W Reid 15
J Bowie 70
Match Information
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: G.W. Hamilton (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I suppose that from the amount of defence St Mirren had to perform against Rangers at Ibrox, some people would call them lucky to get away with a defeat so narrow as is represented by an odd goal. Strictly speaking, there was no luck about it. We had the Rangers’ half-backs and forwards turned up to almost perfect pitch, playing together with beautiful harmony, and for well nigh an hour of time pounding a defence that was resolute, often clever, and never masterful. Where then does the luck come in? The Rangers might have won by a whole handful of goals on the run of the game goes for nothing. They had to beat the Saints’ defence before they could get the goals credited to them. Only twice was the ball driven past O’Hagan. That is what concerns you and me. O’Hagan was the lad who stood between Rangers and an August harvest – him and Holbern. St Mirren’s young Irishman conceded corners out of count and sometimes I thought he might have gathered the ball better, but it is to be recollected that the Rangers’ forwards were shooting like so many gating guns, and I imagine that after the first taste of Reid and the rest he was satisfied to keep the ball out of the net at any cost. For eighteen minutes or more after the start the Rangers’ inside forwards entirely dominated the game. They went through the St Mirren middle line like a bayonet through paper, playing delightful close combination. Ten Paterson and Brown were brought into play, and the whole Saints’ defence was at full stretch to avert a score. Reid goal was shot when O’Hagan was out of his ground James Bowie of Rangers and after having saved a previous shot from the Rangers centre. There were some sharp exchanges after this save, and O’Hagan was trying to follow up the ball, but Paterson got hold of it, and when he passed quickly back to Reid, the goal was a certain as might be. As showing the trend of events, Hempsey touched the ball only once in half an hour, but before the interval Gray twice ran speedily through the defence, and each time Hempsey had to gather the shot. There was no mistaking the ability of the St Mirren forwards when the chance came their way of getting a move on. For them the trouble was that the men behind were too busy defending to be often acting as waiters. Saves by O’Hagan from Reid, Bowie and Paterson before the interval were well worthy of remark, as was a wild shot by Brown with no one to beat but the goalkeeper. Rangers restarted in the same old way, but it took them twenty-five minutes to get another goal. It came in an unexpected manner. Bennett had temporarily disabled St Mirren Reid with a terrific drive, and O’Hagan had saved tearing shots from Logan, Hendry and Reid, when Bowie took a pass from Gordon and running across the field shot from inside left position, and O’Hagan was beaten by a low ball that wet away from him all the time. It was a brilliantly executed goal. Now if there had been a St Mirren collapse hereabout I believe many who were looking on would have been not a whit surprised because the strain on the Saints’ defence had been tremendous. The ‘collapse’ was this that in four minutes Gray at full speed, caught a pass from Kyle and shot as fine a spectacular goal as I have ever seen. Just previously Gray had led an attack that was almost fruitful; in fact, so brisk and energetic had the Saints’ forwards become that the goal seemed entirely natural. Well in the game after this St Mirren more than once were within hail of the equaliser, but Rangers won as of course they deserved to, with all due respect to the gallant defence of the Saints, and late ‘arrival’ of the forwards. St Mirren were not really weak anywhere except at centre-half where Corner did not seem able to tumble to Reid’s manner of slipping past him. I was delighted with Holbem, the Everton man. No one kicked with more certainty, no one was surer of taking his team out of a tight corner. His display was finished in every detail. Not often, I make bold to prophesy, will the forwards allow themselves to be so corralled up. Gray on the right, was of a class with any of the Rangers’ lot, skilful in his footwork, fast on the run, and centring and shooting with splendid judgement. Only the very best in the League need look for points from St Mirren. I have no doubt Rangers were satisfied with the display of the team, as on the whole they have reason to be. Candidly, however, the back play did not impress me. At any rate, it was of another stamp from that of the half-backs, and forwards. Even those marvellously clever forwards suffered from inferiority of height, and a certain rashness on the part of Brown. If this young hopeful would watch Alex Smith he would observe that he of Darvel never troubles about beating a back if he can centre at once to advantage. The line cannot do without Smith yet. Bowie, Reid and Bennett were at the top of their game, and that is why Rangers are at the top of the League
