Sinclair 1
Wilson pen 11
Sinclair <45
W Reid >45, xx
Match Information
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: R.T. Murray (Stenhousemuir)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Ibrox Park looked its gayest when the Hearts trooped out to meet the Rangers. A crowd of 45,000 gave the crack Edinburgh team a royal welcome. Both teams took the field with an unbeaten League record. Tynecastle people were wonderfully confident the Hearts would add lustre to their reputation. In the west the ‘light Blues’ were the popular fancy. On the extreme left young Paterson deputised for Alex Smith. Otherwise the Rangers were represented by the side that conquered Motherwell the previous week. At the last minute the Hearts had to change their attack. McPherson, who accompanied them to Ibrox, was afraid to risk himself. Mac was to have played inside-left, but the rearrangement led to the introduction of Low of Elgin at inside-right. To accommodate the new-comer Bobby Walker resumed an old partnership on the left with Abrams. Low is a son of a famous forward Malcolm Low, who partnered Frank Watt in the Kilbirnie team in the late ‘80s’. On the opening Saturday of the League tournament I saw the Hearts at Shawfield. Their confident, open game against the Clyde impressed me. Neither Dawson nor Whitehead could play that day, and Currie was in the centre. In every division the team gave a sparkling display. Bur the glaring weakness of the centre-forward spoiled an otherwise strong attack. We saw on the Rangers ground what a vast betterment the presence of Wilson made to the line. The skilful young opportunist from the Arniston Rangers linked both wings nicely, and proved himself an expert dribbler. The Rangers have the reputation of being one of the strongest sides in getting off the mark quickly. On this occasion the boot was on the other foot. Ere the game was a minute old Walker dribbled round Gordon and Campbell, and swung the ball out to his old partner on the opposite wing. Shock No.1 followed! Steadying himself momentarily, Sinclair let drive from an acute angle. The ball took the off post high up and rebounded into the net. The goal was beautifully taken. A better keeper than Farrington could be excused for losing it. This sensational opening took the Rangers by surprise. It imparted greater confidence to the Hearts, whose sturdy half-backs broke up all attempts of their opponents to play the close game successfully. The Edinburgh forwards played accurate football. Their passing was low, but they kept the game open. Walker’s long passes were delightful to watch. He seemed in splendid fettle. Nothing came off for the Rangers. Baffled by the wide passing of the Hearts, they never altered their methods until the second half. By that time the game was won. After eleven minutes Gordon’s arm intercepted a cross from Abrams, who proved as slippery as an eel. The referee was satisfied the infringement was intentional, and as it occurred in the penalty area, he gave a penalty kick. Wilson deceived Farrington, and the Rangers supporters got shock No.2 as the ball reached the net. Probably if the goalkeeper had remained stationary, he would have saved this second goal. The dash of the Hearts was a revelation to the crowd. Not a man on the side gave cause for anxiety. Even when Walker strained his back in attempting a swerving movement and had to retire to the track for the trainer’s attention, the players steadied to the altered conditions with amazing pluck. A vain attempt was made by the captain to continue the game. It was obvious he was unfit and the first pass he attempted convinced him it was useless for him to remain on the field. After Walker’s retirement, the Hearts by sheer grit kept their opponents out. The handicap was a big one, but they faced it resolutely. After fully an hour’s play. Mercer tried a long pop at goal, Farrington failed to hold the ball and ere he could retrieve himself was netted by Low. This third reverse did not awaken the Rangers to the futility to of their tactics. They kept sending the ball up the centre, instead of spreading it. Against stonewall defence it proved so much effort wasted. To complete the sensation George Sinclair shot a fourth goal as half-time approached. Walker was only fifteen minutes on the field, so that the Hearts feat of scoring twice after he left and preventing the Rangers from scoring, was highly meritorious. In the second half a transformation occurred in the play of the Rangers. They shaped like a new team. The close game was discarded. They sung the ball freely and played on to the Hearts as they had never done in the first half. Reid scored a fine goal in five minutes. The Hearts, if less in the picture in attack, shone in defence. Crossan and Taylor took the ball first time, and the halves strove as desperately and as contently as ever in keeping the home forwards out. Playing all out the Rangers tested the Hearts defence at every point. The harder they tried the more determined the Hearts to hold what they had. In this they succeeded until three minutes from time, when Reid scored again. I was well pleased with the Hearts. The balance of the team was perfect. In method and dash they eclipsed the Rangers at any part of the game while they had Walker with them. After he left they did nothing, and until the interval were masters of the situation. For once they could boast of greater strength in every division in a Rangers’ match. Allan was so well protected by the backs that he was able to do all that was asked of him without much risk. I considered the foundation of success was the work of mercer, Bannister and Nellies. All three half-backs were prominent. The failure of the Rangers’ attack in the first half was mainly due to their untiring efforts. Abrams and Sinclair were the star forwards, but the line was a pronounced success. Wilson can dribble as well as shoot. In this match he kept up his reputation by scoring. He has scored in all seven matches he has played for the Hearts. Low delighted everybody by the sill he showed alongside Sinclair. How much the Rangers missed Lock, Bowie and Smith was revealed in the work of the team as a whole. The side did not do itself justice until the second half really. Then it was too late. The goalkeeper was a bundle of nerves after the first goal. His chief blunder was the third goal. Ormonde, similarly affected was not the back he was at Motherwell. The lapse of form was amazing in a team that had done so well previously. At their best the Rangers could hardly have beaten the Hearts on their latest form
