A Cunningham (2)
Match Information
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: J.S. Sinclair (Thornliebank)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
All records for attendance on the Dens Park ground were broken on Saturday, when the Rangers supplied the opposition to Dundee, who were beaten two goals to nothing by a superior Ibrox Side. It is computed that fully 25,000 people were accommodated within the enclosure. I learned after the match that the Rangers cheque was value £426, or £100 better than the previous best taken away from the jute city. The Glasgow club, who fielded the side that accounted for Celtic the previous Saturday, may be said to have been at full strength, but Dundee had to find a substitute for McIntosh, their brainiest half-back, who was confined to bed suffering from a severe cold. McDonald their right-wing forward, was also a non-starter. McIntoshs absence meant two changes in the rear. Napper Thomson stepped forwards to the right half-back berth, and Fleming, of Newmilns, partnered Raitt behind. In the circumstances, Dundee did very well indeed against the more famous opponents, who started and finished a very fine combination. In between, however, the Light Blues experienced a rather bad time, but one within hail of Lock, Dundee became flustered and failed. It was a particularly clean game. In bonnie Dundee the Rangers started where they left off the previous week at Ibrox. Their closing minutes game against the Celts was carried on, and although early on the Dens Park team might have scored, a man with half an eye could see that the Light Blues were the better side. Henderson let go a teaser which Lock did the best he could with. Harrys clearance was not decisive enough, however, and the Farfar loon was given another chance which, in his hurry or flurry call it what you will he made a mess of. Had Dundee scored then we might have seen a totally different kind of fight, but dont let us talk of might have beens, lets get down to solid facts. Dundees gilt-edged opportunity had gone, and the Rangers, most confident from the beginning continued to exhibit all the power and craft necessary for a successful team. And better (for them) than that perhaps, their clever play met with an early rewards. At the end of nine minutes hard on top that Dundee miss to which I have referred Paterson got possession. The elusive doctor slipped easily past the onrushing Raitt and lofted over one of those pretty centres of his this one was a perfect peach. A miniature scramble followed, Cairns tried to nod the ball home and failed, but Cunningham made siccar. Andrew got his head to it, and Watson hadnt the ghost of a chance. A minute later the fair-haired Ayrshire centre sent a whistler narrowly past, then plucky Dundee took a turn. McLaughlin and Slade, who were keeping the touch-line men going nicely, each had a try on his own, but neither McDonald or Troup gave much cause for concern. Manderson was too quick for Troup, or Troup was too slow for Manderson, and past-master Gordon know a thing or two more than the inexperienced Henderson. In front of the Ibrox backs, Bowie and Walls were collecting and distributing what time Dixon was knocking the ball about, with the result that the Glasgow forwards were enjoying something of a picnic. Most of their football was delightful, bit it brought no more goals this half. Some of their finishing was quite good, too, but they found themselves up against an eminently resolute and useful if not brilliant defence. Cairns, Cunningham and Muirhead all had shots blocked, and other missed just by the proverbial foot, Patersons centres came across just as they should for Nicol, Fleming or Raitt to head clear, or some of his own colleagues to make bad use of. Several of those failures were excusable, but others werent, and Archibald, I thought, was the biggest defaulter. He certainly ought to have put one of those specials compounded by the doctor under instead of over. Just before the interval, after all this Rangers pressing and pretty play, the goal had perhaps the narrowest escape of the match. To McLaughlin belongs the credit of the spade-work attaching to this effort; to Dave Brown the credit of discredit of the shot which got the timber what time Lock was helpless. A goal ahead at the interval, the Rangers seemed on yelet at restart. Always the more confident and combined company, by comparison they were a team, while Dundee were so many units. The Light blues should win easily now, I thought. This they did all right in the end, but in between they were put through it. Something went wrong with the works after Archibald had cut in to send another ball high oer the top. For a good twenty minutes Rangers had decidedly the worst of it, and Lock, Manderson and Gordon had a really anxious time. The defence withstood the attack, however. They deserve all praise, but really during this period the Dens Park forwards contributed to their own undoing. They will never have a better chance of making history. It was not to be, however, and eighteen minutes from the finish the points were safe for Ibrox. Cairns, over on the right for the onee, shoved the ball on to Archibald, who centred as he did when Cunningham scored the second goal against the Celts at Ibrox. And Andrew repeated himself. His cranium was there, and Watson duty now was to pick the ball out of the net. This goal knocked much of the stuffing out of Dundee; at any rate the Rangers picked up their first-half game again and finished strong and thoroughly-deserves winners. All the same, that bad twenty minutes might have proved disastrous. A word about the players! Lock was safe as a house, and Manderson and Gordon were just the backs they were the previous Saturday first class. Bowie was the number one man in a highly serviceable middle-line, and in front the left was easily the better wing. Towards the finish. Though Cairns I thought, held the ball just a trifle too long, and attempted the impossible feat of trying to go through his man instead of past him. Cunninghams distribution was better than it was against the Celts, and that fair-thatched head of his was again to the fore. Four goal in a fortnight is quite good enough for any centre-forward. Muirhead did fairly well, and again Archibalds beat work was reserved for the second half. Archie is not his real self yet. Jamie Watson was blameless for either goal lost by Dundee, and his backs came well out of a very stiff job. The hefty Raitt I fancied more than Fleming; still the Newmilns boy has no reason to be dissatisfied with his own showing. Nicoll, a restless worker, pleased me best of the intermediate trio, as did the inside men in front. Troup was tricky, but far too selfish take a leaf out of Doctor Patersons book, boy. Henderson, a well set-up young fellow, possesses speed and something else he can play. Experience is what he requires most. Brown is not my style. My centre-forward must be able to do more than bore into the opposing defence. And if you were at Dens Park you must have noticed that Davie could make little or nothing of Gordon
