S Archibald 4
Muirhead
G Henderson
Match Information
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: H Humphrey (Greenock)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I am not going to say what Rangers are when they are a goal down. It has been proved that they can win even then. But let them get a goal up early on, and they take a lot of holding. Dundee knows that today. And the Dundee who were so decisively beaten at Ibrox must have realised ere this that the fellows with the light blue jerseys are a difficult obstacle to overcome once they get their nises in front. There was an attendance of something infinitesimally more than 35,000, but there must have been almost as many who keenly awaited the result. From the very start I thought the Dundee team were determined to tear out the leaf which contained the blot of their Raith Rovers game a week ago. Even when they were a couple of goals down, I saw McLean beckoning his colleagues was commendable. But against a side that was playing at the top of its form, and finding luck running with them, there was little hope of success. In the ‘Weekly Record’, which I suppose you will all have had through your hands by this time – and, if you haven’t the misfortune is yours – I made the unqualified prognostication that the Dundee team would ne let down by their half-backs. If, for a moment, I thought that prophecy was incorrect, I would say so. I feel as certain as I write that the weakness of the Dens Park team originated in the intermediate division. The trio never seemed capable of holding the strong, organised Ibrox attack, and, to make matters worse, there was only one real defender behind them. That was ‘Napper’ Thomson. Unfortunately, Fotheringham was not at his best, and so, now you know how the Rangers, able and willing to take all the opportunities that came their way, won so comfortably. Let the remainder of my analysis be directed upon the players. The winners first. I don’t blame Robb for the goal he lost. But I wonder if the Rangers’ goalkeeper is playing as well just now as he can do. I watched him punch a ball out, and he clutched another, on neither of which occasions he was convincing. His lapse can only be temporary, and he will retain his position. Without Manderson, McCandless was not the same safe man he usually is. Perhaps the change of language has something to do with it. Reid promises well, but Bert cannot be dropped. The half-backs were all good, and Dixon probably the most serviceable. I never look for the ornate from Arthur. I have seen Meiklejohn and Muirhead both part with the ball to better advantage, but as keen tacklers they deserve praise. In the attack, Cunningham was a prominent figure. If the big Galston man has played a better game this season. I haven’t been there to see it. He kept the front moving. Cairns too, was good, forceful as ever; and between them, Henderson did his bit, and did it well. I have seen both Archibald and Morton do better, but don’t imagine I am damning them with faint praise. The Dundee defenders made vital mistakes. I felt sorry for Fotheringham when he let that Muirhead goal slip through. Thomson, in my opinion, was the best back of the four. Aimer has a lot to learn and had a lot to do. It’s at half-back that the Dens Park men need strengthening. All three were guessing most of the time. One cannot tell a directorate what to do. There may be reasons why they shouldn’t do what an outsider may think they ought to. All that the inside forwards and Knox required was support. Bird and Cowan were as good as any inside forwards require to be, and McLean showed his danger when he got the chance. It will be surprising to me if Knox does not develop into a real top-notcher. He is clever, he has speed, he can shoot – now is there anything else required? For one of a few weeks experience in senior football he is simply graud. Halliday was not a success. McLean set the ball going, and just to show their appreciation, the Rangers forwards took possession of it, refused to allow the Dundonians anything but the briefest loan of it, and inside four minutes, scored a goal. The goal was matured on the left wing, and when it went to the right. Cunningham was the man who had the scoring chance. Andrew missed, but that gave Archibald his chance, and with a real pile-driver, he gave Fotheringham not the ghost of a chance to save. Thus, in fewer minutes than it takes to tell, Rangers were on that carpet which they so dearly love – a goal up. They are not the only ones who like to be in such a position. Rangers kept going as if they intended to ram home victory. They found, however, that Dundee were not to be so easily subdued. McLean went off on his own and had all the defence beaten on the right side, when he sent a fast centre over. The ball went to Halliday, who miskicked and – what a sign of relief from the Ibrox terracing! The game developed a bit of robustness, which added interest and free-kicks. Thomson looked after Archibald so well that he was more than once penalised. I thought, however, that the gentleman of the whistle was a bit too severe. Ross was mixing it with the Ibrox left wing, and more than once the whistle sounded because of his indiscretions. One of the finest bits of play came at the end of half-an-hour. Initiated by Bird, who let Know away, the outside-right out over a nice centre. McLean fastened on, and Robb had to save a teaser. A great save and shot. Again, the Dundee forwards were in the picture, this time with a left-wing movement, in which Cowan was prominent. Getting the ball from Halliday, he snicked it to McLean, who returned it. The inside-right was high with his delivery. Thirty minutes had gone when Rangers got their second goal. And what a goal! Muirhead sent in a ball from the eighteen yards line. Any of the defenders might have got it, but to Fotheringham the clearing was left. A goalkeeper’s error is fatal. Instead of holding the ball, the Coalburn man allowed it to slip from his hands over the line. Goals usually come from acts of commission, but not, as a rule, so glaring as those which had led to these two. To make matters worse, a third goal fell to Rangers, and again a glaring mistake led to it. Thomson miskicked. Henderson got the ball, and, when tackled, displayed wonderful control. He got himself well into position and rattled the rigging behind Fotheringham. With a three-goal lead the Rangers must have felt comfortable. They were entitled to do so. But they slackened none, and when the interval arrived, they seemed to be as determined to emphasise what portended to be a victory. Fog was falling heavily when the game was resumed. Dundee were then the aggressive party, and most persistently they did attack. Their reward came when, at the end of seven minutes Knox scores a brilliant goal. The movement began when Bird intercepted a pass to Cairns close to Dundee’s end. He sent the ball along to the young fellow, who carried it down, tricked Muirhead and McCandless and beat Robb with an oblique shot – a great effort. But what short lived consolation was this for the Dundonians. From the kick-off, Henderson received from Cairns, and, going on alone, buried another in Fotheringham’s net. What a thriller! And still the game was fought out desperately. Two players came to loggerheads and were lucky not to incur the greater wrath of the referee than a mere separation. Archibald and Thomson were decidedly lucky not to be divorced from the remainder of the game. Fotheringham had a great save from Henderson, and, when Cairns had worked himself into position, he let go one which found a post, with the Dundee goalkeeper spreadeagled. Slackened a bit, and Dundee seemed to have accepted defeat as the inevitable. Henderson was lamed and went to outside-left. Morton to the accompaniment of a cheer, took up the centre position. When the little fellow got the ball, he was given all the vocal encouragement possible from the Ibrox enthusiasts on the terraces. Till the end, it was a fight of a kind. Rangers, with their comfortable lead, lay back. Dundee were depressed
