Thornton 4, 85
B McPhail 19
Main 36, 87
Knox pen 55
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: J.M. Martin (Fife)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Dont take this as a smashing Rangers come-back. It was more a case of weak defence St Mirren down so badly that Rangers got their goals as easily as shelling peas. One felt really sorry for Saints, who stove so hard in other respects. In the fifth minute, the strain was taken off Rangers when Saints defence stood still and allowed Thornton to gather the ball from Main as he wished and shoot point-blank past Rennie. Saints then put in a lot of ineffective pressure and the second goal in 18 minutes actually came out of Rangers defence. Gray punted the ball forward and again the Paisley defenders were lamentably slow in making up their minds. McPhail simply stepped in and nodded the ball into the net. Rangers defence had some uneasy moments, but Saints had not the same luck, or snap, at goal, although Dawson had one or two good saves. Rangers third goal, nine minutes from half-time and which knocked the bottom out of the game, looked ridiculous. From near the touchline Main sent in allow shot-crum-cross. It was a defenders ball with no opponent near but in trying to hook it clear, Cunningham turned it past Rennie. It all happened so unexpectedly that most of us though that Rennie had miskicked the ball through but after the game it was learnt that Cunningham was the culprit. Rennie has enough blame on his shoulders without that. He had some clever saves but had not the reliability essential to a first-class keeper. His attempts to save the fourth and fifth goals were poor. These last two goals were scored in the closing four minutes and exaggerated Rangers victory. In both cases Thornton and Main were left unmarked though the danger was obvious. Saints goal 11 minutes after the interval, restored visions of a contest. Rangers were playing without a right-wing, though Venters was still on the field. His left arm hung useless, and he changed placed with Main second half. Main himself was injured later and was off for nearly 20 minutes. At this stage set about making the mist of their advantage and pressed hard. In one close passage. Shaw armed the ball and Knox scored from the penalty. Another goal for Saints hereabouts would have opened things up again and it looked like coming. McLintock shot against the post, and that was the nearest Saints got. The return of Main, though limping, restored some of Rangers balance, and Saints challenge gradually evaporated. To be critical of the play and players would serve no purpose under the circumstances. Rangers were by far the more skilful side, but that id not a flattering comparison. Saints were out of joint in every division. There was no understanding in defence, and only Lindsay had distributive and direct ideas in the attack. Woodburn and Thornton look like coming on and Shaws determination and fierce kicking thrilled the 20,000 crowd. But it was those old masters, Brown and McPhail, who gave most tone to a Rangers team which can still stand improvement. In fairness to Saints, it must be pointed out that their team intentions were upset through Wilson calling off with concussion, Cunningham went centre-half in his stead and Knox deputised for Cunningham at inside-right.
