Bird 18
G Henderson 66
Match Information
Attendance: 31,502
Referee: Peter Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers will never have to fight harder to win a match than they did in the Cup-tie with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The winners were worthy of their victory. They were the better team all over, but there was a time in the first half when it looked as if Kilmarnock were to again dash the hopes of the Ibrox club. Had Rock scored a second goal on the occasion when he just skimmed the bar, a different story might have had to be written, but – well, there were near things at both ends in a game that was full of thrills. Kilmarnock lost, but they lost gloriously. They put up a glorious fight before a record crowd for the ground. Kilmarnock were first to attack, both the right and the left wings giving McCandless and Manderson some anxiety before they cleared for throws. McEwan stopped Archibald in a very fine tackle. Rangers got down, however, but first Cairns and then Morton put weakly past. Henderson was upended by Morton just outside the penalty area, and the defence of Killie was almost caught napping by Cairns slipping the ball to Cunningham, who blazed in a shot that went past. After ten minutes’ play, Meiklejohn tried one of his international shots, which took Gould all his time to stop. Henderson put one over, and then Rock gave Robb a low teaser. Next minute the Kilmarnock centre, with McCandless in attendance, forced Robb to put a great shot past for a corner that yielded nix. Rangers were holding their own against the wind and snow-sleet-rain storm, but their shooting was bad as evidenced when Muirhead walloped a ball wildly past. In 17 minutes, Kilmarnock scored a lovely goal. Bird gave a picture of a pass to Lindsay. The winger’s centre was also a picture. Rock shot, but hit Robb, and Bird podded the ball into the net. Another chance came to Kilmarnock, and Rock made a very good job of it, but Dunlop might have made a better. He was better placed. Cunningham and Archibald became prominent with some clever passing which determinate in Gould saving at point-black range from the winger, who cut close in. Then Henderson got in a header, which Gould saved, as he also did a cross from Morton and a corner-kick by Morton. Rangers were going sweetly now in the sunshine, but after Morton had shot over. Killie came down, but Rock was stopped for offside. The Ibrox team had a great chance when the game was 40 minutes old. Gould dropped a ball with Henderson on him, but George never got control and a defender cleared. After a term of Rangers’ pressure, Rock got a clear field. He chose to shoot from the penalty line almost instead of going ahead. The ball just skimmed the bar. In the second half Rangers started with a vigorous pressure. Gould had a double save from a header by Henderson, and after a lively time for the defence Meiklejohn shot past. Rangers were trying all their wiles to get in to have a go at Gould, but all to no purpose. Cunningham’s sudden passes, forward pushed by Meiklejohn were of so avail for a time. But there was a busy time for Gould now. He saved from Morton, Henderson twice, the second time by throwing the ball away for a corner. Two more corners followed without result. This went on for twenty minutes, and then Killie broke away and Robb found himself in difficulty with a shot from Bird. A foul tackle on the keeper brought relief. A minute later Rangers equalised. Archibald sent in a high ball. Gould rose to it and caught it but dropped it at the post, where Henderson was ready. Twice he had to kick, however, before he got the ball over the line. Kilmarnock came more into the picture now. A corner on the right yielded nothing, but in 32 minutes Cunningham put Rangers on the lead. He gave a ball to Archibald got it back again, and on the run beat Gould all the way. I wouldn’t say Gould lost the tie because he had some glorious saves, but he seldom clutched the ball properly. Robb was superior in every way. No back on view bettered Manderson although all the other three were in good trim, even if Morton appeared to tire towards the end. Meiklejohn was outstanding at half-back, but he wasn’t any better than Dunlop on the other side. Dixon and Muirhead lacked the usual fire, but Willis and McEwan stuck into their work well. Cunningham was the outstanding forward for leading out. He generalled the Rangers’ line, but he wasn’t a greater grafter than Cairns. Archibald and Morton were only so-so, while Henderson worked hard. On the other side Rock was a rattling good leader, and he received able support from Smith and Bird, the latter especially so. Both wingers were disappointing.
