C Johnstone 17
Thornton 21
Waddell 46
Caskie 69
J Smith 87
Match Information
Attendance: 36823
Referee: William Webb (Glasgow)
Match Trivia
Therell be speculation as to what St Mirren might had if theyd taken advantage of early opportunities. But confidentially, that speculation is hardly justified. Here was a fold-up with all the trimmings. Here was an absolute collapse and fall. Two goals down in twenty minutes, and the Paisley discretion, judgment and chances melted away like money. Ive seen this Saints half-back line often, but never in such a fix. They were demoralised. They were bamboozled by the subtlety and power of Rangers front rank. And as they stumbled and strove their dreams crashed about them. For the first twenty minutes it was quite a game. From then on it was also quite a game but in a different way. A Rangers goal was due when Johnstone got his shot in at the second attempt. But a body blow came to the Buddies three minutes later. Venters might have been acting in front of the camera the way he moved neatly through that defence. A slip to Waddell, across it comes, and Thornton heads in. That was the game won and lost. With little support, the St Mirren forwards were fighting a heartbreaking battle. The defence retreated further and further. Teams had barely retaken the field when Rangers were three up. A Johnstone cross was nicked in at the post by Waddell. From here on the Ibrox front line were walking here and stepping there. Yes, towards the end they could afford to do that. Like a tramcar flash in a black-out was Jimmy Caskies goal. A free kick was headed out by Woodburn. All the strength of that small body was behind the ball that flew straight to the nets top. Venters again to thank for the last goal, he drew the defence passed to Waddell. The winger walked it practically to Smith, just a touch finished it. Venters doesnt appear among those scoring, but he was definitely among those present. Every time he got the ball he was about as dangerous as a man with a Mills bomb. Thornton, too in a quieter way, was about as effective. Really though, Rangers hadnt a failure. They werent pushed hard enough for any faults to be found. There wasnt a chink in the defensive black-out. Johnstone was the better winger. Big Jimmy Smith, tantalising as usual, paid with his worrying. Well start from the keeper with St Mirren. Johnstone was nervy and unsure. Craven dug in, held his end up, but Savage sliced too many clearances and old where. Cox a striver, but rather swamped; McDowall, just too recklessly cool, just too often failing to recover after his nonchalance had made a gap. He and Kelly didnt settle. And there you reason. The forward: Caskie the man who might have done something, he had courage, idea and enthusiasm. But he hadnt the opportunities. Brady too, was little behind. Rest were rather well held. Bob McPhail might have known how to outwit his former team mates, but he wasnt allowed to function. A last word, there are many things for given under the heading of professional enthusiasm, but here and there we had aggressiveness which over shot the mark. It was a game which hairs on its chest, some of them unsightly. But as to the better team, there never was a doubt
