T Craig 8
B McPhail 15
Fleming 50
A Morton 68
Match Information
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: J.P. Rowe (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers were in wonderful form at Firhill yesterday, and the six goals they won in no way exaggerates the superiority of the team. Thistle from the very first were put under the screw, and they never even temporarily assumed the upper hand. It is true that they were handicapped by the loss of Hair about midway through the first half, but even before that it was Rangers first, last and all the time and so it did not make any vital difference. Thistle were smote hip and thigh and were unable to produce any constructive football. In fairness, however, to the Firhill players, I Should sat that this would have been the fate of 99 teams out of a 100. Not even the flash of lightning that occurred as Hamilton was fingering one of the few shots that came his way was as brilliant as the play of the Ibrox half-backs and forwards. Muirhead was the fountainhead, of the inspiration of the side, and the fact that nearly everything went right for the Light Blues was in no small measure due to his deft touched. He managed to blend the trio in which he worked with the sweet-moving quintette in front. Each of the six goals is a story in itself – they were one as clever as another – and what is more there might have been many more, had it not been for the most unfortunate man on the field. He was young Jackson. I have eulogised him before. I do so again. I thought the very first goal was the only one in which he had the remotest chance, and on second thoughts, I believe Craig was hidden from his view when he shot, and that would account for it. He received an ovation at the close and deserved it. When Rangers turned round four goals up one expected a fizzle out in the second half. This was not so. They went into the fray as hard as ever, and it was only when they avenged their 6-3 defeat in the Charity Cup Final last year that they seemed appeased. It was a thrilling opening; Hair from a judicious pass up the middle by Kinloch, had hustled his attentions on Hamilton before thirty seconds had been clocked. Then Cunningham slashed on one which it a defender on its speeding road. O’Hare mis-kicked on the goalmouth and Fleming was there, but his shot, not too well placed, was saved by Jackson. Rangers’ beautiful work fore and aft pointed all to one thing, and when Muirhead head slipped one across to Cunningham, who in turn let Craig have it, a goal seemed imminent – and it was. The left-half let the ball have it, and away it sped into the corner of the net, with Jackson spread-eagled just too late to save the situation. Following this the Thistle had a look in, but not for long. Rangers’ van broke out afresh, and with all five dashing down on an undefended Jackson, it only took the coolness of McPhail to plant another. Jackson this time hadn’t an earthly. There was just the suspicion that Rangers eased up after this. At anyrate Thistle had more of the game. Salisbury and Hair had more chances, and in one of these moves, when Hair was dashing down on Hamilton with Meiklejohn in close attendance, the centre fell heavily and was off for a spell, during which Rangers came away and scored their third. Archibald was set off, and cutting in fired point black at Jackson, but such was the strength of the shot that the keeper strained his hand in his vain effort to keep it out. The fourth, three minutes before the interval was Cunningham’s own, and his first of the season. Morton sent over the ‘goods’ and the big fellow smacked it home per his left foot. Right up to half-time the Rangers kept up their pressure, and Thistle, handicapped with Hair, a passenger, changing places with Salisbury, could make no impression on the Ibrox rear. Morton and Fleming supplied some very tricky stuff in the opening minutes of the second half. Twice Jackson had to hold from the centre, but the third time was lucky – for Fleming. Archibald crossed, Fleming stumbled, recovered, again stumbled, beat the backs and rolled the ball into a vacant spot in the crowded net. It was a queer goal, but a good one, and Fleming got a rousing cheer for his pertinacity. But so too did young Jackson when he stopped a lightning flash from Fleming, and well he deserved it. Between this and the nest Rangers’ goal, Partick had a short taste of attacking, and Kinloch had a try which Hamilton saved confidently. Twenty-two minutes gone Morton obliged with a sixth. It was the winger’s goal right from the touch-line. He neat his man and cutting in lobbed the ball past the outcoming Jackson. Following this Hair went off for good, and Thistle concentrating mainly on defence, were sorely tried. Jackson had to deal with countless long-range shots. I will deal with the Rangers players first. There is no man at whom one can level criticism. Goalkeeper Hamilton had very little indeed to do, but on occasion tricky shots came his way, and he dealt with them confidently. The backs were very sound, and besides keeping a tight rein on the Thistle attacks always saw to it that their clearance went where they were wanted. Muirhead was the No 1 half-back, ably supported by Meiklejohn and Craig. In front McPhail was just a shade behind his colleagues. My opinion is that he is just trying to be a little too unselfish. If he went in on his own on occasion, he would have done better both himself and his team. Between the other four I should not care to individualise. In their own peculiar ways, they were all superb. This human tornado did not show the Thistle up in their best light. They played a plucky game, but the loss of Hair disheartened them Jackson was not supported as he should have been by his backs, who were prone to miskick, but as I have said, he did very well to stop so many balls. The amount of work he had to do would have lasted many a keeper a month. Lambie was the big man in all senses of the word in the half-back row. He fought a losing fight, and was here, there and everywhere trying to stem the tide. Kinloch was as good as nay in a Thistle front that rarely received any backing up from the men in the rear, and of the others Hair and Grove were the best
