W Reid
McAteer <45
Match Information
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: R.J. Kelso (Hamilton) or Nelson…
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
For strenuous and determined football the latest League struggle between the great rival clubs of Glasgow equalled many past memorable encounters. For skilful movements and beauty of combination the game has often been surpasses. In point of attendance, the crowd exceeded by thousands the returns for the corresponding match last season, when a similar result occurred. The change for the better in the weather was reflected in the dimensions of the crowd, which exceeded 60,000. The Celts had eight of the players who turned out last New Year doing duty, and had Loney and Hamilton been able to take their places at Ibrox Park, they would have had ten. The Rangers had six, the absentees being Stark, Craig, Galt, Gilchrist and McPherson. The ‘Light Blues’ were represented by the identical side that triumphed at Kilmarnock, but the Celts had Dodds for Mitchell and Johnstone in Hamilton’s place. In my opinion, the play was superior to last year’s struggle, and what was more gratifying, it was much ‘cleaner.’ It also bettered the October game at Parkhead, when the Rangers favoured the Celts in the first half, but it caused the ball to curl awkwardly at times, and required more control. The best play on each side was shown against the wind, but the Rangers’ forwards were not so often dangerous as were their opponents. The Celts’ inside game was superior, but both sides were faulty in attack, the more youthful players lacking the experience of their predecessors. I was delighted with the quality of the defence. Lock and Adam had not a serious test, but the backs had often a worrying time of it. McNair and Hay were the more reposeful, and exhibited the greater resource, but the Rangers’ pair, Law and Campbell imparting a physical power at close quarters that was invaluable to his side. Law went lame five minutes from the close, and retired at a time when the Celts looked the more likely lot to win. In one fleeting raid by the Celts Hogg assumed the role of temporary defender in Law’s place, but once he threatened danger was cleared, he was back in the outfield. At half-back I considered the Rangers were better served. Chapman was the life of the line. His fine turn of speed enabled him to cover Hendry or Gordon as occasion Warranted, and when the Celts’ attack was hottest he popped up between the backs and relieved repeatedly. No man in the Rangers’ team bettered Chapman, and his watchfulness over Quinn, who was in splendid fettle, was the outstanding feature in his play. Gordon came well out of his encounters with the Celtic left couple, who were overshadowed by the right pair. McAteer was of most value to the Celts at half-back, but the men on either side of him never flinched, Young coming better out of it than Dodds. The two best centre-forwards in Scotland were closely watched, and although Reid got his usual goal, Quinn had one disallowed after the most brilliant feat in the match. Had the goal been given it would have won the match. As far as effectiveness went Quinn eclipsed the Ranger, and throughout required more watching than any play afield. No forward drew the defence on to him and tricked like McMenemy, and none revealed better judgment in where he sent the ball. The best player in the Rangers’ attack was Alex Smith. The other attackers on each side may be given credit of playing earnestly against determined opposition, without being specially conspicuous for what they did. The opening goal fell to the Rangers after 10 minutes, Reid snapping up a nice pass from Gibson and deceiving Adams with his shot. The Celts got the equalising goal late in the first half from a free kick taken by McAteer for Gordon bringing down Quinn. In the second half the Celts showed greater steadiness. Quinn’s disallowed goal, when he dashed splendidly through the defence hard pressed from behind, was the only time the ball found the net in this portion. Law, hanging on to the Celtic centre, fell to the ground, and Quinn shot hard and true. Presumably the referee was satisfied Law had been ‘fouled,’ for the disallowed the goal without consulting the neutral linesmen. The nest thrilling incident in this half occurred when Kivlichan, in the act of closing in on an open goal, was tackled by Lock, who courageously took the only chance of saving his goal by risking everything and blocking his man. As a game it was always interesting and desperately contested.
