S Archibald pen 45
W Reid 73, 78
Match Information
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: A McMahon (Motherwell)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
Much of the gilt was rubbed off yesterdays Rangers three goals to nothing victory over the Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox by the fact that the Edinburgh team, were only at full strength during the opening five minutes of the game. Sharp, injured then returned after having his head bandaged, but was of little use, and Tommy Ross who retired a quarter of an hour before the interval, did not make his reappearance in the second half. Nor did the Light Blues escape from this keenly-fought-out opening period without casualty. Dixon was the sufferer; but Arthur was able to swing out time on the right touchline, what time Andrew Cunningham tried his prentice foot in the middle line and with no small measure of success. Another thing, The Rangers first goal accrued from a penalty kick, which was doubtful, to say the least of it. They also made a strong appeal for another of these awards earlier on, but after consulting his linesman, the referee declined to grant it. And I think Mr McMahon was right. The ball struck Crossan Paddy did not hit the ball. In the circumstances the Hearts emerged from this gruelling encounter with a deal of credit. For a while they had quite as much of the play as their opponents, and once or twice young Murphy just missed narrowly. After Sharp had returned with his head swathed in a bandage he sent on a beauty to the young ex-St Anthonys boy; and it was a near thing for Locks charge falling. At the other end Paterson was beating his man nicely and dropping the ball across ditto. But bad luck and a shortage of pace prevented Willie Reid from counting. Then a kaleidoscopic change. In less time than I can write it, Lock was saving first from Low and then from Sinclair, and on the top of this Murphy, who for the moment was on the right wing, slashed another one past. To me, Willie Reid seemed going through to score, but Mercer edged him off. Until just before the interval, when Archibald gave Kane not the ghost of a chance with the penalty, the second of the two to which I have alluded I would say the Rangers were the better side. As it was, they crossed over with a single goal lead. In the second half the handicapped Hearts put up a suborn fight. They kept the eager Ibrox team out for 28 minutes. Then just after Lows fine shot had given Lock a fright, the ball came nicely across from the right, Reid got in his deadly left, and Kane was beaten. Five minutes later, after a couple of corners had been taken in quick succession, Reid got in again with his head this time. This finished the scoring. I grant you the Rangers were the superior side; still it is not a great one yet. Lock lost nothing, but I have seen Harry more confident, and happy-go-lucky Manderson was the safer back. Andrew Cunningham made quite a good middleman during the time he operated in that division, but Bowie was the best man in the line, although Walls also did very well. In front I liked best Paterson. The doctor played very nicely indeed, Muirhead was fair, but Archibald did not get the ball across so smartly as he might. Kane cannot be blames for the loss of any of the Hearts three goals. Crossan did splendidly, but owing to Jock Wilsons injury, the custodian did not get the support that was his due in the second half. Mercer was the pick of the Tynecastle halfs big Bob did a power of work without seeming to exert himself unduly. In front George Sinclair, Willie Wilson and Murphy were all clever what they required most of all was support from behind. It was my first peep at the St Anthonys boy, and he pleased me very much. The clean-limbed and smartly built Murphy is not a Tom McInally yey, but hell do I think.
