Aberdeen 2 - 1 Partick Thistle

By NORMAN MACDONALD

SATURDAYS success over Partick Thistle will help to take the strain off the Aberdeen players. There is little doubt that failure to win any of their first four league games had lowered their morale.

The margin of victory should have been more emphatic. The finishing of both forward lines was erratic and impetuous, but the Aberdeen team can justifiably claim that they were better chancemakers and, for that matter, chance-takers.
In a day of missed chances it was a pleasure to see the Dons' youngest player, Graham Leggat, lake the winning goal with such coolness and intelligence.
This young lad, who is about to start a physical training course in Glasgow, was the best home forward. A product Banks o' Dee, the Aberdeen junior club, he has the makings of a first-class outside right.
It was Buckley who provided the opportunity from which the winning goal was scored. The centre-forward showed an improvement on recent form and was a bit unlucky not to score. His sudden bursts of speed had the Firhill defence worried.

Wishful Thinking

The Dons gained two valuable points, but to imagine that all their troubles are over and that their future is assured would simply be wishful thinking.
The players had an abundance of fighting spirit, but the Aberdeen officials would be ill advised to assume that fighting spirit alone will solve the team problems
There is no reason for complacency.
There were occasions on Saturday when the Aberdeen defence was uncertain, and the Partick rear division at times showed an even greater lack of confidence. Had the forwards shown real accuracy at close quarters more than three goals would have been scored.

Mitchell Jinx

Mitchell, the Aberdeen right back, is still being pursued by a jinx. The previous week he was involved in a penalty hat-trick, and on Saturday he headed Partick's only goal in attempting to put the ball past for corner.
Although Caldwell was opposed to McKenzie, the best Partick forward, he gave a good account of himself. Allister and Glen at wing half were strong in the tackle, and the Pittodrie management have no reason to regret the promotion of the latter.
Hather was dangerously lively on the Dons' left wing, but Yorston's very eagerness to have a successful game proved a handicap.
Smith had not a happy game at inside right. His play is probably suffering from the frequent switches in position in which he has been involved since the start of ihe season. To add to his troubles he received a knock on the leg in the opening stages of Saturday's game.
The team as a whole, however, must be congratulated on their first League win. Let’s hope it is the start of brighter days for the players.

Source: Evening Express, 5th October 1953