Match ended 0-0
Match Information
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: T.M. Dryburgh (Cardonden?)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I have witnessed many better games than this latest one between Celtic and Rangers at Parkhead, but few in which the players strove harder for the mastery. It had its dull moments, I grant you, but over the piece, if productive of few thrills, it was a real gruelling contest, in which the respective defences were too strong. Too clever, and too crafty for the forwards opposed to them. Here and now let me tell you that although the Celtic vanguard had its faults and failings – and many of them – the champions were the better team. They played with some method, and now and again obliged with flashes of their old-time brilliancy; whereas the Rangers made headway just as best they could. It was as ragged an Ibrox front as I have seen for many a day. Bennett delighted us now and again, as was once his wont, but his efforts were not sustained – and can you wonder at it? Lawson did a few clever things, and a lot more that were not clever, bustling Cairns was Seldom seen, the job was too big for the inexperienced Paterson, and Scott Duncan – one of the two best forwards on view – the other was McMenemy – did not get enough of the ball. Yet this straggling Rangers attack might have immortalised itself by winning the match. Indeed I feel sure that had Gunner Willie Reid been on the spot Shaw would have had to pick the ball out of the net twice. Young Paterson failed with as many glorious scoring opportunities in the second half – once Shaw’s goal was tenantless. Against these missed ‘pinches’ the Celtic also had ‘near things.’ Lock’s closest shave of the first half was when he saved a teaser from McColl, who, after fine work by Gallagher, caught the ball on the line and cut in. When the game was fully an hour old I thought Herbert’s goal must fall. Gallagher got away in characteristic fashion – like a greyhound – his shot was a stunner, but Manderson’s foot, I think it was, came in the way. The next minute McMenemy warmed the Ibrox keeper’s fingers, after which O’Kane failed badly. The Parkhead centre repeated himself following what, in my opinion, was the finest bit of goalkeeping in the match. Browning splendid right-foot shot seemed a certainty to squeeze through just inside the off upright, when Lock, panther-like, bounded across and clutched it. With McNair again at the top of his game, Shaw was more confident and reliable than I have seen him this season; and Dodds, in his best position, was quick as a flash and as decisive as ever in his clearing. In a word, it was a grand Celtic defence, but so too, was that of the Rangers. Lock I have already eulogised and the rollicking ‘loud’ kicking of Manderson, and the more reposeful and crafty Blair blended nicely. The Right Honourable Mr Fisher was charmed with the ex-Clyde man ‘frae Sheffield,’ whom he described to a Rangers director as a priceless gem. George Law did very well at right half-back, Pursell kept watch and ward over O’Kane with success, and McKenna, if a trifle unorthodox, was responsible for the partial eclipse of Gallagher. I liked Wilson better than in any of the previous matches I have seen him, and McMaster and Mick Hamill I would bracket as very good half-backs – the best intermediate players afield. Still, I would not say that the Manchester Irishman came near to setting the Clyde on fire. What appealed most to me were his fine passes to the left wing; what I liked least in his play was a fondness for lofting the ball. To the more superficial observer McMenemy may have appeared an ordinary forward. He was far from that. But his splendid leading out work and feeding were not utilised as they ought to have been. ‘Twas no fault of his that Celtic did not get the goal that would have given them their first victory in three weeks. He tried both wings in turn, but without result. Had they had a speedy player like Scott Duncan on either wing, Celtic must have won. Lack of pace on the touch-lines more than anything else, robbed the champions of this point, and came within an ace of losing them two. In addition, Browning hung too long to the ball, and most of McColl’s centres wanted ‘legs.’ Gallagher, I have indicated, was not quite the true ‘Patsy’; still, I place him second to McMenemy. The Ibrox attack, such as it was, I have already dealt with
