Dr Marshall >45
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: P Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers would have been exceedingly unlucky to have lost this hard game at Muirton, but right-away it must be said that St Johnstone gave a display much in advance of anything they have done this season, and for over an hour not only kept the Rangers ar bay, but at times had them distinctly groggy. Set to face a very stiff breeze, Rangers were never comfortable in the first half. They tried hard to get on the lead, but their scoring efforts were not attended by much luck. Fleming, for instance, struck a post with a screaming shot that had McLaren beaten. St Johnstone on the other hand, summing up the position, quickly went into the attack, and it is safe to say that had their forward line possessed one man who could go through on his own, they would have scored in that first 45. At times they had Rangers’ defence exceedingly groggy and missed chances galore to put the ball into the net. Then came the second half. Rangers settled down right away to a game, and I saw Tommy Muirhead putting in some glorious touches to get the leading goal. Here again, the Rangers were thwarted, for McLaren and his backs, who played a heroic part in the game, stopped all sorts of likely scoring efforts. One save of McLaren’s from Morton was class stuff. St Johnstone were obviously beginning to feel jubilant about the result of their efforts, and Rangers were just as apparently getting worries, when McLaren’s luck deserted him, and in attempting to bring off a great save from the onrushing Fleming, put the ball to the toe of Marshall, who promptly put on the only goal of the game. That finished it so far as Saints were concerned, for while I could quite easily see them holding Rangers at bay in a treacherous wind, I could not see them scoring. And so, it proved. That was Saints trouble. In front they lacked punch and go. Neither of the wing men were up to much. Nicholson could make nothing of Gray, while Webb gave the impression of slowness and of having no confidence in his own ability. The best of the middle men was Ferguson, who did try out his shooting ability. Main was up against too big a proposition in Meiklejohn, and plucky though he was, he had too much to do. Stevenson was too slow on the hard ground. The st Johnstone defence was good. Imrie, Swallow, steel and McLaren continually caught the eye; Imrie in patches gave a great display, but the start of the team was McLaren. Rangers’ team was not an unqualified success, but they fought in dogged style and won the points as they should have done. They were outplayed for most of the first half and for a short portion of the second, but their positional play was always superior, and it was their due when Marshall scored. The rearranged forward line did not exactly knit, and it was to Fleming and Morton that most of the credit must go. McPherson worked hard and showed that, given the chance, he would become a serviceable member of the X1. Marshall and Archibald were more subdued than usual. In the rear, the man who mattered most was Tommy Muirhead. The skipper only lost one during the day – and that was in tossing for ends. He gave one of those exhilarating displays that he alone cane serve up, and at one time looked as if he alone, could do anything to save the day. Meiklejohn received a knock early on and never recovered his best form, but nevertheless this was good enough to keep Saints’ forwards at bay. Craig’s forcing tactics were commendable, but he was not in the same class as Muirhead. Gray was a safer back than Buchanan, although the latter played a sound game and gave Webb no rope. Tom Hamilton had one or two tricky saves to bring off, but he was up to all calls on his service. Rangers were more impressive at the start and although St Johnstone gave promise, Fleming was first to be dangerous when he burst past Swallow, but pushed the ball forward too hard and gave McLaren a chance to clear. McPherson was early making the most of his chance, and with a great drive almost had a goal, his shot being tipped over the bar by McLaren. Meiklejohn immediately afterwards took a tremendous risk when he lobbed back a ball that just mossed going home past Hamilton; but this attack of St Johnstone’s was but a momentary phase, for Rangers were soon back and giving St Johnstone a hot time. Fleming with a grand drive rattled one of the posts, and Archibald was stopped just on the point of shooting from close range. Saints came away a little better after this and Ferguson had two good tries which Hamilton saved, and another long-range effort that went narrowly past. This gave Saints added confidence and there was a great melee in Rangers’ goal, during which half-a-dozen heads were engaged lobbing the ball about. Hamilton was forced out of his charge, and for a time it looked as if the Rangers’ goal was going to fall. Finally, the siege was raised, but Saints still kept up the attack. Main threw away a chance and ran into trouble when he should have attempted a first-time shot. Rangers found it difficult to get into their stride, and although Saints’ attack fell off, the defence, combining a little luck with good judgement, kept Rangers from getting within scoring range. Rangers, with the breeze behind them, in the second half set about their task in hearty fashion, and McLaren was kept on tenterhooks. Saints, however, were not taking it lying down, and while Rangers’ defence was lying open, Webb crossed to Nicholson, who was stopped just as he was getting in his shot. Rangers were getting desperate now, and Fleming and Morton, pulling out every ounce they knew, set upon McLaren’s charge, and the keeper brought off a grand save in diverting the winger’s shot. At the other end ever so little would have put home a beautiful cross by Nicholson, while Marshall in Rangers’ next raid sent a ball across the goalmouth that might as easily have been put home. Just over 25 minutes of the second half had gone when Fleming broke through. McLaren smothered his shot but was unable to hold the ball, which fell to the feet of the eager Marshall, who lobbed it into the empty goalmouth. Saints seemed to lose heart ar this reverse, and a pith-less attack by Nicholson and Main was the best they could do in retaliation. Just before the finish, however, Saints put in a dying effort. Main took advantage of a mix-up between Buchanan and Hamilton, and for a moment it looked as if Saints would draw level. Hamilton, however, managed to kick clear.
