Heart of Midlothian 3 - 2 Aberdeen

By NORMAN MACDONALD

ABERDEEN F.C. may be faced with a problem for this week's game with Raith Rovers. Jack Hather, their left winger, must be regarded as a doubtful starter.
Twenty minutes from the end of Saturday’s match at Tynecastle he sustained a leg injury and was carried to the dressing-room on a stretcher. Fortunately, an examination revealed that there was no break. The left shinbone was badly bruised and a stitch had to be inserted in a flesh wound.
Hather has been playing well this season, and against Hearts he was again the most dangerous attacker. If, as seems probable, he is unfit, who will take his place?
Jimmy Brown, who was signed from Falkirk, or Laurie Higgins, free transfer man from Hibs. may be called upon. Bob Wishart, who has recently returned from National Service was originally signed as a left winger, but I understand he has been showing good form in the reserve team at centre-forward.

Fighting Qualities

The Tynecastle defeat, the Dons’ first since they were beaten at Parkhead in September, has reduced the strength of their challenge to the leaders. But if the Dons conceded both points they also left Hearts with a healthy respect for their fighting qualities.
They were down 2-0 at one stage, but fought back to such purpose that they were on level terms shortly after the interval. In fact, if the forwards had adopted a more aggressive attitude they might have forced a draw.
Hearts were more polished than Aberdeen in their approach work, and could find their man better, yet they were by no means the perfect attack. Their finishing was suspect and the defence was none too confident under pressure.
Hather was a real live wire on the Dons left flank, and would have been more effective had Hay, his partner, been quicker and more alert. The inside left is an accomplished ball worker, but to he does not appear to be thoroughly tuned up.

Inconsistencies

Buckley was lively in the middle, but was closely watched by Glidden. There were times when Yorston and Leggat promised to create trouble for the Hearts defence, but they were not consistent.
The 19-year-oid winger, who is now engaged on a course at Joradanhill P.T. College, had a poor first half, but became more enterprising after the interval.
Aberdeen's half-backs put up another good show at Tynecastle. Glen is playing consistently well and is developing a fine understanding with Hather. The left half is a considerably fitter player now than he was in the early part of the season.

Anxious Afternoon

Caldwell was more successful against Rutherford than was Mitchell against Urquhart. The right back had an anxious and worrying afternoon against the lively left winger.
It not easy to forgive Martin the loss of the first goal. The ball actually travelled between his legs to the unmarked Rutherford.

Source: Evening Express, 30th November 1953

After a grander run lasting nearly two months, the dons fell at last to the strong-going Hearts. All over the game the Maroons just deserved the points but the Dons, playing in blue, were stubborn opponents and might easily have taken at least one point. Up when Aberdeen brought the score back from0-2 to 2-2, Tommy Walker's men were clearly jolted and anything might have happened. However it was the home side who got that all-important third goal. When the flying boat caught Jack Hather's shin, the Dons' winger looked to have received a very serious injury. Fortunately the damage was not so severe as was at first feared.

Source: Match Programme, 5th December 1953