McLean 38
Red Cards
Walls sent off 55
Match Information
Attendance: 64,000
Referee: G.W. Hamilton (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Sixty thousand spectators saw this important Glasgow Cup tie at Celtic Park, and saw Celtic defeat the Rangers in a fast game. The Celts won because of their superior forward play. Rangers attack was in comparison weak, the forwards never showing the neat, nippy touches of the home five, who were led wonderfully well by McInally, notwithstanding that he was closely watched. Rangers attacked at the start, but were soon on the defensive. McAtee, at outside right, was early prominent with a good cross, and then Dixon was injured in a collision with Manderson, and retired for a few minutes. During his absence Celts applied the pressure, and McAtee, after tricking Ritchie, steadied, and rattled the crossbar with a terrific drive. Shortly after McInally again had Lock beaten, but the post intervened. Catching the rebound, the Celtic centre shot had and true, and Lock just got up in time to send over the bar. Dixon resumed. So far the game was largely in the Celts favour, and with a little luck they might have led by two goals. Rangers attacks were spasmodic, and never long sustained. Cunningham at last got through, to shoot low and hard. Shaw blocked with his foot, and McNair cleared. Celts continued to have the pull, though Cunningham again put narrowly past. At last the long looked for and overdue goal for Celtic came. McInally fastened on the ball and tricking the Rangers backs each turn drew Lock from his goal. Then sent over an adroit lob to McLean, who had simply to put the ball into a tenantless goal five minutes from the interval. Celts were value for more than a single goal lead at half-time. On resuming Celts began where they had left off, and in the first minute McLean mulled an easy chance by sending tamely past. Rangers simply could not get set a going. Then after ten minutes a regret some incident occurred. Walls kicked Gallagher, and the referee ordered the Rangers player to the pavilion. Gallagher was carried to the side for repairs, and both teams played a man short. There was no mistaking the earnestness of the Light Blues, but there was simply no method in their attack. Gallagher resumed, but the Rangers, if anything, had more of the play than at any previous stage of the game. Cairns flashed a beauty past the far away post, with Shaw beaten. Then McLean missed badly for the Celts. At ten minutes to go Cairns got through on his own, but Shaw came out and deflected over the bar. Rangers were dying game, and in the last minute twice came nearer doing what they had striven hard for eighty nine minutes to do. Cairns and Cunningham essayed to walk the ball through, but Shaw saved at the post for a corner. From the flag kick Bowie just grazed the bar with practical the last kick of the match. The game as a whole was very far below the usual standard of similar meetings of the past. Celts were easily superior, and ought to have had the tie well won in the first half. They were better balanced than the Light Blues, particularly forward. Rangers had only two forwards Cairns and Cunningham who could compare favourably with those of the winners. Muirhead and Archibald finished badly time and again sending behind when a timeous cross or centre might have been turned to good account. In this respect McAtee excelled, his crossing and shooting and shooting being always dangerous. McLean had chances and accepted one out of four possible ones. Rangers forwards lost them the game. They lacked cohesion and method, while Gallagher and McMenemy were always in the picture, making openings and swinging the ball to some tune. There was an almost uncanny precision and accuracy about their work which made the other three Macs respond to the influence. Bowie was not much in evidence, and played one of his poorest games. Cringan and Dixon share the honours at half back. Both put in a hard afternoons work, although the former played better. Of the other, Gilchrist came next, and he, along with McInally certainly earned their spurs. The Celtic backs were superior as a pair to Manderson and Ritchie. They were never in a tangle, and kicked with greater accuracy and power. Lock kept a good goal, and could not be blamed for losing the only goal. It was forward were Celts were greatly superior, McMenemy, Gallagher and McAtee were in a class by themselves. Of course, Rangers played a man short for thirty five minutes, but this can scarcely be stated as an excuse for their defeat. They never shaped like winners, although they certainly made a great closing rally for the equaliser. Celts won and won deservedly
