J Smith 60
Black 75
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: unknown - to be confirmed
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
The first words to be written about this match must be of congratulation to Hibs. Here they were, holding up the League, and their opponents as high as the skies above. When it was announced, jus before the start, that their brilliant schemer, Peter Wilson, was skill an absentee, most of us were prepared to watch a cat playing with a mouse before despatching it. But Hibs were having none of the mouse complex. Indeed, when eating time came, its Rangers should have been the meal. Only those claw-like clutching hands of Dawson saved Rangers from defeat, and there can be no two opinions about it, Dawsons work was marvellous, and this is the third occasion I have seen him save Rangers bacon since the start of the season, the previous games being at Coatbridge and Ayr. If Dawson was worth a cap last season, he is due a hatful now, so great has been his improvement. One can play him no higher compliment than that he more and more reminds spectators of the late John Thomson in his brilliant handling and anticipation. Dawson was the hero of the game, which leaves little else laudable to be said of the other Rangers players. The champions in reserve, according to this game. I cannot believe McPhail had any relish for it by his listless display, and Latif is literally foreign to a style such as Rangers. Haphazard dribbling and impetuous parting are not the stock-in-trade of a Rangers inside forwards. Eventually, Latif finished up at outside-right, with Main at inside-right. Need I ask you if it was a smooth Rangers attack? Of course, it might he said that Rangers played as well as they were allowed to, but that would be a libel on Hibs if it meant coarse play. It is more true to say that the pace set by these enthusiastic Hibs threw a spanner into a rather jerky Ibrox machine. It must be a long time since one could safely say that Rangers were inferior at half-back, yet such was the case here. The outstanding feature of Rangers mid-line play was the destructive work of Simpson. Winning is undoubtedly a clever player, but is happiest when the game is running forward, and revealed defensive deficiencies when play ran against his team. Meiklejohn was on velvet with the ball on the ground, but when the exchanges speeded up, he was not so noticeable. Simpson and his backs had to bear the brunt of Hibs sprightly attack, but it was really Dawsons last-line defence that saved them. And Dawson was more than once aided by a little luck. Black headed past him in a clash for the ball, which went over the bye-line. Another time Dawson had fallen when out of goal and the ball rolled in the goal area in front of an unguarded net. But the greatest thrill of all was Dawsons brilliant first-half double save from point-blank shots by Black and Smith. Cully also had his busy moments, the goal incidents thrilling the 20,000 crowd. Hibs luck was in when Smith headed against the bar shortly after the Rangers had opened the scoring and Hibs looked tiring and disheartened. Yet in the end, it was Rangers who were glad to save a point, an ominous reflection when they failed to hold on to a lucky lead. Smiths opening goal, fifteen minutes after half-time, was badly against the run of the game and there was nothing clever about its inception. Latif, out on the right, slung over a chancy ball that looked like passing wide at the far post, but like the little positional genius he is, Gillick retrieved it on the bye-line, flicked it to Smith who stopped down and headed through easily. Hibs equaliser came fifteen minutes from time and a most spectacular goal it was, Black rising to a flying header from Andersons cross and from nearly ten yards beating Dawson hopelessly close to the post. It seems unfair to differentiate among those whole-hearted Hibs, but in the key positions of centre half and centre forward. Watson and Black compel recognition. Watson had no qualms about the McPhail-Smith combination and Black was a regular little terrier. Special mention must also be made of the young players, Logan and Brady, Logan especially playing a manly part.
