J Smith 65
Herd 77
Match Information
Attendance: 22,782
Referee: Peter Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Doctor Marshall gave Hearts a dose that they neither expected nor appreciated. Getting possession from at throw-in six minutes from the end, he made a quick thrust through the Tynecastle defence and planked the ball in the net with a lovely shot. That goal rather upset the balance of things. Hearts deserved at least one of the points. They contributed their fair share to a palpitating game that was more open than the recent Cup-tie between the clubs and revealed a higher standard of football skill. But the goal seemed to me a thoroughly good one just the sort of goal that none of Hearts forwards could have brought off. And that brings us to the point where Rangers had the grip. Marshall and Venters were decidedly superior to White and Coutts. There was a touch of class about the Ibrox forwards play that one looked for in vain on the other side. On the other hand, Hearts had the advantage in the wing half-backs position. Herd asserted himself right from the start. He struck a high standard all through, and at times was positively brilliant. If anyone knows a better left half-back than Herd, I should be glad to hear his name. Massie began more quietly, but later on he rose to his beat. I have nothing to say against Craig and Brown, who both played well. But this pair were somewhat overshadowed by the man between them. Simpson played a wonderful defensive game. With head and foot, he was continually thrusting the ball out. Gray was another outstanding Ibrox defender. So was Dawson, who made one or two saves of the brilliant order. Twice in the second half he had a bit of luck first when White rammed the ball hard against the foot of an upright, and then when a shot from R Johnstone struck the crossbar. Harkness too made some masterly saves. On the whole there was nothing to choose between two goalkeepers of top class. Other players who singled themselves out for special mention were Anderson, the best back on view, and John Johnston, whose good work was reflected in the comparative ineffectiveness of Smith. Smith got the credit of the first goal, a scrambling sort of affair scored after an hours play. Main had rounded McClure and sent the ball across to the far post, where Smith and others met it. Anderson got the ball out, but it had unquestionably been over the line before he reached it. For ten minutes Hearts did all the attacking. Then they got a goal to cheer them up. A free-kick having been taken, Simpson stopped the ball but was unable to steady before Herd chipped in and scored. Most people expected a draw now, but that late individual effort by Marshall upset calculations. Hearts have still forward problems to solve, but they ought to persevere with Reid. The Forfar boy is made of the right stuff
