Reid 8
J Smith 51
Missed Penalties
Fiddes pen miss 76
Milloy pen miss
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: R.G. Benzie (Irvine)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Shadows over Ibrox! Youll probably heat some folk tell you how Kilmarnock caught Rangers on the rebound, so to speak. Dont believe it. Kilmarnock got a point here because they were the more composed and progressive side in the first half, when they might have scored four goals instead of two. Staggering? Yes, but its true just the same. I have heard this report the Drama of two Missed Penalties. Certainly, the spot-kick failures by Milloy in the first half and by Fiddes in the second could have decided the issue. Rangers may not like this, but I am going to say quite candidly that they were a poor imitation of the great teams we have seen wear the Light Blues, I speak of the first half, for in the second they releases a power and fought with such grim determination and ability that I felt they would wipe the Rugby Park defenders from their path. It didnt work out that way, but this second half effort helped to prove there is still goodness in the team. And it must not be forgotten they had Kinnear partially crippled. He changed places with Waddell after the turn. I place the onus on the shoulders of the Ibrox defenders for the loss of the two goals. McKillop and Fiddes were never a happy alliance. They had not the positional strategy or calmness when the play was flowing swiftly towards them. The upshot was that McGrogan and McAvoy enterprising and buoyant forwards, could gather the ball and let the others prepare themselves for the launching of an assault. It happened so often that the indecision of the home defenders not all of them was so obvious that I was surprised no attempt was made to find a solution. The argument may be offered that Rangers second-half ascendancy showed there was no need for such a change. To that I answer the improvement did not come as a result of a stiffening behind as to the genius of young Thornton and the courageous battling by his mates in line with him as well as Symon. In adversely criticising the rearguard, I must add that Shaw is absolved. By his tenacious tackling, energy and doggedness, he more than once covered the blunders of the others. And Simpson, after a jumpy opening that made me fear for him, came away in excellent style. So much so that his earlier sins were forgiven. It was apparent Kinnear was not himself. Even before he was hurt, he at no time regaled us with those flashing, dazzling runs that have repeatedly struck terror into the hearts of an opposing defence. McPhail, who dissipated one hundred to one on chance, almost wore himself out in the mud that took heavy toll of all. If not the deadly marksman of yore, his very presence seemed to carry a message of danger to the Kilmarnock backs. Smith too gave everything he had and was twice unfortunate in the break of the ball. He was needed in the van and needed badly. Kilmarnock were desperately keen to complete the double over the League leaders. They must still be looking back on a first half that held joyous memories tinged with regrets. They could then have put Rangers on their backs by a series of sledge-hammer blows instead of merely stunning them and almost taking a hiding when their rivals recovered. Their fiery advances, cool, clever manoeuvring and above all, their strict regard for cohesion had them on top for protracted spells. Their second-half decline could be traced not so much to their own blemishes as to the improvement of the Light Blues. Hunter distinguished himself by his anticipation and agility, and in Turnbull and Milloy had two trusted assistants who were outwitted on occasions, but never completely mastered. Wylie until recently a centre-forward, appeared ever in our eye. Though too robust at times, his unyielding stand was of inestimable value, while in front, I select Reid for the encomiums. No needless palaver. He did his job with the thoroughness of a journeyman. He it was who headed Killies first goal in the eighth minutes from a judiciously-placed Cahill flag-kick. Four minutes later, he hot a ball for an empty net after Dawson had come out in an endeavour to block the ball, but shaw darted across and knocked it away with a hand. Milloy was entrusted with the spot-kick, but Dawson stopped it in the line. With 25 minutes gone, however, Kilmarnock struck again, Simpson miskicked and McGrogan, unmarked, lashed the ball home. Why was McGrogan left unchallenged? It took Rangers only six minutes of the second half to draw level. McPhail crashed the first one home after Smith and Thornton had paved the way, and Smith guided in the other with his head from a Waddell centre. When, therefore, Smith was upended inside the box fourteen minutes before the end I felt Rangers were to prevail. But no. Fiddes sent the ball screaming over the bar and the home habitues almost screamed in the agony of it. The Referee Splendid handling, Mr Benzie!
