Cassidy <45, >45
Match Information
Attendance: 69,260
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
At Ibrox Park, Glasgow, on Saturday, the Celts avenged the 2 to 1 Scottish League defeat inflicted on them by the Rangers, at Parkhead, on October 23, 1920. Cassidy scored a goal in either half for the cleverer Celts, while the Rangers, failed to count. A wet morning broke into a glorious day for football, yet new attendance figures were not put up as expected. The record for the ground is eight-five odd thousand; on Saturday, 69,260 people paid for admission. Once again, the unexpected has happened. The less fancied members of the ‘Old Firm’ have won the New Year Derby. And right did well did Celtic deserve their victory. They enjoyed one bit of luck when they booked the assistance of the breeze in the first half, and they made the most of any little advantage it gave them. Rangers pressed almost as much as their victors, and twice came within an ace of scoring, but all over the Celts were the better side. Forward there was an understanding never apparent in the Ibrox attack, which was scrappy by comparison. Arthur Dixon allowed the Celtic inside trio little latitude, but the man at his either elbow did not rise to the occasion. Yes, Bowie and Walls were missed badly. Behind all was well, however the onus of the ‘Light Blues’ defeat lies with the forwards and wing half-backs. Yet, with it all, the Rangers came nearer to scoring first. When the game was seven minutes old Shaw immortalised himself by clearing brilliantly a rare Henderson ‘header’ which followed a glorious Morton cross, but before ‘the quarter’ was clocked Charley, from home for the moment was beaten to the world. But his good fairy, in the shape of McNair, was at hand. ‘Old Alec’ seemed to spring from nowhere to scrape the ball away from under the bar almost, and second later the Stenhousemuir icicle repeated himself in the vicinity of the other upright. Against these near things Gallagher, McAtee and McInally missed by inches, but really Robb was not seriously tested. All the same, as I have already indicated, the lion’s share of the pretty or concerted work came from the Eastern Division, who were defending the western goal. Archibald pushed a fine one across, to find no takers; a pretty triangular movement in which Gallager, Cassidy and McInally figured ended with Tom sending high over the top; then – another bit of the real McNair. Alex sent Cairns to the right about in great style, and the next minute – the 37th of the 90 – Meiklejohn was penalised for tackling Adam McLean. I thought there was nothing wrong with ‘Meek’s’ tackle, which preceded disaster for the Rangers. We were still discussing the righteousness or otherwise to Tom Dougray’s award when Cassidy tried his luck from well out, and found it in. Robb was beaten by his difficult swerving ball from the moment it left Joe’s toes until it found its way into the net low down, just inside Willie’s left hand upright. A goal behind at the turnabout, the Rangers put on the ‘wee wheel’ with the restart, and early on the Celtic defence were in difficulties. McNair brushed a dangerous thing clear with his body; the next one he only half-kicked, but Willie Cringan came to the rescue. Then – Celtic consternation! Alex missed completely. Shaw was on the spot, however, as was Cringan when Cunningham ‘headed’ in a scorcher. Yes, the Rangers were no favourites of Dame Fortune hereabouts any more than they were after Cassidy collared his second point midway through. A Particularly clever move, in which McInally, Gallagher and Cassidy figured found Joe placed where Patsy should have been and vice-versa – Jamie McMenemy’s successor promptly walker past Manderson to place the ball where Robb was not. It was a smartly enough taken goal, even if the Ibrox defence were not blameless. Shaw shoved away a try from Meiklejohn with three ‘light blues’ players on his top; Charley took the rick of coming out to meet Archibald and won. He ‘cornered’ a terrific free-kick from Manderson, and just before the finish a fine cross from ‘the Fifer’ got Henderson’s head – for nothing of course. That was all – the Celts were home. Shaw has never done his club better service, and while McNair and McStay were much better than at Paisley a week ago, they were not nearly so safe as against Partick Thistle. What chances the Rangers were given: What a feckless Ibrox attack. John Gilchrist while shoving the ball along prettily, kelp a tight grip of his wing, and McMaster was a highly serviceable half-back, but Cringan was undoubtedly the number one man of the division. Willie was great! Patsy Gallagher and Joe Cassidy – in that order – were the star turns in either attack. McAtee was too much for Muirhead, and if McInally were lacking in repose he worried the opposition to some purpose. McLean was the best effective of the quintette, a fact doubtless due to an early knock. I absolve Robb from blame, and the Ibrox Irish division also escape censure. More than that. Manderson was a first-rate back, and McCandless the man of the moment. The little Belfast ‘boy’ was a pocket edition of Alex McNair at his very best – a mixture of brains, craft, ability and agility. Billy missed one ball but recovered in double quick time. When I say Dixon performed satisfactorily his part of the work, and that Henderson did very well indeed considering how poorly he was supported, I have finished handing out New Year bouquets. The indifferently backed Ibrox attack had a method – no plan. That’s why the Rangers lost
