Nicholson 75
Match Information
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: J Thomson (Hamilton)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I saw r-the combination of young and old Rangers bring -ff what, doubtless, many will regard as the most remarkable victory ever obtained over the historic Celtic rival. But we must maintain a sense of proportion. This Celtic team was only a shadow of the old ones that bore the name. Yes, only a shadow. It is idle to speculate on what difference McGrory and McStay would have made when six of the Rangers regulars were either playing for Scotland at Cardiff, looking on, or in bed. What matters is that, despite some indifferent football, the game was one of the most entertaining the clubs have contested. The crowd was worked up to a state of frenzied excitement during the first half-hour of the second half. When Nicholson scored with his full-blooded left foot shot, just 29 minutes after the restart, the roar that went up to the heavens was a tribute at once to the winners and to the challenge which Celtic had thrown out during that period. I say when ‘the winning goal was scored’, because by the time it came the game had taken a definite and decisive turn in favour of the Rangers. One goal was enough. Certain things had happened to make it so, and one of the vital things was the injury to McNally, 16 minutes after the interval. The first half had been a pleasant, sporting affair which, first a certain amount of Rangers predominance and, then a levelling up which left the issue in the clouds when the half-way mark was reached. Something had been said in the Celtic dressing-room at refreshment time. This was as clear as ice in a tumbler from the way half-backs and forwards set about their job. Wilson and Robertson sent the ball swishing ahead without working it, the forwards quickened the pace all across the line, and – the Rangers defence were confronted with something entirely new and more difficult than they had been asked to grapple with in the first half. In the first minute, a fast, pretty round of passing ended in McNally netting, but Scarff had handled before making the pass, and a bonnie goal was rightly deleted. I think it was lucky for Rangers now that they had experienced campaigners in the front line in order to counter-balance this new Celtic outburst, especially as Nicholson had gone lame from an injury in the first half. McPhail was quick to realise the need of getting extra drive into the attack, and his lead was taken up by Fleming and the right wing pair. It was thrust and counter-thrust, a breezy battle that made the crowd hum. Anything could happen. Then something did, which meant a great deal to both teams, in different ways. In a Celtic forward movement, McNally was struck a hard blow by the ball on the stomach. He was carried off, and when he returned, went to outside-right, with Connolly inside and Thomson in centre. This was the worst possible misfortune that could have befallen Celtic, for Connolly and Thomson, as a wing, had got going in good style. It was clearly the settled plan to exploit Connolly’s speed against McCandless. More, there had been evidence enough that the plan was working well – it was exactly this that had given the game its fresh breeziness. But now the line was thrown almost completely out of gear, and the rangers’ half-backs and forwards, seizing the opportunity, threw their combined weight into a storming attack which culminated in Nicholson’s goal, after Thomson’s charge had undergone some thrilling escapes. Thomson had wonderful saves from Fleming and McPhail, while both Archibald and Marshall were beaten out of a goal by the merest chance. Celtic fought back. They were plucky, but Rangers’ defence was just too good for them. In according due praise to the Rangers’ young ones for doing just what they were asked to do, let us not forget the past played by the regulars in front. Rangers might easily have won by a bigger score, but the chances were also their first for McNally and then for Kavanagh to have picked up a goal that might have had far-reaching results. It requires the driving power of the four regular Ibrox forwards to turn the scale. But there was no failure in the winning side, even if some gained by contrast with others. McDonald stood out as a cultured half-back. There was none better. His positional play was sound, his tackling well-timed, and his passes along the ground models of accuracy. And he proved himself in the long distance champion at throwing -in. Behind him, Purdon was cool and safe – the pair seemed to understand each other. Purdon used both feet to advantage, and as usual, brought his head into action, but not too often. McCandless played a fine first half, had difficulty with Connolly on restarting, and then came back to his own when the Parkhead forwards shuffle took place. Ireland was getting the ball better way and with more sureness than when I saw him last. His defence was invaluable. Simpson was inclined to go forward at times, which was risky when the Celtic right wing was romping, but he was a worker. The forwards played some rare good football, first on the left and later, when Nicholson went lame, on the right, where the driving runs of Archibald and Marshall led to the decisive goal. No one gave Thomson more anxiety than Fleming, though the finishing was not, on the whole a bright feature. Hamiton was not tested as John Thomson was, but he had to look lively more than once, particularly when Kavanagh was right in on him and should actually have scored just before Rangers took the lead. McCallum, I am afraid, is not going to make a back. He was erratic, and this seemed to worry him. At anyrate, there was no need to get to loggerheads with Fleming as he did in the second half. McGonnigle started well but went right off in his clearing. Although the loose-limbed Gallagher did pretty well in a defensive way, McStay’s generalship was sadly missed. Wilson and Robertson both had to struggle all the way, and I would say they came out of it as creditably as any. Except in the quarter of an hour following the interval, the forwards were too lethargic, too much inclined to take reverse lying down, but they woke up after the interval and, but for McNally’s injury, might have gone on gathering steam. All the time, however, Thomson and scarf revealed a lack of strength necessary to come through with the ball as McPhail and Marshall could do. McNally, while at centre was slow to act when he had the ball in front of goal. Connolly was right on his game when he had to change position. Little Kavanagh also was fifty per cent better after the interval. There is no doubt he has clever feet, and he may yet capture the sharpness of thrust that means so much at the finish.
