Unknown (3)
Match Information
Manager: No Permanent Manager
Attendance: 6000
Referee:
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
In a manner the Rangers courted defeat at Ibrox Park last night, for the eleven they turned out against the splendid team brought down by the crack English club was not by ant means representative of the strength of the ‘Light Blues’. The brothers J and A Sharp, who last season comprised the right wing of the Scottish Junior Cup holders occupied the same position in the Rangers forward line, Murray of the reserve team was played in the half-back line, and Sam Scott of ort Glasgow Athletic partnered Crawford at back. The Liverpool team is almost entirely composed of Scotch players, the more prominent including Battles (Celtic and Dundee), Raisbeck (Hibernian), Robertson and J Walker (Heart of Midlothian), Morgan (St Mirren) and George Allan (Celtic), the latter, like Battles having a previous acquaintance with Liverpool. The visitors created a very favourable impression by the quality of their play all through. The team was well balanced and speed and strength were conspicuous in their every movement. The first half was conducted on fast lines, and despite the heat the play was superior to the average friendly fixture. The Rangers did better in the first half, and had several good openings, but the energetic and reliable defence of Wilkie and Goldie, and the equally brilliant goalkeeping of Storer, prevented them scoring. On the other hand, Robertson scored a splendid goal for the visitors early in the game. To add to the difficulties of the ground side, Murray got injured and was thereafter of little use. He retired from the field, but came on again. Play continued on fairly even line, but Liverpool were always the better-set team, and the more dangerous lot at goal. Walker got a second goal ten minutes before crossing over, and at the interval the Rangers were two goals down. Only one goal was added in the second half, and that early by George Allan, who first held Scott off the ball and sent it nicely past Dickie, at an angle that gave the Rangers custodian little chance to save. This finished the scoring, the Rangers losing by three goals to nothing. Battles, Wilkie and Marshall did not share in Liverpool’s League triumph over Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. This shows what a capital selection of players the club has at its command, for to judge by the display of the eleven at Ibrox, Liverpool ought to take a commanding position in English football this season. The defence was almost faultless, and Battles, Raisbeck and Goldie constituted a powerful half-back line. Raisbeck came under the ire of the crowd for various tricks that marred his otherwise strong play, but at the same time it was dreadfully at variance with the canons of sport for a section of the spectators to cheer when the Liverpool player met with a slight mishap. The forwards always lay well in position and their play was of a uniform steadiness. Robertson and Morgan did exceptionally well, but the line was effective from right to left, and Allan balanced it without exhibiting that element of individualism associated with his play at Parkhead. Seldom so many disappointments are visible in the Rangers team as was the case on this occasion. Dickie did well at goal, but the back play was meagre. Two seasons ago Scott played a strong back game for Port Glasgow, but in his debut for the Rangers his play was of a very inferior order. Of course he was handicapped by Murray’s lameness, but this fact did not explain his weak returns and faulty clearing. Neil and Gibson played best of the defence. The right wing was weak all through, but this was caused by J Sharp’s blundering. The inside player is the better of the two, and experience should develop his abilities. The other lacks pluck and is deficient in passing. Hamilton worked hard but was not so effective at close quarters as he usually is. A Smith was the best of the forwards, but did not get enough of the ball.
