Walls
A Cunningham
Match Information
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: J.S. Muir (Clydebank)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Let me say right away that I was somewhat disappointed with the display at Ibrox between Rangers and Motherwell. It wasn’t a bad game; far from it, but I had been led to expect so much from Rangers, the Scottish League champions, and I was told that Motherwell played great football, that perhaps I looked for too much. Anyway, I have seen better games. Of course, this is the beginning of the season, and one or two players were not in the best of condition owing, thus early, to injuries so we must make allowances for that. Should Rangers have won? Well, I’m not so sure. A draw, I think, would have been a better result for all concerned. Rangers, perhaps, had the better forwards as a line, but their half-backs weren’t nearly so good as the Motherwell middle. Rangers’ three did a lot of breaking up, but their placing wasn’t nearly so good as that of Paterson, Brown and Stewart. The home side took their chances better and – well, that’s all that’s in it. Had a pleasant chat with Jimmy, and Arthur Dixon, and Andy Cunningham, and Alan Morton. Alan was being all plastered up when I saw him, and young Meiklejohn followed him on the operating table for same purpose. I have never seen Rankin play, and I was sorry to learn he was unfit to take the field. Ferguson wasn’t too either. Jimmy Bowie elected to play with what little wind there was, and Motherwell were first to attack. They might have made something of it had they shown some steadiness at goal. Archibald had a couple of chances to get away at this stage, but he didn’t make very good use of them; the second time in particular he sent weakly behind. Then I held my breath for Robb’s sake. Clever manoeuvring by Paterson and Robertson allowed Ferguson to go clen through. What a pity he lifted it too high. I know how he can shoot. I’ve held some of Hughie’s efforts. What then? Rangers scored. And what a goal. It was a shot I never like to see coming my way. Rundell hadn’t a ghost of a chance. Walls was the scorer. He picked up a ball coming out from a bunch of players in the goal-mouth and drove safe and sure home. I am told that the ‘Fister,’ as you call him, has only scored once before for the Rangers. Well, he has something to be proud of now. It was a great goal. Cunningham had a great drive, but Rundell an equally great save. He tipped the ball very neatly over the bar. I like to see a keeper do this sort of thing. It always means safety. I thought Motherwell might do something hereabouts. Robertson let Ferguson away, when Smith handled just on the penalty line. Brown might have done better than lift the ball high over. Up to this period very little had been seen of Alan Morton. But Alan will always be a dangerous man so long as he can cut in the way he does. And we got a fine exhibition of how to do that from him here. He finished with a great shot, which yielded a corner, but unfortunately, he sent the kick past. Again, Morton was in the picture. Dixon let him away, and what a ripper of a shot he git in. He fairly rattled Rundell’s wrists, I bet. Tommy Cairns was on him, too, but went somersaulting over the keeper’s back into the net. Rangers were settling down to a nice game here, but why wouldn’t they shoot? Walls had set them a good example, and they wouldn’t follow it. Then Dick showed how shooting should be done. On the run he delivered a right stinger which Robb was fortunate enough to be in the way of. When half-time arrived Rangers were a goal up. It had been a very even half, with the Motherwell boys giving as much as they got. Archibald restarted the second period all right, but what a sinner Archibald is to hesitate before crossing. Twice he did this early on, and although on each occasion he got a corner, what was the good? Corners don’t win matches, especially when there’s plenty of time to get the ball into the centre. But after these two corners it was all Motherwell for a bit. Ferrier got in some nice centres, and an odd corner or two came Motherwell’s way, but nothing more. Dick had one or two chances to get in either a shot or a cross, but he seemed to be excited and unable to control the ball. Then Rangers set off and scored. It was a beautifully worked goal – a typical Scottish movement. Morton, Cairns and Cunningham were all in it, and the centre got in a very clever slip past Rundell, while attended by a couple of opponents. Fifteen minutes of the second half had gone at this time, but Motherwell were by no means done. They at it again for all they were worth. The right attacked vigorously, and Dick tried a shot and had it blocked. Dick tried another, and Dixon handled on the goal line. The referee had no option but to give a penalty. Ferguson scored from the kick. Play became a bit loose after this, and there was mush hard kicking and much dash. I thought Motherwell were to get the equaliser, though. After a lot of manoeuvring Ferrier got in a pop at Robb. The goalkeeper held it but went down. Robertson rush in and kicked, and Robb was badly injured about the hand. The crowd seemed to get perfectly annoyed when after Ross was repaired, a throw-in was given just on the goal line. It was a perfectly correct decision. I should have said so had I been in goal. The play again became a bit scrappy towards the finish, and both sides were guilty of a lot of purposeless kicking. I liked Robb in the Rangers’ goal. The Ibrox people have nothing to fear from their goalkeeper. He handles a ball well and gets down as well as up very quickly. He had one or two really smart saves and was getting nicely on the ball which Handled. Manderson, I should say, was the better of the backs. He tackles well and kick a good length. Young Smith has the makings of a very good man, but he will have to tone down a bit. Dash is all very well, but it can be overdone. No doubt Smith will acquire more judgment with more experience. Walls pleased me best in the half-back line, but even his placing wasn’t up to the standard I expected. Dixon is a hardy fellow, who never stops running, and a grand destructive player, but Arthur might pay more attention to feeding his forwards. I have seen him play better. But before the match he was telling me he had a bit of a cold hanging about him after Tuesday’s match, and his legs were a bit stiff. That may have accounted for it. Meiklejohn was obviously playing under difficulty and wasn’t so good as I believe he would be in proper condition. As a line the forwards were good and bad by turns. I liked Bowie the best. What Rangers want is a real centre. Cunningham plays well out of position, but he is a better inside left. Cairns is a hard worker and a hustler and a very useful man. Alan Morton was not at his best for the reason I have stated already, and Archibald must learn to get the ball across. He wasted many good opportunities. On the day’s play Rundell was as good as Robb, He hadn’t a great deal of real goalkeeping to do, but what he did was well done. Motherwell have a treasure in their right back. McDougall was the best rear-man afield on the day’s play. He is very nippy in a tackle and clears splendidly first time. Jackson, too, was good and was distinctly clever in keeping the ball in play. Stewart I would put down as the best half back on view. How he fed his forwards was a real treat. Brown, too, was strong and Paterson clever. With Lennie and Rankine off and Ferguson not properly fir the forwards suffered. Gardiner took my fancy most. Ferrier has a wonderful left foot, but two feet are required. Robertson showed dash and speed, but the occasion seemed to be too much for Dick.
