Fleming
Howieson pen 44
G Henderson
Fleming
T Craig
Gebbie
S Archibald
Match Information
Attendance: 34,000
Referee: T Small (Dundee)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers romped home at Paisley by a bigger margin than the run of the play represented, but they were worthy winners no fair-minded man will seek to deny. It was their day out. The game ran nicely for them, goals came easily, and they practically accepted every real scoring chance they had. They had some luck, which was denied St Mirren. Their shots found their billet, while those of their opponents found the woodwork oftener than is the case with one team. Take, for instance, that magnificent drive of Howieson’s after Rangers had opened the scoring. It was the best shot of the game, but the ball, although inside a post, came out again, and Morgan, who ought to have completed the work, failed to take his opportunity. McCrae missed when he ought to have headed one home, and in the second half Howieson again found the timber with a fine effort. But these things are all in the game. They come periodically to every team, and the most galling thing of all to the Love Street people is that they should have arrived on such a day. To come to the crux of the whole matter, however, it can truthfully be said that St Mirren were let down by their defence. Seldom have I seen such penetrable gaps as were left for the Rangers’ forwards, and they did not fail to take advantage of them. That was all to their credit, and when a team makes the most of their opponents’ weaknesses they are to be praised. I certainly have nothing but commendation for the Rangers’ forwards in this respect. It must have brought a good deal of satisfaction to the Ibrox directors that seven goals could come from their forwards without one coming from Andrew Cunningham. It looks like having something in reserve for another occasion. Throughout the game was played at a fast pace – too fast, I thought for some of the Saints’ players, who moved in a lumbering way as compared with the Light Blues. There were a few ‘incidents’ which called for the interference of the referee, who nodded his head and pointed in a rather dramatic way to the pavilion on several occasions. The big crowd early on got something to shout about, for the opening minutes were as fast as fast could be and cheer after cheer greeted individual cleverness, especially when Thomson sneaked in from nowhere to slam one which brought Hamilton to his knees. Then the opening goal. It was really a pretty movement, which opened with Craig passing to McKay. McKay to Archibald, a cross which Henderson and Findlay both missed, and Fleming stepped in to slip it past a helpless Bradford. The joy brought to the Ibrox camp-followers was quickly turned to anxiety, for during the nest few minutes Rangers were obviously in Queer Street. Howieson much be sympathised with in not having a goal to his credit here. Twice he let fly those howitzers of his, and twice Hamilton was a fortunate man not to be beaten. McCandless went off injured, returned, and in the very last minute of the first half, when it looked as if Rangers would be leading at the interval, McCandless and Morgan had a tussle. The back impeded the outside left, and the referee granted a penalty. He had no alternative, and it was fitting that Howieson should be given the chance to score, and he took it with his left foot. Only two minutes of the second half were required by Rangers to restore their lead, and again it was a beautiful piece of work which led up to it. Short passing between Fleming and Cunningham left the former to beat Findlay very neatly and send over a cross which Henderson met with his head to whizz it past Bradford. Ninety seconds later Henderson again scored, and this time it was a simple-looking affair. A free kick from almost midfield was lobbed goalwards by Muirhead. For some unaccountable reason Henderson was left unmarked. Rangers played like winners now, and it looked all over, for a sudden staleness overcame St Mirren. But it was a temporary affair, for in the tenth minute Thomson reduced the leeway, he from a bunch of players scrambling the ball past Hamilton following a cross from Morgan. It was all very exciting, for again St Mirren were in a fighting position. But bad fortune overcame them, for Howieson received a leg injury, and after three or four minutes in the pavilion resumed limping badly. Rangers again took up the attack, and again their faithful got good reason for their flag-waving. Henderson completed his hat-trick after seventeen minutes from twenty-five yards out, beating Bradford with a beautiful drive. Howieson, limping as he was, once more hit the woodwork, this time the crossbar. It was an unlucky afternoon for him. Then Fleming scored after working the ball up the field with Henderson, Bradford making no attempt to save. But the scoring was not yet complete. Within the next three minutes each side had scored another, Craig netting for Rangers after an exhibition of tenacity, and Gebbie scoring for St Mirren during a scramble. But still the scoring was not finished, for Archibald came along to have a finger in the pie, and he too picked a plum. Neither goalkeeper was blameless, for both let balls past them that were saveable. Bradford, I understand, complained of not feeling too well, and his display was certainly not in keeping with his reputation. The St Mirren backs were shaky throughout. Findlay found Fleming too clever for him, and lack of experience was evident in McAvoy’s failure to take up proper position. It was his failure in this respect that led to one or two of the goals. The Rangers pair did well, although their display was not without blemish either. Billy McCandless was the best back of the four, and he had a resolute partner in Purdon, who only requires to be played to develop into a sound defender. The difficulty may be to find a place for him when Gray returns. At half-back the Light Blues may now have struck their best formation. I liked Shaw in the centre, for he kept the ball down when getting it away to his forwards, while his head work was ever in evidence. Craig and Muirhead were both excellent wing intermediates. It is not often that one is called upon to adversely criticise the Saints’ half-backs. McDonald, I have never seen play so poorly, and Morrison was a bit removed from his best. These things left Summers more than his share to do, and he did all that one man could to help his side out. Seven goals speaks for the success of the Rangers forwards. They may not have been the perfect combination, but at times the whole line worked in effective unison. Cunningham did fine work, even as a back when McCandless was off injured, but the most successful man of the line was undoubtedly Fleming. He carried the ball along with great freedom of movement, and I can only recall one occasion when he failed to get the ball in front of goal. McKay, Archibald and Henderson (the latter with his three goals) had a big say in the victory. Only Morgan and Howieson rose to the occasion in the st Mirren attack, which suffered from the failures of the defence.
