McGrory 16
J Smith 30
A Venters 75
Match Information
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: M.C. Hutton (Glasgow)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
This was a game that Celtic might have won, and to be perfectly frank I was sorry for them in their not getting a draw. Taken over the piece, they played the better football, and served up a variety of moves that did not come from Rangers. Then, I have no hesitation in saying that the referee was at fault in awarding the equalising goal three minutes before the interval. Main sent over a ball that hung in the air almost above the bar. Kennaway timed it well to bring it into his grasp. As he did so Smith charged him. Kennaway staggered and the centre, carrying on, pushed the goalkeeper, who fell backwards over the line still holding the leather. It may be argued that Kennaway would have been better to have punched the ball clear in the first place, but that is beside the point. The man was fouled, and no goal should have been given. Celtic players protested hotly, but the referee was adamant. He may not have seen the pushing part of the proceedings, but I think the linesman on the stand side of the field was ideally placed to see what actually transpired. With the exception of an occasionally desultory period in the second half it was a grand game to watch, particularly the first half that was brimful of fast and speedy football in which collective and individual skill roused the crowd to a high pitch of enthusiasm. The first score was the sequel to sheer doggedness on the part of Delaney. The outside right, near the touchline at midfield, gained possession. He cut ball to the left, where Murphy was lying unmarked because Gray had moved in to meet Delaney. The Rangers defence consisted of Dawson and Simpson, and the winger beat Simpson by crossing to McGrory. The centre breasted the ball forward and Simpson had time to turn and make a tackle. He and McGrory simultaneously lifted a foot to a breast high ball as Dawson came running out, and the leather landed in the back of the net. Exciting stuff followed, but Celtic I thought were the better placed to score, and if Buchan hadnt gone just that fatal yard on one occasion, the Rangers would have been in a bad way. McGrory moved slightly to the right, turned suddenly and slipped a wonderful grounder to Buchan, who had run into position on the centres left. The inside right by his timely anticipation found himself past everyone but Dawson, but he carried on too far, and only shot when tackled. Dawson had come out and got his left hand to the ball. Delaney cut in but fell over the prostrate Dawson. At the other end a McPhail header, and a slick save by Kennaway under the bar at the keepers left hand post brought forth cheers of appreciation from the two camps. Then the goal resulting from Smiths charge as already described. The winner came twenty-eight minutes after the restart, the result of as bonny a movement as you would wish to see. Venters had a short dribble and then slipped the ball back to McPhail, who returned it to the inside left who had run on. Venters was thus given a clear field, and his shot and goal were a matter of course. Kennaway had no chance, the ball coming at his goal from little more than eight yards. Celtic tried all they knew in the closing minutes to save the tie, but Rangers, concentrating almost solely on defence, had the power to withstand the opposition attacks, and this bring us to one of the chief reasons for the Celtic defeat. The forwards providing grand play in the outfield could not bring in the finishing touch. They might have had the game won in the first half, but for lack of power in the goal area. In the second half Simpson came right into the market, and blanketed McGrory, and one saw Celtics chance fading away. Both goalkeepers were good, and they had to look lively on occasions. Gray was his usual self, although in the first portion there were times when Celtic were dangerous from his side of the field. Ross was not too steady, and allowed the Crum-Murphy wing, grandly supported by Paterson, to play on top of Gray and have him running around. Winning was beaten frequently by Delaney, but never for one second lost heart about that, but kept plugging away, and chasing the winger. Delaney, just on the interval whistle, got a leg hurt, and was more or loess a passenger for most of the second half. Brown was forced into a lot of running by Buchan, whose control of the ball was delightful, but again I ask myself, to where did a lot of it lead? The Rangers wing men failed to work in with their inside supports. Kinnear, in this respect, was a sinner. He tried too much on his own up the touchline to the neglect of Venters, who was in his most effective mood. McPhail purposely hung back a sort of bulwark round about the midfield line. That was the old head working, when he realised that Ross was not having thing going well for him. Hogg was a successful defender and could not be fooled by the tactics adopted by Kinnear, while Lyon played a stout game on the left. He marked Main exceedingly well, even into going upfield, and he found it profitable indeed. But even at close quarters he showed quick thinking and resources. Miller at centre-half had no easy job with Smith but he came out of it creditably, and I certainly admired the way, even under the pressure in which he made an effort to place the ball to advantage in his clearances. Paterson was the best wing half on the field. McDonald was not very far behind him but tried towards the end.
