Dr Marshall 15
Fleming 60
Match Information
Attendance: 49,000
Referee: William Bell (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
After ten minutes of the game at Ibrox Park, fifty thousand souls thought they had spent their bob to watch a fizzle. Half-an-hour later they had changed their minds, and for long enough the wee fellows from the other Division gave the champions and cup-holders the shock of their lives. No doubt about it, this Dundee United team can supply the goods. They were beaten in the end, it is true, but except for those first few minutes – until Marshall scored his goal in the fifteenth minute – they played Rangers on the treacherous going on a fifty-fifty basis. In fact, I will go so far as to say that they adapted themselves to the conditions better. Rangers were not at home on the slippery surface. Gray had a day off, and the Dundee United left wing, Kay and Cameron, had both him and Muirhead in difficulties. From these two most of the danger came, and with Hutchison in the middle ready to take the leavings, United left Ibrox with a good reputation. Few First Division clubs have done better at the Rangers’ home this season. If this is a sample of their stuff let us have them by all means in the Upper Circle next season. There are a lot a whole heap worse. Except for those early minutes, Dundee United played football, not the tough-coming stuff expected from the Second Division, and in this respect, they equalled the Rangers. At half-time excitement had reached fever heat. Rangers had lost their hold and very little would have given United the equaliser. Turned about, and with the wind at there backs, United kept up the pressure, and for fifteen minutes they were continually on the attack. Then came a stroke of luck for the Blues. Fleming got away from a position that looked very like offside, and fending off attacks from the backs, put the ball past McGregor, who mistimed the ball. Had the goal come at the other end none could have grumbled. From then on Rangers sensed security, and without ever gaining a mastery they held United well and McPhail added another goal. It was only justice to Dundee United that they should score, for they had put up a grand fight. With the last kick of the game Hutchison and Kay got through – the latter scoring from the rebound of the centre’s shot against the bar. Rangers’ best men were in the middle. Meiklejohn was up against a tough morsel in Hutchison, and as usual played a safe game Craig was just a shade ahead of Muirhead on the wings. The Rangers’ defence, with the exception of Hamilton, who did all that was asked of him., was unsteady. Gray was the worst sinner, but Buchanan was not too sure of himself. In front, Rangers’ best was Fleming, who never wasted an opportunity, but he was quickly followed for honours by McPhail, who never failed to find his wing men with his swinging passes. Marshall was not a success on the day’s play. He hugged too close to Fleming. The wing men could make nothing of the Dundee defenders and in consequence lost many opportunities. Dundee United were a well-balanced lot. The defence was sound, but apt to do silly things that was quite unnecessary. The half-backs combined nicely with the front rank, who in turn showed that in positional play they were anything but novices. McGregor in goal was unorthodox. He was chiefly responsible for the stupid things, such as kicking away when he should have handled, but he was not a bad keeper, and on the day paid his way. Taylor was the best back on the field, but both were sound men. The half-back line compared favourably with Rangers. Personally, I liked Dorward best, but the others two were stern, good workers. In front, as I have said, the left wing was the best, with Hutchinson in the middle a centre much above the ordinary. Hart dovetailed in nicely with Kay, and gave Henderson a good service, but the ex-Ranger was not at home on the surface and could make little of them. Rangers’ greater experience carried the day for them. They possessed more guns, but all credit must be given to a fighting United side. They went down with colours flying. There was a thrill in the first minute. Fleming weaved his way in simple fashion past McLure and in a flash he had in hi shot. McGregor fell for it and saved, the ball shooting off his shoulder over the bar. Dundee United found their feet after this, and their swinging tactics and daring tackling put Rangers on their mettle. McGregor, however, was kept busy with shots from Muirhead, Marshall and Morton, but in between whiles Kay and Cameron with clever work, gave the Rangers’ defence some idea of their skill. Meiklejohn stopped Hutchison twice when the centre was in scoring position. McGregor brought off a grand save from Fleming and followed it up with another from McPhail. These was no doubting the superiority of Rangers, but those Dundee raids always spelt danger. Fleming’s knee was hurt in a valiant effort to score, but after attention he carried on. Plucky though United had been, it was obviously only a matter of time ere Rangers took the lead. A corner simple given away by Taylor led up to it. Morton’s kick went well into the goalmouth, and Marshall jumped up to it and headed home the first goal after fifteen minutes had gone. George Henderson did his best to put the United on level again, but he shot past after a spirited duel with Buchanan. McGregor’s unorthodox methods in United’s goal kept the crowd in good humour after this. His right hook to leather was worthy of Moody at his best! After this United again showed fight, and Hutchison in turning in a fine effort obtained their first corner. Rangers quickly came back to the attack, and Marshall skied a Morton centre far over the bar. Gray slipped up under pressure by Cameron and Hutchison left in possession in front of goal, slammed it in on Hamilton. The keeper held it securely enough, but the tenacious United forwards were on top of him like a thunderbolt. Were Rangers surprised? I should say so. The United were putting on full pressure, and Cameron making Gray look anything but an international back. Rangers, with their backs to the wall, were lucky when Hart rattled one across goal with Hamilton whacked to the wide. Dundee United, when the half-time whistle blew, could smile. They had put in a grand recovery, and with the wind behind them in the second half their hash had by no means been settled. Rangers restarted in breezy fashion, and Archibald forced a corner off McGregor, whose deadly right mitt again saved the Tannadice ship. United’s turn came next, and for the next ren minutes the Black Diamonds had quite as good a share of it as their opponents. Really brilliant play on United’s right wing gave Hart his chance, and Tommy Muirhead saved a certain counter by taking the blow full on. Dundee United’s play was a revelation. They were showing more constructive. They were showing more constructive ability than the Rangers, and Hamilton’s hands must have tingled with one from Hutchison. A stroke of luck fell Rangers’ way immediately after this. Fleming, from a suspiciously like offside position, ran in on his own and scored an easy goal. Fifteen minutes had gone. Rangers showed up better after this and recovered their balance. McPhail was fouled when going through, and from the free-kick the inside-left worked his way in and scored by lofting the ball over McGregor’s head. United even after this did not falter. They did their best, and from Cameron came one of the best shots of the game. George Henderson sent in another stunner that was well saved by Hamilton. From then on till the end Rangers had to fight against the never-say-die Tannadice men. McGregor was certainly lucky in getting one way from Fleming, but apart from this there was little in it either way. All too late United found the net. Just on the whistle Kay scored a fine goal. In the last-minute Hutchison hit the bar with a great drive and Kay dashed in and put it home.
