Dr Marshall
T Simpson
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: D Calder (Rutherglen)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
One of the bright features associated with the holiday League match at Ibrox Park was the display Marshall gave in the centre of the Rangers’ forward line. There was nothing Micawber-like in this young fellow’s policy. Business-like all the time, he was ever on the move, and in opening the scoring after ten minutes he emphasised to the full his tenacity of purpose. It was a mastery forward pass by Cunningham that gave Marshall the opportunity. The former Shettleston junior, however, had to decide and move quickly, for the Tannadice backs were closing in at top speed, but Marshall got there first, and with a well-directed shot he gave Paterson no chance. Later on, Marshall gave a first-rate exhibition of ball control in course of a spanking run. On the way he tricked two opponents, then whipped the leather past by inches. Marshall had one failing – on occasion he lay too far back. Still, he was oftener ‘up’, as the Tannadice defenders knew only too well, and I am convinced the ‘Light Blues’ haven’t been so ably led for some time than by this nineteen-year-old lad. The first half of this tussle, which was of much importance to Dundee United because of their precarious position on the points table, was more interesting than the second. Rangers never mastered an opposition that moved quite well in the outfield but lacked power at close quarters. But the Light Blues were just always a shade the better side. McDonald was full of running on the left, but the balls he middled were intercepted by the Ibrox defenders. Oswald and his immediate supports were not allowed to develop a game, and T Hamilton had little cause for anxiety until the twenty-second minute, when Dixon floundered and lost a ball he should have plunked away with ease. T Simpson seized this chance, and closing in, he banged the leather into the net. This added spice to the play. Rangers went out to regain the lead. McKay was equalling Cunningham in the art of distribution, but the extreme men weren’t responding well. Cunningham, as he had done twice earlier, smote the ball with terrific force. He nearly uprooted a net support. Another of his volleys which was blocked was the prelude to the most sustained and exciting attack of the afternoon. It started eight minutes before the interval and had as its climax the deciding goal. When Fleming let go a clipper shot form an awkward angle, Paterson clutched the ball, but dropped it when he stumbled. Wide-awake Marshall was on the scene in a twinkling, and he turned the leather across the goalmouth and Craig had no difficulty in scoring. There wasn’t the same fire in the play after the interval. A Dundee goal would have enlivened things. T Simpson gave Welsh an opportunity to do the trick, but the Ibrox keeper got down to the centre’s ground shot and cleared convincingly. Never afterwards did the Tannadice brigade receive another opening like this. Paterson was never long idle. He was lucky to scramble clear a Fleming shot that struck the crossbar and fell in the goalmouth. Fleming had a better chance later, but he finished very weakly. Cunningham and McKay continued to spread the play in telling style, and Marshall gave Paterson a problem or two to solve, which he did. The big keeper now and then dropped a ball, but I must give him credit for a clever display. Over the piece defence was much stringer than attack. There wasn’t a really good wing afield. Rangers’ best three were the inside men, and the United’s able attackers were the extreme wingers. J Hamilton was the Rangers’ most serviceable defender. He did more than any other to unsettle the Tannadice attack. Gray was often beaten by McDonald. Kay was the strong man for the United, but a leg injury early in the second half didn’t help McBride. On either side the half-backs play was ordinary. James Walker was the most pushful and enterprising of the six.
