McLean
Match Information
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: W Bell (Hamilton)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Morton have no chance of the championship now. The victory of Rangers, at Ibrox yesterday, put the Greenock club definitely out of the running. This was the hardest match seen at Ibrox this season. True to tradition, Morton gave the Light Blues a great run for the points, and while they lost, yet they made many friends by their whole-hearted display. There was not a dull moment in the game; nor was there an over-plus of first-class play. It was rather a hot, hard, tearing encounter, with the players lashing into it, and caring least of all for beautiful or polished play. Ungentle knocks, were many. Fouls were frequent. The referee was busy. But there was little if any ill-feeling. The crows, numbering at least 60,000, was moody. It would at one moment barrack McLean, and the nest cheer him as a hero. Rangers were worthy of their win. They had the lead in exchanges. Brownlie was busier than Hempsey. And the Internationalist made several exceptionally fine saves. He is as good as ever between the sticks. Two clearance in the first half were particularly noteworthy. Both were from express drives by Gordon, and were as fascinating as they were daring and dexterous. Morton went through the first half with a clean sheet. Their defence was very dependable, and from many a tight corner did Ormonde and Co extricate themselves. And in attack there was dash and go, if not a great deal of cohesion. Hempsey did not have a heavy job. Rangers scored ten minutes after the resumption. Before this the Morton charge ran two narrow escapes with Brownlie doing wonders. But he could not possibly stop McLean’s close-quarter shot. Greenock never really looked like equalising. The Rangers’ defence was too powerful, rising triumphant over the Morton attack, which became very nippy as the period waned. There was no more scoring, the defences remaining stout and strong, and Rangers won by 1-0. For the winners Blair was brilliant, and the half-backs too strong a barrier for the opposition. Dixon had the measure of Broad. Cunningham was the best forward on view. He was treat at drawing the Morton defence. McLean found Jacky Wright a very tough proposition. Cairns was a useful outside left. Gordon a capital handy man, and Archibald middling at outside right. Brownlie, Young, Ormonde and Wright were, perhaps, outstanding in the Greenock defence. McNab was the pick of a van which suffered in comparison with the Light Blues’ intermediate line
