Chalmers 10
G Henderson 33
Match Information
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: J Dougray (Barrhead)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Of course, a score like the above tells its own tale. The simple fact is that the Rangers were too good for the Thistle. You might fairly say the class was different, not so much because of individuals as because of the vastly superior team play of the winners. At time, the whole Rangers’ eleven – even Robb was in it picking up the rearward passes – worked in almost perfect unison. It was like a machine tuned up to show what it could do. I thought the passing back was overdone, because on a greasy ground, you never could tell what might happen, but as things worked out, the end justified the means. In some way, it was the Rangers at their best. As for Thistle, I would not blame their defence. Ramsay might with some luck have got hold of Chalmers scoring ball that opened the scoring, and he was unfortunate to stumble in going for the one with which Henderson registered, the second goal, but he saved grandly at other times. The backs had a busy afternoon, and both Paton and Crichton fought it out to the end I must say that for them. Up against such a powerful bunch of forwards as Rangers possessed, it was little wonder that the Firhill half-backs often yielded ground without being able to disturb the onward sweep. The best they could hope for was to nip up a misdirected pass, and there were not many of these. So, naturally the Thistle forwards did not have the benefit of a good service, but nevertheless, they failed to make the best of their opportunities. To start with Gibson seemed to be playing as full-back as inside-left, and that in my view was bad strategy. Surely if he was to be of full value to the side, he should have been well up and playing in, as when operating at centre against the Hearts. He altered his tactics to some he never played so like a forward as he often does when filling a half-back position. extent in the second half, but I think the effect of this was vital to the Thistle for neither Salisbury nor Miller received the support he was entitled to expect. It was a bad day for Miller to make his debut, but he showed he knew his job, and I feel certain he will yet pay his way. When all is said and done, no one should feel surprised that the Thistle failed to bold their own. Circumstances were all against them. In the opening minutes play ran mostly along the Rangers left, where Chalmers and Morton were going ahead with rare little rounds of passing. There was bite in it, too and all the Thistle defenders were as busy as bees. Archibald had a glorious chance from one of Morton’s centres, but the ball slipped off his boot about ten yards from Ramsay. The Thistle forwards had had to wait for any stray chances of causing a diversion and they got one at last, and nearly caused a sensation. Miller cutely slipped past Dixon, and going in at an angle, shot low and strong. The ball beat Robb and it seemed a certain goal, but the ball hit the post. This caused a flutter all round, and before it had calmed down Rangers were a goal up. Rangers’ left wing went away again, and Chalmers taking a pass from Morton tore through by himself and shot a strong rising ball. Ramsay saw it all the way, but I think the speed and a bit of a swerve beat him. It was a finely-taken goal. This was followed by one of the most promising little spells of aggression enjoyed by the Thistle in the whole game, and but for the quick covering up by Meiklejohn and his mid-line colleagues, one could have seen an equaliser going on. A goal here would have done the Thistle a power of good, but even Gibson’s thunderbolt was stopped on the way in by one of the quick-witted Ibrox defenders. And then the play swung the other way again, and after Ramsay had saved from Cunningham and Chalmers, and the bar had been hit by Henderson, the second goal went on. Robb had saved a beautiful shot from Blair, and there was another flutter in that quarter when Archibald got the ball pushed along to him. He went ahead and got a rebound when tackled by Crichton. He went on again and passed to Henderson, who wriggled through and shot. Ramsay, in going for the ball, stumbled, and before he could recover it went over his back into the net. Before the interval Ramsay saved shots from Craig and Henderson that would have beaten nine goalkeepers out of ten. Well, you know what a two-goal lead meant to the Rangers in the second half. They did not always seem too eager to get more, but played some football that entertained the crowd. In twenty-five minutes, however, craig smashed home the third goal, and just on the close Cunningham made the total four following a Morton corner kick. I did not see a weak spot in the winners’ team. The play of Cunningham and Chalmers had a lot to do with the success of the attack. In the first half Chalmers played a dashing, clever game that must have pleased those who had not seen him against Celtic. His ball control then was grand, and he seemed as if he couldn’t get enough of it. Craig worked effectively with his wing that, in fact, was one of the features. Jamieson showed more moved than I have ever seen him do and Manderson was always too wily for Salisbury. A little hesitation on Dixon’s part was noticeable at times, but he recovered well. Ramsay, Crichton and Lambie were the best behind for Thistle, but as I have indicated the forwards were not a well combined line.
