Tennant 20
S Archibald 35
Match Information
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
The ten thousand spectators who braved the elements at Fir Park yesterday got what they deserved – a game full of thrills, a game whose result was in the lap of the gods to the very last kick. Not only was it thrilling. It was a really attractive game, considering the deplorable conditions – sloppy ground, greasy ball and biting wind. One or two of the players touched top form, and the sterling defence of some of the younger players drew applause from all sections of the crowd. Motherwell certainly won their point worthily. In the first half they outplayed Rangers, outplayed them because they adopted Cup-tie tactics, harassed the Ibrox defence no end, and scored the opening goal – a powerful argument and incentive, if not exactly a convincing lead. Rangers, having equalised late in the first half, got on their toes in the second period, and I thought that under their terrific pressure the Motherwell defence would crack. It didn’t. So, Motherwell can still hope for salvation. Rangers were compelled, on account of a would sustain least week by Arthur Dixon, to rearrange their half-back line. Meiklejohn took the pivotal position, and Tommy Craig stepped into Dave’s place. The changes, in mu opinion, weakened Rangers. Meiklejohn has not the destructive ability of Dixon, and he tired visibly after an hour’s plugging in the muddy middle of the field. Craig’s display was not much below Meiklejohn’s usual form, but it was observed that the right-wing triangle did not ring with its customary clearness. Muirhead was easily the best if the three. Yet here’s a queer thing – the left wing of Rangers was the least effective. Indeed, I doubt if we have seen Cairns and Morton so much below form in any game this season. And therein, I think lay the secret of Rangers’ failure to get the victory. Had Cairns’ efforts come off – they seldom did – we should probably have been hailing Rangers as virtual champions today. The lack of success on the left is rather inexplicable. As a rule, Cairns revels in heavy going, and Morton is quite at home when the ball is fast and the ground uncertain. Yet not till the last quarter of an hour did either get going as we know they can go. Then a desperate defence foiled them by hard tackling, by blocking shots and by an occasional smile from fortune. When I say that, I have no intention of detracting from the credit that must go to Motherwell’s defenders. Indeed, the palm must undoubtedly be awarded Johnman, whose work at right back was superb. A tall, fast-moving lad he butted in opportunely on many occasions, and when he was beaten now and again, he usually contrived to get back into position to stop the cross, or at least to worry his opponent by his mere proximity. Frame, too, did well. As a pair, they were in front of Manderson and McCandless though the little Irishman approached Johnman very closely. For their partial success Motherwell are indebted in no small measure to the half-backs – Greenshields, Craig and Coyle – and inside forwards. The centre half in particular took my eye. He denied Henderson space in which to manoeuvre. He pounced on Morton and Archibald when one of the other had stolen past the wing half. I recall one fine shot from the centre half’s foot, a shot that worried Willie Robb. Coyle, I liked best in the first half, when he had haunted Cunningham’s steps. Andrew doesn’t appreciate such close attention. But in the second half the Rangers’ man found himself less closely guarded, and Coyle had a testing time with Archibald. Motherwell’ goal can be described as weird. Tennant, who had been foozling his crosses and mistiming the fast, skidding passes sent him from the centre of the field, lobbed in a slow, high ball that nine out of ten spectators’ thought was sure to go past. Robb for a moment was of that opinion, I fancy. But he evidently changed his mind, for he jumped up as the ball fell towards the crossbar. It seemed to me that it struck the bar, then struck Willie’s hand or the inside of his right forearm. Unfortunately for the keeper, that part of the arm was turned in towards the net. The ball fell just over the line. Rangers equalised with a glorious effort from Archibald, who had all along been the Light Blues’ most dangerous forward. Why he didn’t think of slashing the ball in before that incident I don’t know. Often, he got possession well out on the wing, and apparently wanted to get to the bye-line before crossing. Had he shot into the goalmouth, fast and about head high – Rangers might have equalised before they did – in fact, might have scored first. Alan Morton claimed a penalty in the second half. I don’t know whether he was inside the area or not when a defender ruthlessly swept the feet from him. But I do assert that he as illegally tackled, and that play should not have been allowed to proceed. One wonderful save by McClory from Morton is worthy of comment. Alan got the ball fairly close in after a fast-upsetting movement on the right. He took aim and smacked a low shot goalwards. The keeper dived, just touched the ball with his finger-tips, and deflected across the goal and past the outside of the upright. Equally brilliant was an effort by Manderson. Bert, when all seemed lost, rose right on the goal line to a ball that McGrath shot in, a ball that was sailing into the net a few inches below the bar. Manderson succeeded in getting his head to it and cleared it out of the danger zone. Few of the Rangers’ forwards were in form. But Motherwell’s lads were great stuff. In particular, McGrath and Stevenson. These lads did yeoman service, not only when the tide was flowing for them, but also when defence was imperative. McGrath assisted Greenshields. Stevenson fell back to lend a hand to Coyle. Yet both were ever ready to prod the ball to Ferguson or to the wing men, or to have a pop at goal. Hugh Ferguson was industrious in the open, but seldom ingenious in front of goal. Tennant was weak. Ferrier, with his usual artistry, took the eye at outside left
