T Cairns 1, 3
A Cunningham 44
John White 86
Match Information
Attendance: 65,000
Referee: Hugh Humphrey (Greenock)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
There can be question as to Rangers’ superiority in their game with Albion Rovers at Celtic Park. The score of 4-1 in favour of the Ibrox team is but little indication of the difference between the teams. I must say, to be truthful, that early in the season, after I had viewed one or two of the Scottish team, I have made up mu mind that the team which defeated Rangers in the Scottish Cup ties would win the trophy. I was prepared, therefore, to see them winning this match, even although I had not had the privilege of viewing Albion Rovers since I saw them in last season’s final. From what I had heard about the Coatbridge team this season, and after their knockout blow to Rangers in last year’s semi-final, I was prepared, however, for anything happening. I looked, at least, for a game fight. In Cup-tie football one never knows exactly how things are to shape, and what did happen was that Rangers took command of the situation right from the start, and so dominated play that it was no wonder half the spectators had left Parkhead ere the Rovers had got their solitary point. When a team is down a couple of goals in three minutes it is a big handicap, and no wonder the Coatbridge men fell so easily. It all happened so quickly. The ball was only just set in motion by Young, the Rovers’ centre, when it was collared by the Ibrox half-back line. It was pushed out to Archibald, who, tackled by Ford and then McColgan, pluckily stuck to the sphere and crossed nicely from almost the bye-line. Henderson and Cairns were on the spot, and the latter knocked it into the net. Time, one minute. That was a set-back, but worse was to follow. Two minutes later Dixon placed a ball beautifully across the goal. Cairns chose the proper spot to head the ball away from Kerr. It was enough to take the heart out of any team, and all the more so because no one was really to blame for the double disaster. But these goals only showed how the wind blew (I might mention I do not refer to the atmospheric conditions, as the advantage to Rangers in this respect was very little), and then we saw really great play by Rangers’ front rank. Cunningham was in great shooting form, and first with his left, and then with his right, he drove hard at Kerr, whose saving was particularly good. Henderson, too, caught the infection, and he had several good tries. There was great understanding on Rangers’ left, where Bowie, Cairns and Morton moved to perfection. It was Rangers’ half-back line that dominated the position, and the Rovers’ forwards seldom got past midfield. Once, I think, through Bowie fouling, they got down and Bennett centred one or two balls, but there were no takers. The run of the game was all in Rangers’ favour, and at last Cunningham got the reward of his persistent shooting. I admired the way Archibald gave his inside man a ground pass. Cunningham took deliberate aim and shot carefully into the far-away corner of the net. It was a masterly effort. Many a player would have blazed away and shot wild. This was when half an hour had gone, and all this time Robb had only been troubled once, and that was when McCandless passed the ball back to him. Towards the close of this half however, the Rovers did get away, led by Bennett, who gave Young a chance, and Robb saved just on time, when he dived to snatch a ball from the centre’s feet. The second half was almost a repetition of the first, for although the Rovers did better with the slight wind, they took a long time to get near scoring. Duncan had got tired of watching Henderson only, and he drove long shots at Robb, and Bennett raised hopes when got clear away, to put over the bar. White was the most promising forager for the Rovers hereabouts, and time and again he swung the ball out to Hillhouse, but they never looked like scoring, and I thought Rangers had shot their bolt, too, for Morton and Cairns started a game that never plays. They hung too long on the ball, and Greenshields and Penman were having none of that. Archibald showed them how to do it better, and gathering a long forward drive from Dixon he raced past McColgan and scored Rangers’ fourth. After this the game petered out. Content with their lead, Rangers eased off, and it did not surprise me when, ten minutes before the finish, White capped a good piece of work by Bennett, and got past Robb. All the interest was out of the game, however, and even that late goal did not get up any enthusiasm. Had this happened ten minutes after the start, we may have had a fight, but – I rather fancy Rangers are going to lift the Cup now. At the close Mr William Maley informed me that close on 64,000 people had paid for admission to Celtic Park. It was a grand crowd for such a poor display.
