Season 1967/68 by Alistair Aird Rangers decided to spend big in an attempt to bridge the gap that had been created between themselves and Celtic. The board sanctioned a move for the Dunfermline Athletic centre forward, Alex Ferguson, and Ferguson was joined at Ibrox by Orjan Persson, Andy Penman, and Eric Sorensen. Among those exiting Ibrox were Jimmy Millar and Davie Wilson, both of whom joined Dundee United. If ever there was a season to hit the ground running it was this one. Drawn alongside Celtic, Aberdeen, and Dundee United in Section 2 in the League Cup, the Light Blues drew 1-1 at Pittodrie and registered the same scoreline against Celtic at Ibrox four days later. Wins over United (1-0) and Aberdeen (3-0) followed to set up a mouth-watering clash with Celtic at Parkhead in the penultimate group game. Celtic, with three wins and a draw, were a point ahead of their visitors. But with 14 minutes remaining, Rangers were 1-0 in front thanks to an early goal from Willie Henderson. And at that point one of those sliding doors moments occurred. Henderson was in the clear and was wiped out by John Clark. ‘Penalty to Rangers’ decreed referee, Mr Tom ‘Tiny’ Wharton. Kai Johansen stepped forward to seal the two points for Rangers, but his effort rattled against the crossbar. Celtic scored three without reply in the time that followed. Their three-point lead was now unassailable. Ferguson had drawn a blank in the five matches, but eventually registered his first goals for the club in what was a dead rubber against Dundee United at Ibrox. But of the summer signings, Andy Penman was the most prolific. He scored three times in the League Cup, and when the league campaign kicked off, he scored the two goals that secured the points against Partick Thistle at Firhill. Seven days later, Orjan Persson scored the goal that inflicted the first defeat on the fabled Lisbon Lions. And after eight games, Rangers, thanks to six wins and two draws, were top of the table. Game eight was a 0-0 draw against Dunfermline Athletic at Ibrox. It would be the last time James Scotland Symon took charge of a Rangers team. He was dismissed in a shabby fashion that has been well-documented, but he merits being mentioned as one of the most successful Rangers managers ever. Symon was succeeded by Davie White who proceeded to lead the club to the last eight of a European competition – after aggregate wins over Dinamo Dresden and 1FC Cologne, Don Revie’s Leeds United eventually eliminated Rangers 2-0 on aggregate in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the predecessor to the UEFA Cup and Europa League - and a 25-match run in the league that comprised 22 wins and three draws. That’s title-winning form, surely? Unfortunately, not! With a game to go, Rangers and Celtic were tied on 61 points. Stein’s side were ahead on goal average. The last round of fixtures saw Rangers at home to Aberdeen on 27 April 1968, the same day as the Scottish Cup Final between Dunfermline Athletic and Hearts. Celtic were due to face the former in their final league game the following midweek. Before facing Aberdeen, Rangers’ league record read: 33 games played, 28 wins, five draws. Another win would throw down the gauntlet to Celtic. And it all started so well, Dave Smith opening the scoring after 17 minutes. Aberdeen equalised, but Ferguson restored Rangers’ lead with his nineteenth league goal of the season. Three of them had come in an emphatic 10-2 win over Raith Rovers and he had also scored four times in a 6-2 victory over St Johnstone. But the home side could neither consolidate nor build on their lead. Aberdeen levelled the match at 2-2 two minutes shy of the hour mark, and in the dying seconds, they scored again. Rangers were also-rans once again. The key game in the run-in was a fixture against Morton at Cappielow on 17 April 1968. Going into the game, Rangers were a point behind Celtic, but this was their game in hand. Morton were having a good season, though, and at half-time, Rangers were 2-0 down. They rallied – cajoled by a colossal performance from John Greig who scored two goals – but at the end of the game the result was a 3-3 draw. It was a pivotal moment. In the Scottish Cup, Hamilton and Dundee (after a replay) were beaten to set up a quarter final tie against Hearts. The teams drew 1-1 at Ibrox – Orjan Persson scored to atone for an error made by fellow Scandinavian, Eric Sorensen, to earn a replay – but four days later, a late goal from Donald Ford eliminated White’s side from the competition. Hearts would go on to lose to Dunfermline in the Final. Thus, for the second successive season, major domestic silverware eluded Rangers. Other notable matches in the campaign saw a Ferguson hat-trick in a 5-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt at Ibrox, and a chastening 3-0 loss at Highbury against Arsenal.
