Wallace 38
McKennan pen 58
Missed Penalties
Venters pen miss 89
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: W Webb (Glasgow)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
Twenty-two years ago, Partick Thistle won a League match at Ibrox. It was a long time to wait for another of the same, but the Thistle may consider it worthwhile. If Rangers were taking a chance with five changes in the team beaten at Parkhead, the chance did not come off. They had their spells of pressure, and not many of the breaks, but when Partick had their times of being on top, they played like a winning team and in fact, won well. Thistle were the more compact in defence and all round surer with their clearances. Their forwards were well ahead in the ability to find one another. They could open up the Rangers defence in a way the Ibrox forwards never could do with the opposition rear men., and they carried mote punching power. Symptomatic of how things were going in the Rangers front line in the first half was the swopping of positions after the interval by Smith and Thornton. It brought some improvement, but there was still not the accuracy in finishing to challenge the Partick lead. The only goal of the first half was scored after 37 minutes. Simpson failed in his effort to clear and Wallace, taking quick possession of the ball, raced straight ahead to give Jenkins no chance. For ten minutes of the second half, Rangers forwards were bust round about Johnstone, and in the gloom, they made a confident penalty claim. Particks forwards were no sooner in action that they got a second goal. Wallace again got clear through and looked a sure scorer, but Jenkins came out and the ball went off him up into the air. Wallace got his foot to it again and McDonald handled high up. McKennan sent the penalty kick spinning home. With all the confidence of winners, Partick went at the Rangers defence with powerful thrust, and five minutes later, Alston beat McDonald and shot a third goal. One thing about Rangers they were game. In a fighting finish, Harrison scored four minutes from the end and a minute later, when he was impeded, a penalty was awarded Rangers, but Venters shot straight at Johnstone. I give the entire Partick defence full marks. Under pressure, Johnstone and his backs were cool and tactical, and they got all the help they required from three sound half-backs. In front, McKennan and Williamson worked the ball to advantage, and their colleagues each pulled his weight. I sympathise with Jenkins. He could not be blamed at all, but the men in front of him were badly at fault in the matter of positional play. They seemed more puzzled by the difficult conditions than any of the Partick players, and this applied to the Ibrox forwards as well. One thing I think the game disclosed was that Thornton would have been better at centre all the time. Venters missed a 87th minute penalty
