A Cunningham (2)
Match Information
Attendance: 41,000
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Tyre trouble upset me not a little yesterday afternoon. I intended having a chat with some of my old colleagues on either side before the battle started at Ibrox, but a ‘burst up’ decreed otherwise. As it turned out, I had only time to look into the Morton end of the pavilion. The first man I ran against was ‘Bob’ Cochran. “Brown isn’t playing,” was the Greenock manager’s greeting. ‘Bobby’ doesn’t feel fit, and I am introducing another local juvenile. His name is Tanner, he is a forward, and to accommodate him we are playing Gourlay at left half-back. Let me say here and now that Morton erred in this finding. They did just exactly what they shouldn’t have done – they weakened two divisions instead of one. I have the greatest admiration for Gourlay. Jamie is a top-hole inside forward, but I think he is a better half-back. Yet somehow or other, against the Rangers he was only a very ordinary middle-man, and the result was that Cappielow suffered both in attack and defence. Having read that Morton were quite a good side, I expected them to put up a very much better fight that they did. In saying this I am thinking of the grim struggles I have seen at Ibrox and Cappielow during the last half-dozen years. But yesterday’s match was only very ordinary stuff. Rangers were easily the better side. But I don’t mind telling you that they will have to play very much better next Saturday at Parkhead, or for them there is no Glasgow Cup final. Individually there are, or nearly, all right, but as a combination there is something to be desired. They found Morton a very, very ordinary side, I am sorry to say. Yet they only whacked them by a couple of goals and had ‘the Greenockians’ been worth their salt as a finishing force they might have reduced the margin by half. They had chances, but – what a poor crowd in front of goal! My old Cappielow colleagues started all right, and for six or seven minutes we saw a very moderate Ibrox eleven. Then a change! Edwards ‘cornered’ in splendid style a magnificent thirty yards drive from Cunningham, Andrew shot past nest time the ball came along, and on the top of this Alan Morton chipped in with a centre which was too far ahead to be of any use. I Don’t like to find fault with any officials, but hereabout I must say that Tom Dougary made a ‘bloomer.’ The referee gave a goal-kick when, to my way of thinking – and you’ll pardon me saying that I know something about the laws of the game – the Rangers should have been penalised. If ever a man was offside, Bobby Stevenson was him. After this Cairns tipped one nicely along to Morton, ‘AL’ let go straight and stiff, and Edwards knuckled his shot over – the correct thing to do. It was Rangers now. There were no goals, bit I had already made up my mind that Morton were mastered. Archibald backheeled a pretty thing for Cunningham to send anywhere; at the other end Dixon sailed into French like a Dreadnought, and on top of this Jock McIntyre put down Morton as if Alan were a sapling. Things were a bit sultry now, still I could hardly imagine that I was watching the Rangers and Morton in earnest. The play as too nanky-panky – it wanted the old-time punch; it required life. As I think I have indicated or said – I haven’t the journalistic faculty for remembering everything I have written – Rangers were top-dogs, and it was no surprise that they scored just about twenty minutes after the start. Jamie Bowie who had been moving along as quietly and effectively as few can, shoved the ball forwards to Cunningham. Andrew carried on past Bell, and Edwards hadn’t the semblance of a chance. All Andrew had to do was to place the ball where he chose. A fine centre by McNab and a dangerous free kick were got rid of by Manderson ere Bowie let Alan Morton away. The old Queen’s Parker beat McIntyre good-oh, the ball came across just the same, and Andrew ‘headed’ it in among the strings. I though Edwards should have got a grip of this ball, but there you are! It will serve no good purpose to dwell further on the run of the game. Morton were beaten to the world before the interval, and really afterwards – and I regret to say it – they were lucky to get off with a two goal defeat. Archibald, Alan Morton and Cunningham all should have had goals in the second half. Now you want to know something of the players. Candidly, I don’t like Morton – I am talking of Greenock, not of Alan – who were Rangers’ inferiors on every division bar one. I refer to the goal, where bar the mistake I have alluded to happened, Edwards was all right. But neither of his backs pleased me. John Bell was unaccountably hesitating, and young Gibson has much to learn both in kicking and tackling. The middle line was weak also – true, McIntyre put up a stiff fight, but Alan Morton was far too nippy for Jock. Mind you, I am only talking on the day. McGregor is a defensive half-back and a useful one – simply that and nothing more. I have mentioned Jamie Gourlay already. In front Alex McNab was off colour, young Tanner wandered too much, and like Stevenson gave Frech far too little of the ball. I think I’m right in saying that the centre-forward didn’t receive half-a-dozen passes during the game – most of those that came his way were ‘bad ’uns.’ Thom was just so-so. In a word I have never seen a poorer Morton. While Alan Morton was the brightest Ranger, I gave Bowie credit for being the brains of the team. Archibald disappointed me – the Fifer is something of a puzzle. Cunningham, although I know he is a far better inside-left than a centre, more than passed muster, and Cairns made a passable partner for Morton. But Tommy, take a tip from me. You must be up if you want to do your best for Alan – and the Rangers. Dixon starred in a steady, if unbrilliant half-back line, which does not possess a Gordon. Meiklejohn I should like to see again before passing judgment on him. Still, this much I will say, the Maryhill youngster tackles fairly well, and he can shoot some. Manderson was very safe, but Smith could do with a little tuition. He is inclined to rush in when he should wait, and vice versa, still he kicks a good ball. Robb may or may not be a great goalkeeper for aught I know – he was not tested.
