F O'Donnell 28
Dr Marshall 33
Match Information
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: H Watson (Glasgow)
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
I have seen better Old Firm battles but considering how wobbly Celtic have been going of late, they put up a better show against Rangers in the Glasgow Cup semi-final replay at Ibrox then we were entitled to expect. The football seldom touched the heights, but what good stuff there was came from Rangers, who won well in the end. At the same time, the Ibrox defence, barring Dawson and Brown, didnt show up very convincingly in the first half. It took them about half an hour before they settled down to their game and had there been a McGrory knocking around in that period things might have been a lot brighter for the Celts. The occasion was a bit too big for young Dunn. In fact, the whole line showed a lack of experience. Frank ODonnell did very well at the start. He showed the most fight. But he suffered from the shortcomings of his colleagues later on and faded out. Paterson, the Dunipace boy, had a good conception of the game, and I would like to see him persevered with. He was out of position here. I understand he is a better centre-forward. With such an uneven attack, the Parkhead middlemen didnt have their work to seek, but all three played very soundly. Peter Wilson I would single out for his backing of the forwards. The entire defence did grandly Wallace has come on a lot since I first saw him. He was very safe here. He had his spells of luck but then what goalkeeper hasnt. Young Hogg surprised me. He wasnt far short of being the best back afield. McGonagle too, came through a lot of work with flying colours, although he found Main a big handful in the last twenty minutes. A few more games like this and theres no need to worry about Sandy Archibalds successor. Stevenson tapered off, but in the early stages I was struck by the way he spread the play about. His long balls, driven without hesitation to the other wing, showed the natural footballer. Marshall had some nice touches and was good in the pass back, although not up to the standard of Marshall the inside forward. Still, hes a good strong man to have on your side. McPhail and Nicholson were a good wing in the first half. Big Bobs headwork wasnt so good as usual, but he had bad luck with his shooting. Nicholson also shot well, although it was obvious, he wasnt a hundred per cent fit all the time. I would put down George Brown as the number one half-back indeed the best man afield. This was Brown at his best. He struck a game right away and his positional work and first time passing was a treat. Simpson was the usual steady defender weve come to expect. Meiklejohn has slowed up a lot, but his influence mean a lot to his side. Dawson was good in goal, but Ive seen both Gray and McDonald do better. As I have already said they took too long to settle down. Rangers had a slight pull for the first half-hour, although Celtic came nearest to scoring. H ODonnell had hard luck with his free kick which struck the inside of the left hand post and went to Dawson, who cleared. In the twenty-nineth minute Celtic went ahead. Hughes lobbed the ball into the middle and Simpson headed out. F ODonnell position himself nicely to get the ball and sent it home with a grand left foot drive. Three minutes after this McPhail came near to equalising after a bit of play by Stevenson and Main, but a minute later Marshall eventually did the trick. Meiklejohn set the move going, Main carried it on, and Marshall cleverly headed the cross home via the right-hand post. Rangers came into their game in the second half and Celtic had to concentrate more on defence than attack. It said a lot for the Parkhead rear men that it took the Ibrox men thirty-none minutes to get the winner. It was Stevenson who got it. Main ran along the touchline and placed to Stevenson, who let go first time. Wallace got his hands to the ball but couldnt stop it going over the line. I think it was Hogg who kicked the ball out again, but the referee was in a good position to see
