B McPhail 23
J Smith 88
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: G.A. Feol (Stirling)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers were fortunate that the fixture card yesterday sent them to Paisley, where the Love Street officials are still fiddling desperately to strike some kind of team harmony. Had the champions been asked to visit any one of the majority of the First League grounds, I am afraid they would have been lamenting the loss of two points on this display. It was a poor, poor gam, and the limited crowd of 10,000 saw little to enthuse over. The facts speak for themselves, though they dont tell everything. Here were St Mirren, bound to be suffering from an inferiority complex to some extent, playing with a crippled fullback at outside right for half the game, and minus a player from the middle of the second half. Until within two minutes of the final whistle, this crippled and much criticised team held Rangers forces to one goal. Not only that, but while Saints were battling along under the disability of injuries, Rangers goal had two escapes which were very fortunate, for all Dawson could do to prevent disaster. The first occasion was when Knox, taking a free-kick awarded against McPhail when Nichol was injured, released a streak of lightning from 30 yards range, and before Dawson was halfway across his goal, the ball had struck the outside of the post and glanced behind. The second occasion arose only eight minutes from time, when Knox pounced on one of the many loose balls that periodically bounced among Rangers defence and chanced a quick shot. He missed by a foot, but the ball might as well have been in the net. Granted that playing conditions were of the most difficult nature a skidding ball and a surface coated with top moisture, while still hard a little further down this cannot be advanced as a full excuse. Rangers impressed as having gone dead stale. There was nothing at all inspired about their play, no free movement on the wings or puzzling combined artistry that keeps a defence on the run. The individual cleverness that graces the moment was not lacking, but it all led nowhere against a defence that was latterly improvised and never at any time impressed as invulnerable. Macaulay was very skilful on the ball, McPhail was very zealous, but the wing men were not kept running, and Wilson was seldom drawn clear of Smith. Brown and Simpson alone revealed consistency in their respective spheres. The number of chances presented to St Mirren in comparison to the weight of their attack was no credit to Rangers defence, so you will grant the Ibrox team had an absolute off-day. Baird was injured towards the end of the first half and changed position five minutes after the interval. Gebbie went to full back, McGregor right-half, and Knox centre-forward. Saints played four forwards for the last 23 minutes. Of course, Rangers easily earned their victory on pressure, of which they had three-fourths. On many occasions Saints goal had lucky escapes, but nothing miraculous. Saints are far from being a sound team, and their defects are obvious. Chief is lack of team sense, too many movements petering out because the design is not complete. Their inside-forward play must vastly improve if the real genius of attack is to be captured, but the other divisions may pass muster, meantime. McPhail got the first goal in 23 minutes, netting a beautiful shot from twenty-five yards, and the same player presented Smith with his close-in chance for the second two minutes from time, after an evasive run. I do not like to criticise referees, but Saints were given bad breaks when McGregor was pulled up for offside, and when a corner was given against McMahon when the goalie did not get within a yard of the ball at Mains cross
