S Archibald <45
Muirhead >45
Match Information
Attendance: 10000
Referee:
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
Scottish teams are always welcome visitors at St James’ Park. They may not score a lot of goals, but they invariably give a fine exhibition of football. So, it was with Glasgow Rangers at St James’ Park last night. They defeated Newcastle United last night. They defeated Newcastle United by two clear goals, and in doing so played football of the sort one seldom sees in these days of League hurry-scurry. It was evidently much to the liking of an attendance returned at 10,000. Dainty footwork, complete control of the ball, and passing which was clockwork like in its precision, were the distinguishing features of the Rangers’ play, and allied to this was a perfect understanding which permitted even of the defenders indulging in fancy tricks right in front of goal. In these circumstances it was unfortunate that a combination of accidents prevented Newcastle fielding a representative side, and even then, I think the substitutes played into the hands of the Scots by trying to beat them at their own game. There was much individual cleverness, but it lacked the subtlety of the Scots, and half an hour of what is regarded as the English game might have made a deal of difference in the result. When United did attempt fast, open tactics, late in the game, they gave the Rangers defence more concern than at any previous stage. The Rangers did not score until a minute from the interval, but Wilson the goalkeeper who is here on a month’s trial from Peebles Rovers, had many opportunities of showing his skill before he was beaten by Archibald. He made several good saves, but misjudged Archibald’s long, drooping shot from the touch line, which just scraped under the bar. Wilson had no chance with the second goal, for Chandler was lame and incapable of delivering a challenge when Muirhead swept in from the right and shot the ball into the net at a pace and angle which would have beaten any custodian. Prior to this Newcastle United had caused the Rangers defence some trouble, but so sound was the opposition of Manderson and McCandless the backs, that Robb had vey few calls made upon him. The striking feature of the Rangers play was the perfect understanding in every line. They were always together, the ball passed from man to man, sometimes in bewildering fashion, and Newcastle had not the artifice to match this skill. That could not be expected from the mixed team which they paraded, but the defence came through a trying ordeal with distinct credit. The half-backs broke down when they attempted the short pass through, for often it was intercepted by an opponent, and the forwards could make little impression on the opposing defence. Still, it was good football to watch, even though the Rangers lacked their star left winger, Alan Morton who ruptured a thigh muscle on Saturday and may not be able to play again for some time
