English 15
Murray 17, 21
Match Information
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: T Dougray
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Phantom football was what we experienced at Ibrox. At times only the shouts of the players in the gloom and the aid for a good imagination enabled us to gauge how the game was going. When the fog did lift it was as plain as a pikestaff that the champions were the masters, despite the absence of McAulay, Meiklejohn, Brown, McPhail and Morton. There was an understanding and rhythm in their movements never revealed by Dundee United, who also lacked the driving force and cohesion of Rangers. Still, the score, in a way, emphasises to too great an extent the weaknesses in the Tannadice defence. English had a big say in the victory. Not only did he record a hat-trick, but he led the line with commendable confidence, dash and cunning. A word of praise must also be given to Murray. The Saltcoats boy scored the other two goals and had much to do with the success of the attack. He had the courage to go through on his own when the occasion demanded but did not make the mistake of attempting the impossible. Lucky are Rangers in having a lad of his ability on whom to call. In the early stages Rangers initiated most if the scoring manoeuvres from the right. It proved a wise policy, for Archibald was right on his toes and with Marshall supporting him with those shrewd slips of his, and always in a position to meet the ball when it came back. Penson and Watson had a sorry time of it. It was a pity Nicholson went lame after the turn, for he had given a polished exhibition until then. The half-backs had not really an arduous task and were, generally speaking, too skilful and resourceful for the United forwards, who did not get the necessary backing from their middlemen to cause Tom Hamilton undue worry. What the Ibrox outfield defenders could not cope with Gray and R Hamilton were able to polish off. I was greatly enamoured of Jackson in the Tannadice front line, and I will go so far as to say there was no better forward afield. Strong and artistic, he did more than any to relieve the pressure on McIntosh by his fleeting incursions and delightful distribution. Brant was clever enough, but it was a futile cleverness, while Bennett could never get clear of Simpson. There was no shirking by Milne, Gardiner and Watson, but they were easily drawn out of position. Still, I admired the way Gardiner, in the first half, fell back and assisted the overworked Taylor and Penson. McIntosh was beaten after seventeen minutes when English, taking the ball on the drop as it came up from Archibalds free-kick, smashed it behind the helpless goalkeeper. A couple of minutes later Nicholson daintily wound his way past the Tannadice outfield defenders and swept the ball over for the watchful Murray to turn it home. Number three came along four minutes before the interval. Again, Murray was the marksman, and a magnificently taken goal it was. On he went alone, feinted and eluded Talor, and finished the movement by whipping the ball behind McIntosh. With twenty-six minutes of the second half gone, English, catching up the ball as it came up from behind, sped on, and as McIntosh came out to intercept him judiciously hooked it between the posts. His next, eight minutes before the finish, also threw his opportunism and judgment into bold relief. Murray and Nicholson had a hand in this
