J Smith 5
Red Cards
Blair sent off 50
Match Information
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: M.C. Hutton (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Chief appurtenance in any ordinary game of football is a ball. In this particular game it was merely an intruder, and not a very welcome one at that. The players or at least some of them had no time for it. They were infinitely more concerned with worthy arguments, petty ankle-tapping, and low down, body-line tactics. The game, if I dare call it by such a name, wasnt very long started when Smith, Rangers centre-forward, had all Motherwell on his top for a charge on goalkeeper Murray. From that point onwards things went from bad to worse, until midway through the second half the referee took a hand, and ordered off centre-half Johnny Blair of Motherwell, and Jimmy Smith. In between times I should record the wee black book was four time in evidence for indiscretions committed by Smith, Blair, Ellis and Venters. Oh, yes, it was quite a day! Judged on a certain standard of football ethics nearly everything about the game was deplorable, yet if I am to record the facts, I must admit the 8000 crowd went for it in a big way. Motherwell fans, who for once in a way were in the majority, roared themselves hoarse with satisfaction when a Ranger bit the dust. The Light Blue brigade were equally jubilant when a Fir Parker went down with a bump. If by this time I have convinced you this was wartime football with a vengeance, I can go on to tell you that if Motherwell had possessed a sharpshooter in their ranks the result would have been the opposite way about. Rangers had probably the better of the argument during the first half, but Motherwell had chances enough to win the game twice or three times over in the second. It was just after this life that Smith scored the only goal. And a cute bit of business it was. The centre-forward eluded a flying tackle by Blair around the left side of the penalty area, took the ball well forward, and coolly and deliberately slipped it inches inside Murrays right-hand post. Dawson had two super saves in this half one from a point-blank Bremner drive, and the other just before the interval from a Main header. After the first few minutes there was hardly any cohesive play, and bit by bit it degenerated into a real rough-house. When the ball was in use Rangers used t slightly better than their opponents. But against that Motherwell had more of it, and a much greater number of scoring chances. There were no stars, but Rangers had two efficient backs and three very capable half-backs. Thornton came on to a game after succeeding Smith at centre, but Venters had a poor day. Ellis, Wales, McLeod and Bremner (first half) were Motherwells best
