struggle and Aberdeen, with eleven games to go, have to collect only six points to cross the safety line.
Source: Evening Express, 7th January 1952
Airdrie Teamsheet
Fraser, Cosh, Brown, Cairns, Murray Shankland, Quinn, McMillan, Lennox, Welsh, McCulloch
Aberdeen Teamsheet Watson,
Smith,
Shaw,
Lowrie,
Young,
Anderson,
Boyd,
Yorston,
Rodger,
Baird,
Pearson.
Attendance: 10,000
Venue: Broomfield Park, Airdrie
Referee: P. Fitzpatrick