J Bowie
W Reid
Match Information
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: A Allan (Glasgow)
Matchday: Friday
Match Trivia
In spite of Rangers’ victory in the Wat Relief Shield tie the other week, I believed it would be correct to say that Celtic were favourites in the return League match at Ibrox yesterday. In fact, I feel like saying that it is certain they were favourites, for got beaten, and the favourites, as everyone knows, always – or nearly always – go down in Rangers-Celtic encounters. The result will have to be included among the many curios ones that stand in the record of meetings between the two old rivals. For this reason. In the first half, when Rangers had they in their favour, they could not make anything like the impression on the Celtic defence that seemed necessary if they were to hope to live through the second half. When they scored after twenty minutes, through Bowie, it looked to be the foundation of a score that would give them a sporting lead at the interval. But so far from their being able to increase their total, they lost a goal fifteen minutes later from a fine shot by Browning. So well did Celtic shape from that point on to the interval that it appeared as if, with the wind they would make short and sharp work of Rangers in the second half. It is with the second half that the most interesting chapter begins. Celtic at once set out to make the League points secure. Their forwards ran in on the Rangers’ defence time after time. Though they failed to come back with a goal just as often as they went in to get one, we all felt that it was a mere matter of waiting. Every man in the Rangers’ defence stood up to the Celtic attack with fine determination, yet the chances were all against them holding out for long. Still, they did hold out, and with the Celtic forwards becoming over-anxious through repeated failures, and missing some great chances, it began to dawn on the big crowd that a draw, after all might not beyond the powers of the Rangers. As yet, and form the way the play had gone a win appeared only visionary. Gordon was injured, and he changed to outside right, Bowie taking his place in the half-back line. It was soon after this – thirty-one minutes after the restart, to be exact – that the winning goal was scored, and completely changed the aspect of the game. The ball was pushed up to Cairns. He rushed ahead in his characteristic style, and was met by McNair. The pair engaged in a close tackle, and McNair appeared to be getting the better of it, almost on the line, when Cairns worried in again, and regaining possession, slipped the ball slantwise to Reid, who rammed it into the net, with Dodds doing his best to prevent him. This was a staggering blow for Celtic. From apparently having the points in their pocket, they were now set the bigger task of getting two goal to win. In grim fashion they went back to the attack, and it was then that the Rangers’ defence magnificently stood the test, and emerged with the honours of victory. Hempsey had two magnificent saved; and though Craig and Muir could not entirely over-come the problem presented by the wind, they recovered so well, as did the half-backs also, that the Celtic forwards could not get the goal which so often seemed to be on the way. Except for occasional runs, in which there was seldom a spice of danger, Rangers in the second half, were simply held. The wind had increased in power, and they suffered accordingly; but it also gave them the opportunity to show their grit in defence. Celtic, however, are quite entitled to blame themselves for the defeat. Their shooting in the second half was extremely poor, and McColl missed an open goal – as good a chance as ever he need hope to have. I admired more the play of the Celtic team in the first half, when, in the face of the wind, the forwards – the wing particularly, for McColl never seemed to be of a piece with the others – played some delightful football. McAtee and Gallagher were very clever. In the first half McAtee was repeatedly putting the Rangers’ goal in danger; but I thought that in the second half he did not cut in towards Hempsey enough. He was doing it to some purpose before the interval. McColl did not do much better than in the Firhill match. He certainly should have scores after the dashing run and pass by Gallagher. It was a ‘life’ for Rangers. McMenemy and Browning put in some good work, but the conditions seemed to tell on the inside player before the finish. Rangers’ forwards compared unfavourable as a line. Bennett at outside right, was never happy, and Reid was too well watched by Johnstone and the backs to trouble Shaw, except when he scored THAT, of course is Reid. He was always playing the sort of game that was likely to bring him reward sooner or later. Bowie, Cairns and Paterson never tired. Cairns deserves immense credit for his indomitable dash that led to the winning goal. Bowie’s goal – the first of the game – was headed through from Paterson’s centre. I thought Shaw might have got at it, and under more favourable conditions, so he possibly would. There was not much between the half-back divisions. Pursell, like Johnstone, was a spoiler, and in fact, spoiling was the stoke-in-trade of most of them, for it was extremely difficult to hold the ball for passing. Logan’s strength was greatly in his favour in those last strenuous fifteen minutes. The style forced on Gordon did not suit him, but it was a curious thing that after his injury had caused him to go to the outside right the forward line became better balanced. McMaster was consistently good. McNair was the best back of the four. His consummate judgment was clearly shown against the wind, and I would say the only mistake he made was in underrating the bulldog tenacity of Cairns when the latter forced the opening for the winning goal. Dodds was sound also, but he had the easier commission. Craig could not be too highly praised for his coolness and strategy in the hottest period of the game, Excuses could easily have been found for him and his co-defenders had they cracked up in the second half. They declined to do anything of the kind, and only corners were conceded. Muir, under the circumstances, was excellent, and Hempsey had three brilliant saves and many good ones. He risked something in kicking away a shot from Browning in the first half, but restored confidence a minute later when he threw himself full length at a shot from McMenemy which was going for the net. It was a tremendously hard game, and not until the last kick did the interest slacken. Rangers have waited a long time for a New Year win over Celtic, and it has come at la
