T Cairns
A Morton
Match Information
Attendance: 65,269
Referee: Hugh Humphrey (Greenock)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Steve Bloomer, England’s famous ‘Nationalist, travelled specially from Derby to Glasgow to act as ‘The Sunday Post’ critic at Parkhead yesterday, and below is his frank criticism of encounter, which resulted in Rangers beating their old-time rivals by two goals to one. It was the first occasion upon which I ad experienced the pleasure – and right away I’ll tell you it was a real pleasure yesterday at Parkhead – of witnessing the meeting of the old firm. For years I have followed – afar off – the meeting of the Celtic and Rangers, and yesterday, so I was assured after the match, I had the good fortune to see one of the most thrilling encounters on record. Thrills, yes, there were many; and goals, aye, they were of tip-top order – three of them – all beauties, too – of the order I like to see, the kind of goals after mu own heart; and may I say, without a suspicion of boasting, the sort I personally liked! I want to be very frank about this great tussle at Parkhead yesterday in the presence of a great crowd, surely well over sixty thousand, and I don’t think I shall be contradicted when I say that the Rangers deserved their victory – in a way a rather sensational victory. At half-time, I tell you candidly, I did not expect it. I was inclined to think the Celtic were going to overcome their rivals. The home team got a point through a very clever effort by Cassidy. I liked the way he anticipated McAtee’s corner kick. His expert judgment put him just right for his neat header. I liked the Celtic’s method of attack better than that shown by the Rangers. The home van was more dangerous on the whole, though I thought that Cairns’ effort when he struck the post was decidedly clever. He had his back to Shaw when he received a pass from Morton, but he turned in a lightning sort of way to shoot. Then Morton was wonderfully clever, but his crosses were often wasted. It struck me that the Rangers were a bit shaky or nervy at close quarters, and whilst that remark applies in some instances to the Celtic, yet I considered that, on the whole, the Celtic were just a little ahead on their general display – not much, but there was something about their work which suggested a winning vein. It was indeed very unfortunate for the Celtic when they lost McInally. He appeared to strain a muscle after making one of the best shots of the match. It meant a complete disorganisation of the home attack, though I personally thought that the Celtic did not make the best of a bad job. To me they seemed to be rather disheartened, and that fact alone naturally went in favour of their opponents, though not long afterwards they themselves lost McQueen, who dislocated his shoulder. But there you are, that, unfortunate as it was, did not appear to unduly upset the Light Blues. Andy Cunningham – what a versatile fellow he is – went to left back and played like a hero. The way he held McAtee on one occasion could not have been improved by an international defender. But those Rangers’ goal! The ‘first-time’ touch was there all the time. If players of the present went in a little more for the first-time idea (assuming, of course, that their position is reasonable) I think we should see far more interesting contests than we often witness nowadays. Now, a lot of credit I give to Archibald for these goals. When he saw that his side’s pressure was beginning to blend a very clever defence, he did the very best thing he could have done – he banged the ball across in double quick time style, no hankey-pankeying about it. Well, two of these crosses gave Cairns and Morton their opportunities, and they took them, but just where Alan Morton came from I won’t guarantee, because, to tell you the honest truth, I thought at first that Cairns got the two, but what really happened was that the left winger had whipped in, and with little attempt at trickery when McNair was upon him, had sent in from a long range a tremendous shot that in many cases might have missed the target by inches, and yet, in this case, a shot that no goalkeeper could save, and Cairns’ was somewhat similar – not from a big range, but a deadly, hot shot, taken without hesitation – the real type of goal to win matches, as I have already indicted. These goals put ‘paid’ to Celtic’s account, but I considered that the Celtic’s defence was not seriously to blame. The finest defence in Great Britain could not have avoided those points, but what I want to get at just now is about that ‘Cup-tie’ business which was talked about in the Celtic camp after the match. Yes, I’ll admit there was a lot of vigour in the game – too much at times, but I can’t agree with the opinion of many in the crowd (as expressed in chorus-like manner) that Walls was – well going below the belt. The Rangers’ left half was certainly vigorous, but those times when he came in rather hefty contact with Gallagher and McAtee were not at all instances of irregular tactics. Still, I must confess that the hot stuff, as it were, did come from the Rangers’ side largely, and Dixon was in Walls’ company as a very strenuous defender, whilst I also thought that McAtee and Gallagher were just a bit on the vigorous side now and again. But then, what can you expect in a game of this character? Archibald and Cairns stood out more prominently than the whole lot. I saw Archibald several times last season. He is fast, strong and knows how to play to his inside man. Now and again, he is inclined to hols on just a shade too long, but when he saw how things were going yesterday, he began to play the real wing play. Archibald had a great share, perhaps the biggest share, in winning the game for the Rangers. This Fife lad, I think, should be in the running for a cap this season. Just watch him, now! Cairns I like very much. A dangerous forward, a sharp shooter, and not selfish. I would advise the Rangers to persevere with Muirhead at centre-forward. He follows the ball well and should improve a lot with such good partners as Cairns and Cunningham, whose neat passes – often under difficulties – to Archibald were much admired. Alan Morton was at his best in the first half, but he was not well fed in the in the second, and in any case, he found Gilchrist’s pace as good as his. Alan’s crosses early in the game were superb – but many went a begging. The rangers’ half-backs are sterling players. Bowie is the star. He did some fine defensive work. Bert Manderson is a star defender – he seems to get to all kinds of balls with comparative ease. McQueen did well for his first really big game, and I thought his judgment was quite good considering the tense atmosphere. The Celtic players. Cassidy was the Celtic’s best forward. He showed a good understanding with McLean - a neat, dandy sort of little player, but just inclined now and again to overdo his his runs – and Cassidy also made a lot of good openings. McInally was not up to his usual standard – I thought that the importance of the occasion was just a little too much for him. Still, he is a very dangerous centre, and it’s a hard position. Gallagher was always a wizard, but hardly so effective as usual. Of course, he had to go through it against a very stubborn defence, and his latitude was limited. McAtee was clever and a hard trier, but I should advise him to drop his method of coming back a step or two after beating his man. Pratt played pluckily, but McMaster would have been in his position. His experience of these games would have been valuable. However, I heard afterwards that McMaster is not fit through a strain. Cringan was a splendid defender – he gave the best display I have seen him provide, Gilchrist was neat – his passes showed judgement, and Alex McNair was right up to his usual great standard; but whilst McStay was a strong defender, I thought he failed to tackle Archibald as he should have done towards the finish.
