B McPhail 25
J Smith 42, 83
Main 72
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: J Hudson (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
This was no walk-over for Rangers. It was only in the last half-hour that they got the upper-hand of a stuffy Hibernian team, who played with their tails up all the time. When I tell you that Dawson had to make some brilliant saves, you will realise that the Hibs forwards were not out of it, but, at the same time, the inside men did not have the driving power which the Rangers insides possessed. This was a vital difference between the teams. In defence, the Hibs compared well with the winners. Gourlay, Prior and Bryson were a sound trio, the left back as good as any on the field. Why Hibernian put Wilson at outside puzzles me. Peter is anything but a raider. He could place a ball as nice as ninepence, but you could not expect him to go ahead with a flourish as a winger is supposed to do. Rangers did not get properly down to it until the second half, and I should say they were never quite at their best. For that a lot of the credit is due the Hibernian half-backs, who marked well. In fact, the Hibs could take some real satisfaction out of the game even if the need for sharper thrust in front was apparent. RangersÂ’ forwards had to fight hard for every goal they got. They were two up at the interval, which scarcely did Hibernian justice. McPhail nodded home the first from a Main centre after 25 minutes, and Smith got the second in 42 minutes with a wonderful left-foot shot taken on the turn from an angle. Gourlay was completely surprised. I liked the cheerful way the Hibs set about their job in the second half. Anderson, their cleverest forward, was having some teethy bouts with Gray, and the upshot was that Dougie elbowed him and a penalty was awarded fourteen minutes after the restart. Brady show low from the spot. Dawson went down and knocked the ball out. Brady ran in. Dawson plunged again, and in saving was injured. It was a great double effort. Even then the Hibs were fighters, but when Kinnear centred for Main to score a third for Rangers, the issue was not in doubt. Smith got the fourth when the Hibs defence, for once, got in a tangle. McPhail, twice hurt, left the field shortly before the end. Brady missed a 59th minute
