J Smith 5
G Wylie 7
Match Information
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: J Thomson (Burnbank)
Matchday: Thursday
Match Trivia
Like a newly-wed who had baked a luscious-looking cake, saw it rise and then fall suddenly flat, the encounter at Ibrox played us a trick. In the opening half-hour during which Rangers struck through a brilliant goal by Smith and found their lead vanish in Thistles quick hit back, we sat prepared to witness one of the most absorbing struggles for many a day. But instead of developing it fizzled out until we were wearied of it all before the finish. And why? That is easily explained. The power and skill of the champions forwards gradually had the effect of swinging the pendulum completely in their favour. For protracted spells they were dominant. Nevertheless, despite the unceasing surge of their front line, ably assisted by a cool, sagacious and supremely confident middle line, the Thistle rearguard refused to ne intimidated. All the marks which can be allotted to Thistle were taken by the fellows behind. Baffled and inveigled out of position they certainly were at times, but their slickness in recovery repeatedly saw them get back in time to thwart the rollicking Rangers forwards. Not only so, but there was tactical intelligence in the astuteness of Stevenson and Calderwood in lying close in on Johnstone. By so doing, they sealed most avenues to goal or, if not exactly that, helped Smith and his merry men infinitely more difficult than it should have been and which actually appeared. Johnstone cane be absolved from all blame. Stevenson and Calderwood, who discovered their mates directly in front, so buoyant and cool in the opening stages, lose their grip and throw an extra burden on their shoulders, battled on with pluck and perseverance, and to them must go the credit of staving off a severe trouncing. You will be able to gauge the extent of the Ibrox mastery when I tell you Dawson had to save only twice in the second half. Late on, when the Firhill forwards did rally, due in no small measure to the easing up of the Rangers half-backs, he smartly turned aside a short, snappy shot by George Wylie and then clutched another stinging shot on the ground. But really these dying efforts merely emphasised this fade-out by the Partick van. Rangers have struck it rich. Their defeat of Celtic has given them the confidence and assurance which was theirs in their days of greatness. They entered this game with an aplomb which, allied to their strength, wore Thistle down and made victory inevitable. The Fiddles-Venters alliance is becoming a vital weapon. Venters had no superior afield in strategy and energy. McPhail too wielded a telling influence, as he always does, while Smiths advances were pregnant with menace. Turnbull completed a line always capable for more than was asked. In the fifth minute Smith, chasing a long forward pass from Venters, caught up the ball almost on the bye-line, eluded the challenging Stevenson and whipped the ball home from an acute angle. Two minutes more and Elliot swept over a free-kick for the unmarked Wylie to head the equaliser. A delightful movement culminating in Turnbull, after beating Stevenson at the second attempt, cutting the ball over for Smith to head home, restored the Ibrox lead in half an hour. We had to wait until the nineteenth minutes of the second half before we saw another. It was long overdue. McPhail notched. As the ball dropped from Kennedys free-kick, Bob close in, adroitly headed it into the corner of the net
