Knox 17
Dr Marshall 18
Match Information
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: W Webb (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
There are times when you can hardly believe your own eyes. That must have been the experience of every spectator at Love Street yesterday, where Rangers started off in picnic mood, providing as dainty fare as one could wish to sample. Could this be the same collection as staggered through the second half? Only seeing was believing. I will say that thus was the worst display of a Rangers team in recent years, and it took the jerseys to identify them. This may seem harsh criticism, but I am sure even the Ibrox supporters present will bear me out. Of course, extenuating circumstances may be put forward. Rangers were without master-craftsmen Meiklejohn and McPhail, affecting both constructive flanks; they had had the arduous experience of a mid-week cup-tie. Yet all that will not explain away this poor display, and I must fall back on the impression that those early passages lulled Rangers into a false security. Goals could come at any old time, so lets frisk a bit and dont bother. Well, it was St Mirren who got the first goal, through the adventitious means of a free-kick, and it must be said to Rangers credit they had to pull level before they went ahead on scoring. I am not standing for the suggestion that Rangers were holding something in reserve or that they were a tired team. The facts are they finished stronger than St Mirren, and their League position allows of no liberties. A more thrill-less game would be hard to imagine. St Mirrens second half fight redeemed it somewhat, but that was because it became a mere scramble. The most eloquent criticism of all comes from the incidence of the scoring. All three counters came form pot kicks into goal, two from frees and one from the penalty spot. None was the finish of a combined movement. I would say that St Mirren did not deserve to lose, but for their missed chances. Their slap-dash methods produced more opportunities than rangers palaver, and on at least two occasions they had themselves to blame in the second half that the ball was not netted. When a team misses chances, no one can apologise for them, yet it shows you how near Rangers came to shedding perhaps a vital point or two. Criticism will flatter few of Rangers players, and perhaps only Dawson and Simpson come through flawless. It was well for Rangers that Simpson was in form and those lying backs depend too much on this. That is definite criticism whatever the game. Simpson came through like the true player he is, in the first half, recalling my opinion that he is a better footballer than he is generally given credit for being. McDonald and Brown are not yet a sound defensive mixture, and Rangers were weakest down that flank. Venters was jammed between the Smith-Fleming experiment and had to do his own groping. This was a pathetic combination in the second half, though in the early minutes of the game Fleming put across sufficient balls for the winning of the match. Smith was well held, and Marshall, Rangers best forward, did not ply Main enough. The Ibrox half-backs too often lost contact with the attack for a real Rangers team, though Kennedys unacquaintance must be considered. Saints cannot be termed a good side, unfortunate enough they were to lose. McCloy might have saved both goals, however. Both scoring balls came straight to him and should not only have been covered but smothered. Hay was the best player on view and challenged even Anderson on this display. Wilson made the best job of Smith I have seen, but the wing halfs were too ready to fluctuate with the play. Knox was never at ease, and the more immature left wing had better enterprise though Latimer was the best individual in the line. McCrae was never happy, but two knocks may account for that. Knox opened the scoring in 17 minutes by crossing over to take a left wing free-kick two yards outside the penalty line. The ball flew direct into the net, as did Marshalls similar equaliser one minute later. Five minutes from half-time Rangers got the winner from a penalty. Smith netting after the goalkeeper had twice returned the ball to him, a most remarkable and fortunate sequence. The penalty was given for Wilson interfering with Smith as the Ranger hovered over McCloy in possession after having charged the goalie down, and doubtless Wilson thought he was protecting his mate. Saints after the game were wroth over this award, as earlier on a penalty had been refused when Latimer was interfered with by McDonald in cutting in to complete a clever movement. At the very least there was doubt in the legitimacy of McDonalds effective tackle
