Gordon >45
Match Information
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: J.R.F. Stark (Cambuslang)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
One missed several old faces in the ranks of the ‘Light Blues’ on Saturday at Ibrox, bur the new-comers, who were confined to the middle line, are of the type who should maintain worthily the traditions of the club for half-back excellence. Only James Galt remains of last year’s trio. The stalwart defender, who watched the game from the pavilion, confessed to me that he prefers field service to playing the part of onlooker. Galt’s turn will come. As was expected, a muster of 25,000 topped all records for the day. Paisley was well represented in the throng, but Ibrox support predominated. Both sections seemed content with what they saw of their popular teams. To the Rangers’ following the debut of new players is an event not to be missed. For the nonce the side was captained by Chapman, who learned his football work with the Hearts, and established a good reputation in the ranks of Raith Rovers when the Fyfe club won the Qualifying Cup. Chapman was a bit of a hustler, and powerful in aggressive play before he left Kirkcaldy to join Blackburn Rovers. His stay in Lancashire has enabled him to develop another and a truer conception of centre half play. I was impressed with all he did, and his neater style in tackling and passing the ball on. He gave a good lead to the younger players on either side of him. Brown was likened to Neil Gibson when I saw him play so conspicuously for Kilwinning Rangers in the Junior Cup final last May, and his first big game as a senior found him revealing many of the individual touches of the famous International. Brown’s display again the Saints did not belie the comparison. Hendry the ex-Morton youth, is another skilful half, like the other two, he had an odd shot at goal. Half-backs have often better scoring chances than forwards. The Rangers’ trio are all good shots. They should shoot oftener. Just as the Rangers’ half-backs dominated the game on their side, Harvey, Robertson and Weir performed a like service for theirs. Restless, persevering halves they were. All through their chief concern was to keep the Rangers from developing sustained combination in attack, and their boldness accounted for the fitful periods of wing play to which the ‘Light Blues’ had to resort. Weir fell and injured an ankle when the second half was about twenty minutes gone, and coincident with his misfortune, the ball went out to Gordon, who promptly and cleverly scored the only goal of the game, remarkable for the number of scoring chances that failed to materialise. Twice in the first ten minutes Alex Smith and Bennett were presented with openings they rarely miss. Clements, Robertson and Paton had the likeliest attempts for the Saints, whose forwards game was fitful, but dreadfully earnest. Grant’s cleverness between the sticks gave them the necessary confidence to open out in the second half. None bettered Paton on the side for cleverness on the ball. The Paisley backs were conspicuous for sound clearances and neither Reid nor Featherstone spared himself. Like their opponents St Mirren have a well set up eleven, and the only player new to the team – Mair of Newmilns, who promises well as a centre – looks likely to hit combination with the inside men. The Rangers’ experiment in placing of the forwards succeeded, for Bennett came off as inside support to Smith, and Gordon was quite at home backing up Hogg, who like Smith flashed across several excellent centres. Hogg and Reid proved the best shots, but they had no luck. For an opening game the Rangers promises well. Law took a long time to settle at back, bit both he and Campbell defended well. A few more matches should remedy minor defects, incidental to a first game together
