Blair 30
Match Information
Attendance: 28,294
Referee: Hugh Humphrey (Greenock)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
My heartiest congratulations must go to Partick Thistle. Never at any time has the Firhill team been a strong fancy of mine in the Cup ties, and, whilst it always tackles the sporting palate to see the giants of the game go under, I was not one of those who really seriously considered that the Rangers would be ousted by the Thistle in the Scottish Cup final. I don’t suppose there were many who did. Even in the Firhill camp there was chiefly that hope of putting up a game fight, with an off chance of a surprise victory – you never know what might happen in football kind of feeling! And when, before the match, it was announced that the Thistle would be without the services of their international half-back, McMullan, owning, I understand to a sprained ankle, and Hamilton, their stalwart centre half, due to illness, the comparatively few optimists were inclined to admit that chances of the Scottish Cup going to Firhill were indeed remote. Well, well, the big surprise came right enough, and Partick Thistle by their odd goal victory, made tremendous history in Scottish Football, and also deprived the Rangers of the honour, for which they so strenuously fought, of winning the League Championship and the Scottish Cup – a dual distinction which, I might add with pardonable pride, the Celtic has achieved three times. And, whilst my congratulations go to the Thistle, mu sympathies must be extended to the vanquished. They have during the season performed extremely well in the way of point collecting, and on form should have made the Scottish Cup quite secure for Ibrox Park this season. I am sure, however, that, notwithstanding their disappointment, the Rangers’ players will not grudge the Thistle men their honour, if only for the plucky defence which they put up – and a defence of weakened forces, remember. I know that Andy Cunningham was quite ready to admit the value of the opposing defence. Indeed, after the match he spoke to me in high terms of the work of the Thistle defenders. Candidly, my opinion was that the Rangers beat themselves. Taking a general review of their display, they never really properly settled to their own game. I know that during the first twenty minutes they had practically all the play in attacking, following combined efforts, interspersed with clever individual efforts; that several powerfully-driven shots by Cunningham and Archibald were blocked – a shade luckily – by Crichton and Bulloch, and that a score by the Rangers looked very imminent, but although many folk considered that the Ibrox van was showing its best form, my opinion was that they were playing too closely, and still further, they persisted in playing the ball high. Then, in my judgment, Tommy Cairns missed a very good chance when a ball came well over from Meiklejohn. He was nicely placed, close in, and, I think, should have scored. And then after all this pressing, during which, as I have indicated, the Rangers were not in luck’s way – but bear in mind, that the Thistle defence was very determined, and made few mistakes – the Thistle got on the attack, and a sweeping ball from Salisbury came right to Blair. Unmarked, the Partick Thistle winger had ample time in which to take aim. He did so effectually, scoring with a shot which, to my thinking, should have been saved. By the way, it was rather remarkable that the score took place when Bowie was off the field – for one minute in order to change a torn jersey. Even before the Thistle scored it looked to me as though the Rangers were showing lack of confidence. The success, for which they had striven, and which they deserved to a big extent, did not come. Those blocked shots were certainly very disheartening. One or two of Alan Morton’s crosses were a shade too fine, and when all was weighed up it looked as though the team were becoming unduly anxious – a factor which developed as the game wore on, and which certainly became a most potent factor in the second half. all the same, I can’t say that Campbell was very seriously tested, though he showed confidence and judgment during the first half. And these attributed were sadly lacking in his rival custodian, who seemed absolutely unnerved when Thistle counted, for the Ranger made no apparent effort to thwart the shot which counted. Another weakness in the display of the Rangers, in my view, was the outcome of McCandless coming up to the left half-back position. There was no necessity for the one-back game. The tactic showed undue anxiety – it almost suggested to my mind that the Rangers were losing the match. But in any event, it upset the plan of campaign. It shoved Bowie out of his place. It caused undue crowding, especially on to the centre. Henderson wanted more room in which to work. He didn’t get it. There was a general unsteadiness. There seemed to be on one to give that bit of steadying thrust. If Jimmy Gorton had been there, I believe he might have pulled the Rangers boys together. I believe he would have gone through with a good pop of his own, I remember he did that once against the Celts in an important game – and it was a winner. The Thistle’s traditional lack of luck in Cup ties was instanced just before half-time. When a very glaring infringement in the penalty area was ignored by the referee. One of the Thistle’s forwards, Kinloch, I believe, went out to meet a ball coming from the left wing. Je was in a scoring position when he was held by the goalkeeper. It was a clear infringement. As the game proceeded the only men on the Rangers side who really mattered were Meiklejohn, Morton and, at times Archibald. The forwards as a whole did not give of their convincing standard which has meant such wonderful work in point collecting. Again, in the second half, Campbell had little to do, but he revealed his international class very clearly when he dealt with a most awkward bouncing ball coming from a free kick taken by Meiklejohn. He did the only thing that could be done to avert danger – a beat tip past, proving his sound judgment. Both the Thistle backs played exceedingly well – the younger one, Crichton, playing a wonderful game against the ubiquitous Morton. And then Wilson showed amazing virility for an untried youngster, whilst Joe Harris was right up to form. As if to prove his versatility, Joe (owing to a strain, really) went to outside right in the late stages of the game and surprised everybody by his display of speed. From two of his crosses Salisbury should have scored. They were great chances – one in particular. Salisbury should have used his right foot instead of trying to get his left to it. A hand bang, pot-luck sort of a shot might easily have sealed the issue very safely. I liked Kinloch’s display. He worked very hard, both in attack and defence. He has certainly had quite a lion’s share in Partick Thistle’s Cup-tie successes. Then the old head and craft of James McMenemy brought his team out of many tight corners, and I might also say that James paid a good deal of attention to Cunningham. His defence work in thar direction was often very valuable. The Rangers fought very hard for a goal. Once Harris brought down Alan Morton very near the penalty area, but, as I have shown, the Rangers gradually developed tense anxiety, which was, in a way, excusable, because really the Thistle defence was very robust, very sound, and if the defenders did not clear with much judgment at times, they did not hesitate to clear their lines in strong fashion. Yes, the Thistle’s display was wholehearted, and although they were not the better team in science, craft and movement, they deserved their victory for their wonderful pluck, and also the very important fact that they snapped a good scoring chance which came their way. The gate, 28,000 representing drawings of £2800 odds (total attendance, over 30,000), was disappointing for a Cup Final, but in my opinion, it was due to the restricted train services, conditions appertaining thereto, and the fact that the teams meeting was purely of Glasgow interest, and still further. That the big majority expected a walk-over for the Rangers! As do those who stayed away missed one of the biggest surprises in the annals of the Scottish Cup.
