Torbet <45
J Smith (2)
Match Information
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: R Morrison (Falkirk)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Playing with more pep and with better understanding than they had done against Celtic, Rangers made no mistake about beating Thistle at Ibrox, and taking from the Firhill brigade the leadership of the League. At the same time, it would not be correct to say that Rangers problems have been solved. For when all is said and done, it was a very leg-weary Thistle that donned the High School colours. The chocolate and gold has not been lucky for the Firhill folk, for on both occasions they have it against the Rangers they have been beaten. The other luckless episode was in last seasons Cup-final replay, when a simple goal gave Rangers the trophy. That two hours gruelling last Wednesday night against Clyde told its tale, In the first half, Rangers were certainly the better team, and should have been on the lead at the interval but it was in the second period that they really outplayed their rivals. Morton, McPhail and Craig tore into their work, completing the demoralisation of the Thistle defence, and incidentally rising Rangers standard of play to a higher level than it has been all season. The addition of Smith and Main to the attack was not altogether successful. The latter made a highly promising debut, but he has something to learn yet. Smith, while scoring two of the goals, missed so many glaring chances that he cannot be written down a success. Buchanan, at left-back, played really well, and Brown when the fight was going against Rangers, was the outstanding man on the field. When Thistle took the lead in the first half, it was against the run of play, but there can be no complaint about the move that led up to Torbets scoring shot. In that brief attack, Thistles attack showed a touch of genius. After Rangers equalised, it was obvious that Thistle had had enough. The fast pace set by the Rangers was too much, and had it not been for brilliant saving by Jackson the margin would have been far more than two goals, The keeper from Kirkintilloch was out to show the League Selectors that they had done the right thing by choosing him for the Irish League game. He saved a couple of shots that I believe would have caught even John Thomson. Rangers third goal is being credited to Alan Morton direct from the corner but my opinion is that Marshall or Smith helped to turn the swerving ball over the line. All over Rangers were the better team. Thistles attack never knitted together, and I thought that a mistake was made by the inside men by playing too much to Cunningham in the centre. The old Clyde man was unable to get the better of Meiklejohn, while both Pope, a promising youngster, and Torbet, always gave the impression that they might do something. Ballantyne attempted the short-passing game, and it was only when he started swinging the ball about that success came his way. Thistles strong men were the wing half-backs, where Elliot was a star, and Jackson, although both backs stood up to their hard task very well indeed. Lambie made a fatal mistake when he left Smith to look after himself. The centre-half was never about when the Rangers leader was presented with his scoring chances, and it was a good job for him that Smith was so wild in his shouting. Lambie gave one the impression that he is not quite 100 per cent fit. He kept well up with his forwards, but he did not keep them supplied with the ball as he should have done. Tom Hamilton was very rarely troubled. Most of the shots that came his way were from out with the penalty area, and these he held without any trouble. The scoring shot from Torbet was out of his range, and he had no chance to effect a save. Gray and Buchanan were very safe, and both kicked a good length. Meiklejohn did all that was asked of him, but he was not the forceful pivot of old, and Brown and Craig in the middle division took the honours. McPhail and Morton made a good Rangers wing, but Marshall did not fit in so nicely with Main, who certainly made the best of the few balls that came his way. This Baillieston youngster deserves another chance. Against Rae, who gave glimpses of his last season form, he was perfectly confident, and his crosses were the acme of precision. Rangers forwards problem still exists, but it has been reduced to the centre-forward position. Smith was too guilty of spoiling the good work of his colleagues to be termed a success. Rangers started off in breezy fashion, showing a pep that had been entirely absent in last Saturdays game, but after their initial effort Thistle found their feet and spurred on by Elliott and McLeod, they more than held their own. A cunning cross by McPhail brought youngster Main into play, and his cross gave Smith his chance, but he headed direct into Jacksons arms. The centre made an even more glaring miss when Brown sent him away down the middle with not a soul to beat, Jackson looked to be helpless, but Smith shot wide. McPhail and Marshall followed this with pop shots, and then Smith made his third blunder. McPhail this time gave him the opening, but he hesitated and let Elliot rush in and block his shot. Thistle during this period were an aimless lot in attack. Neither winger was able to get going, and Cunningham was invariably bested by Meiklejohn. The defence, however, was doing well, Rae in particular improving on his recent displays. Suddenly, just before the half-hour had gone, the Thistle right wing livened up, Pope crossed to Cunningham, who drew Gray off Torbet before transferring the ball to the left. The winger looked to be hesitating too long, but in the nick of time he flashed the ball into the near corner of the net. No time was lost by Rangers in making up for this loss. They moved with snap and hemmed Thistle into their own territory. In the 36th minute they got the goal they deserved on play. Craig sent a curling ball into the goalmouth, when Smith, with a first time effort, smashed it into the roof of the net. After this the exchanges were more level, although Thistle were lucky not to be pulled up for a penalty when Jackson failed to lift the ball from Smiths head and brought down the centre before getting in a clearance. Rangers ran a like escape just before the interval when Torbet was brought down by Brown. The second half gave us thrills right away. Smith improved on his first half performance by smashing in a hard grounder, which Jackson saved in brilliant fashion. Thistle swung the ball about to some purpose after this, but Rangers were still the more dangerous lot, and Jackso again had to save his team by snatching the ball from Smiths feet and then by running out and carrying the ball away out of the danger zone when his backs were completely beaten. Rangers took the lead with 25 minutes to go. Smith was left open in the middle once again, and this time Jackson had no chance to stop his shot for the corner of the net. Smith looked as if he was going to repeat his previous performance when he smashed another shot into goal, but Jackson parried this one, and Alan Morton, rushing in, hit the near post before Thistle cleared their lines. An Alan Morton lob was fisted over the bar cleverly, and from the corner Marshall and Smith between them breasted the ball into the net. The Thistle team appealed vigorously for some unknown reason. It looked a perfectly good goal to me. Towards the end, Rangers were much the better team. They might have scored another had Smith taken a golden opportunity offered by Jackson when he palmed out a distinctly risky pass back.
