Campbell 44
Fleming 45
Match Information
Attendance: 17,000
Referee: J Thomson (Hamilton)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
What mystified me most in this weird clash or rather splash was how the referee decreed that the ground was playable. I had gone to Shawfield to see the Clyde-St Mirren tie, and once I had had a peep at the pitch, I was not surprised that the official in charge deemed it out of the question to start the game. Ibrox was not in any better conditions, and five minutes play sufficed for everyone to realise that a big blunder had been made. This tie will be remembered as the big Ibrox splash. It was not a case of a few pools of water dotted over the ground; there were scores of them and also several lakes, ankle deep, in which the ball floated like a toy yacht. This was bad enough, but there was also the added difficultly and danger of the bone in the ground caused by the overnight frost which was covered by the slimy surface. All the players were at their wits end. If the ball was not waterlogged it was shooting off the hard patches like a rocket. Accurate or intelligent football was impossible. Nobody looked for any, and nobody saw any. The wonder was that the players stuck it out without making a pretest. In saying that the conditions were the same for both teams in no way alters the main fact that the play was first to last was farcical. Judged from the amount of attacking done, the tie should have been won by Rangers, but the forwards persisted in attempting to play orthodox football when they should have been lashing the ball about and trusting to a rub od fortune coming their way. The conditions suited better the heavier Dundee fellows, and particularly their defenders. The stubborn resistance maintained by Gilmour and Brown throughout the second half compelled admiration. Browns sound kicking was a feature of the game. McNab and McCarthy also readily adapted themselves to the ground conditions. Their strength was a valuable asset, and both expended every available ounce in holding up the Rangers attackers and in forcing the play when occasion demanded. Ritchie was another who gave his colleagues an inspiring lead. Harry skipped along the treacherous ground with amazing numbness, and he had a very responsive partner in Gavigan, who got the ball across the best of the extreme wingers. Robertson, while not so conspicuous as Ritchie was a tireless worker, often helping in defence, but always foraging for Troup, who discarded his usual ornate work on the ball. The little left-winger did not centre the ball with the same accuracy as Gavigan, but he more than paid his way by his share in the opening goal. This cane along five minutes before the interval and happened this way. Marshall, in attempting to send a long pass out to the right, sliced the ball to the foot of Troup, who quickly slung it into goal. Campbell smartly trapped the leather as it reached the ground and fired out of Tom Hamiltons reach. A well-taken goal. In less than two minutes Rangers were on lever terms. From about twenty-five yards out Buchanan essayed a drive, and just before the ball got Marshs length Fleming, who had just previously changed places with McGown gave it a flick with his head and the leather went into the net low down. A draw at the interval represented fairly the run of the play. Rangers had been slow to suit themselves to the conditions. Earlier on they had indulged in a lot of unprofitable tip-tapping, but as the game advanced, they spread themselves out and latterly forced the pace more than the Dens Park fellows. But they found Gilmour and Brown stubborn defenders, and they continued to do so right up to the last kick. For the greater part of the second half Fleming, still in centre, kept dashing in ready to snap up an opening, but few came his way. McGown was no more comfortable on the wing than he had been at centre, while Morton experienced the utmost difficulty in rounding McNab. Marshall and McPhail kept plugging away, but rarely did they bring Marsh into action. Indeed, Tom Hamilton had more work to do than the Dundee keeper, for Campbell and were snappy raiders, who shot from every range and angle. Gavigan, gathering confidence as the game advanced, sent over some inviting balls, and the Ibrox custodian had to show some daring in coming out of his goal and literally collecting a ball just as Campbell was about to head through. I thought Tom should have done the same again when Robertson got his head to another Gavigan cross a little later and snatched the winning goal. It was a well-timed but of work by the inside left, but his colleagues rightly shared their congratulations with Gavigan. In the remaining ten minutes the Rangers made determined efforts to save the tie, but the Dundee defenders never wavered. Alan Morton looked to have a chance, but his shot across the goal. An unsatisfying game in every way, Dundee can congratulate themselves on having so many well-built men in their ranks. Both Gilmour and Brown showed remarkable staying power, as did also McNab while Gavigan and Ritchie shared the honours in a spirited front line. Gray was the better Rangers back, Hamilton not being speedy enough to catch up on Gavigan. It was no fault either of Meiklejohn or Buchanan that the Ibrox fell; both worked unceasingly to add punch to the attack, but those heroic Dundee backs refused to surrender
