A Venters 18, pen 25, 39
McCall pen 33
Caskie 37
Thornton 41
Match Information
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: J Thomson (Hamilton)
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
It was not a great game at Ibrox and made none the better by the fact of St Johnstone having to play practically the whole of the second half without Cook. Their defence took a gig share of the honours, and the four forwards who were left were always plucky and could bring out the defensive resources of the Rangers backs. There was no stars on the field, but Dawson impressed by his safe clutching of the ball. More than one he took his team out of a tight corner. Shaw was always decisive in his work, and occasionally the forwards developed a nice passing movement, but a great many of the passes went wrong. Thornton looked capable of doing something, but Venters and McPhail did not play the inside game and preferred to give the ball out to Main and Kinnear. The whole of the st Johnstone defence deserved praise, and while Cook was on the field the forwards moved quite well, with McCall, who was not quite fit, giving a good lead. The first half was choke full of incident and rapid goal-scoring kept the crowd on the tip-toe of excitement. The Saints had a fairly even show of the attack, but they lost the first goal after 18 minutes when McPhail neatly lofted the ball over Wylies head after Venters and Thornton had worked through. The Saints came into the game, but Rangers were the more dangerous at close quarters, and when they were pressing hard. Venters was brought down and he, himself converted the penalty kick after 26 minutes. Seven minutes later when the Saints were threatening the Rangers goal. McCall was pushed and the penalty kick converted by himself. Within four minutes the Saints were on level terms, Caskie crowning a clever run by Tennant by beating Dawson with a snappy shot from close in. Then Rangers went into the attack in breezy style and Venters gave them the lead again. Two minutes later Ross threw the ball from the touch line in front of goal and Thornton headed a fourth goal. This meant four goals within eight minutes. Rangers deserved their half-time lead, but the Saints had put up a brave show. Right on the restart St Johnstone lost Cook, who got a head injury in collision with Woodburn. It was practically all Rangers attack for a spell, and again Thornton came very near scoring after getting clear through. The Saints defence stood manfully up against the pressure, and occasionally the handicapped forward line made an open raid on the Rangers goal. Dawsons charge had a narrow escape when Caskie dribbled through and shot from close range. Dawson could not get a proper grip of the ball, and a great chance fell to McCall, who shot wide. The Perth team had a good spell whereabouts, and the Rangers defence was on the stretch. Until the finish St Johnstone did their best to make a fight of it and it was quite clear that had they been at full strength they would have been a real danger to the home team. Rangers had the greater number of scoring chances, but they could make few real openings for the St Johnstone half-backs covered up well and both Welsh and Clark were always in position.
