J Smith 72
Match Information
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: J Baillie (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers were generally expected to wreak a terrible vengeance on Queen of the South for their Cup defeat at Dumfries. It was thought that Queens, now safe in the League, would reserve their resistance for next weeks tie at Greenock. Such opinions were nearly blown sky high in yesterdays game, and Rangers had to fight tooth and nail to scrape through. Less than twenty minutes remained for play when their goal came, and it was such a soft affair that silence instead of cheers greeted it. A long, aimless ball came down the middle. It looked so harmless that none of the Queens defenders bothered themselves. Smith followed up, and before the danger was realised, he had only Fotheringham to beat. The goalkeeper did all he could in running out. Smith side-stepped him with the ball and tapped it through the empty goal. It made the break worse for Queens that the goal at that time was rather against the flow of play. Queens had survived a long spell of pressure, and turned the tables on Rangers, giving Dawson a very hot five minutes. Taking it all over, however, Rangers deserved their victory. They were by no means a good team, and their noses in front, it was all up with Queens. McPhail hit the bar with a shot, and Main was denied what appeared a good goal from a header. The ball looked over the line when Fotheringham caught it. Queens had their big moments and their share of the bad luck, in an exhilarating game, fought under splendid weather conditions, and on a ground more than reasonably good. In the first, Burns completely beat Dawson with a surprise shot, but the ball came out to safety off the bar. Just before the interval, Howe should have scored. He had the goal at his mercy when Dawson fisted out a shot from Burns, but instead of gauging his aim and distance, he blazed the ball over the bar. You will notice the name of Burns in those two almost vital movements. As a matter of fact, Burns wrote his name over most of the play. He was resourceful and enterprising, and kept things going for Queens. When Rangers found their combined schemes miscarrying, Smith and McPhail attempted to force Queens defence into surrender, but this suited Allan and Savage nicely. They fairly enjoyed this wielding of soccer cudgels and came out best. Fotheringham is a wonderful veteran. His eye, anticipation and action have not been dulled, and his handling of the ball was pattern goalkeeping. James Anderson, I have usually seen as a right-half, but he proved his versatility here at left-back. McKenzie also seems to have improved by his change of position, from a lethargic forward to a lively wing half. Thomson was the best half-back on the field. His recovery was excellent, and he could take the ball through. Renwick has been more prominent, and Howe could have risked a little more. Law was ubiquitous and elusive; game for anything. McMurdo could show McDonald no tricks. Rangers were below standard, individually and collectively, and were clearly not at case with themselves. Only Dawson earned full marks. None of the others impressed in an international sense. Gray was steady, though not too well covered by McKillop. Simpson could be bustled or outmanoeuvred, and Brown was fitful, though admirable in skilful touches. Main is coming on to his game again, but Macaulay did not live up to his promise early in the game. Still, he had the most unlucky try, when his magnificent header from a flying left-wing cross hut the bar. McPhail had a desultory game and found everything going wrong. Smith was in the toils of Allan most of the time and could not concentrate. Kinnear was clever, but erratic in his finishing. It is remarkable how Queens cane rise to the occasion when big fellows like Celts and Rangers area at Dumfries. This was another instance.
