McLean 20
G Henderson 38
G Henderson
Match Information
Attendance: 73,941
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers gave the Celtic a gruelling yesterday which was unexpected. There was a period in the game when anything might have turned the dice in favour of the losers, but even Dame Fortune failed to smile upon them then, and she never returned to cast even a kind look upon the disconcerted Parkhead team. It the early stages there was no indication that the Ibrox side was to ride rough shod over their opponents at the finish. But they did. And what to me seemed most humiliating to the Parkhead team was that the wearers of the Light Blue jerseys would not respond to the calls of their supporters for more goals. What an insatiable thirst for goals they have down Ibrox way! When could they be satisfied, I wonder? Still, there is an excuse for these people. They are there real props of the game, they don’t get the big wages that footballers, I am told have, and when they have paid their way they are entitled to ask for all they can get. It doesn’t matter whether they come from Ibrox or Boston. During the week I heard a lot of people say that whichever team scored the first goal would win. Celtic scored the first goal, and they didn’t win. The opening passes of the game favoured Rangers, but so well marked were the forwards that Shaw had no trouble at all in dealing with anything that found its way to him. Neither at half-back nor forward did the Ibrox men seem to find their bearing at all. Passes went wrong, and it really looked as if their black day in the Glasgow Cup competition had come. They may have been steadying themselves for the onslaught which came later, but a team does not usually sacrifice a goal when they are preparing to defeat the enemy. Nineteen minutes had gone when Celtic opened the scoring. Connolly had been keeping Jamieson guessing a good deal, and at this particular time he left him standing like a dray horse as against a thorough bred. He centred the ball nicely, and Robb made a clearance, but before he had taken up position again McLean headed the ball back. It was just over the line when Dixon nipped in to kick out, but Referee Dougary pointed to the centre. Meiklejohn got his nose damaged at this time, and it took a few minutes to put him right. Just as one would have expected the Celtic game came along to put the issue beyond doubt, and two grand scoring attempts gave Robb to think. The Rangers’ goalkeeper cleared all right, and then came the equaliser. Eighteen minutes after Celtic scored Henderson popped up to head a ball past Shaw from a beautiful cross by Morton. It appeared to me that either McStay or Shaw should have got the ball away, but that must not be allowed to detract from the Rangers’ centre’s opportunism – an opportunism which is proving very valuable to his club. Within other three minutes Morton had put Rangers on the lead with a first-timer. He caught the ball coming out from goal and let go before it touched the ground. Shaw was left helpless. I have omitted to tell you, however, that prior to that McGrory had just missed a glorious header from a Connelly pass, and that is the point at which the game might have been turned the other way about. The second half was a depressing affair from a Celtic point of view. From an unbiassed standpoint it was no contest. In ten minutes, Henderson had headed a third goal for Rangers, and here I think the Celtic defence was again at fault. Seven minutes later Cairns put the seal on a Rangers’ victory by astutely following through a fast forward pass by Meiklejohn. Rangers opened shakily but finished strongly. When the game was won the weaklings found their feet. Robb was splendid and Manderson has seldom done better in a contest between the two great Glasgow rivals. Jamieson was very easily beaten to begin with but improved. That is the best that can be said for him. Dixon was the strong man in the half-back line, but I must give a pat on the back to Craig, who I fancy will be included in the side for some tine to come now. He rose to a great occasion. Meiklejohn did well. The forwards all did their past in achieving victory, but it was from the left that most of the attacking developed. Morton never was more dangerous than he is just now, and Cairns gave him every attention. The right wing pair were not so much in the eye, but did clever things occasionally. They all need Henderson to round off their work, and with either head or foot he can do it. Celtic’s defence was easily pierced, the beat being Hilley. But mistakes were abundant, and therein lay the reason for the Celtic defeat. The half-backs did not so badly until they were a goal down. Then they cracked up. They were at their worst and of course will do better. Among the forwards Connolly did all right in the first half, but there was only one real fighter and that was Gallagher.
