McPherson 5
Lee 15
W Reid 75
Match Information
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: J.B.F. Stark (Cambuslang)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
Always a popular team in Glasgow, Dundee attracted a holiday crowd of 30,000 to Ibrox Park. Nor did they disappoint in regard to the quality of the football demonstrated, for the play was fascinating to the onlooker, and strenuously contested. The confidence begotten of victory at the expense of the Glasgow Cup-holders last Saturday inspired the Rangers, whose rearranged forward formation gave a more satisfactory display than any side which has sported the club colours this season. The home players, to prevent confusion, turned put in the black and white so long associated with Queen’s Park. From the start it was a magnificent struggle to watch, and exciting play round the one goal was followed the next minute by as fierce a contest at the other. The pace set in the first half was maintained to the end, and both side retired from the contest with every credit. Three weeks ago Dundee vanquished their opponents of yesterday at Dens Park by 4 goals to 2, but the boot was on the other foot on this occasion, and the account squared for the season. No matter how well the Dundee players acquit themselves on Ibrox, the Rangers generally go one better, and the traditional Rangers triumph duly matured once again. From an Ibrox point of view the game left many impressions, the most pleasing being the pronounced success of Billy Hogg, who for the first time since his acquisition from Sunderland was played in his true position at outside right. Partnered by Gilchrist; who was the outstanding success of the ‘Light Blues’ forwards at Cathkin, Hogg delighted the spectators by his dashing sprints on the right, the control he exercised over the ball when an opponent attempted to tackle him, and by his shooting. At close quarters he imparted the necessary weight to hustle the defence, and like Reid in the centre, with conspicuous success. Seven minutes after the start, from a corner kick taken by Hogg, McPherson scored after Crumley had saved from Stark, and five minutes later Lee equalised off a corner kick forced by Bellamy. The game was evenly fought out to the interval, and a few narrow escapes occurred at both ends without further scoring. The passing was a treat to watch and varied according to the disposition of the respective defences. The Rangers’ passing was mostly forward, but the Dundee wingers, and especially Fraser, gave an ideal exposition of the back pass to the man following up. In similar manner the half-backs, instead of passing the ball into the centre, put the ball straight down the wing pass the intervening opponent to allow the outside man on his own side to make ground quickly. The second half was a repetition of the first, with the Rangers a shade more aggressive. Reid got the winning goal after twenty minutes, and the game finished with Dundee applying the screw and almost drawing level in the last three minutes. Rangers’ defence as a whole played a steady game. Lock was brilliant on occasions, and like Crumley reliable all the time. Twice he and Law were fortunate to prevent a goal by being in the way of Fraser’s shots. Galt was energetic, and Stark untiring and clever. Gordon revealed himself in a new light by the energy of his tackling of Fraser, whose partnership with McFarlane was almost ideal. No longer comprised of two wing combination and a forging, neglected centre, the Ibrox attack was well spread, and not a man failed. Hogg, Reid and Gilchrist were pronounced successes, while Alex Smith improved as the game went on, his heading into goal revealing excellent judgment. The Tayside men all did well. Chaplin was to Dundee what Law was to the Rangers, and he lifted the greasy ball beautifully as it came to him. Lawson was steady and safe in defence, and the vigilance and daring of Herbert Dainty was reflected when the Rangers were most dangerous. Lee and Mair worried their opponents all through. As a trio they excelled the Ibrox half-backs in ground passing. This feature in outfield work was theoretically demonstrated by the wing forwards. Bellemy did not quite come up the standard of the others, while Langlands made a capital impression by his distributing passes to the wings and the pluck he showed meeting the backs. It was no disgrace for Dundee to lose such a game, and a brilliant feat for the Rangers to win. The ‘gate’ was round about £600, and the stand drawings would yield a tidy sum
