Rangers 4 - 2 Aberdeen

Spirit is There; Right Blend Wanted

RANGERS were a better team than Aberdeen at Ibrox Park. Even so, it is doubtful if many of the 50,000 spectators, the majority of whom viewed the game through blue-tinted spectacles, would be prepared to admit that it was a brilliant Rangers eleven.

The Dons made a fight of it for an hour. Man for man, they were not as good as the champions, but the point is that they were on level terms.
In sixty-two minutes Rangers were two up and the ping disappeared from Aberdeen's play. With it went their League Cup Chances.
There can be no argument that the Dons were unlucky in the opening game at Paisley. Since then they have been beaten by Celtic and Rangers.
There were weaknesses in the team at Ibrox, notably at half back and on the extreme wings. Until more driving power is developed in these positions there will be a question mark after Aberdeen.

Changes

There will be changes against St Mirren this week. Hamilton and Glen may be fit, and Roy and Hather felt no ill effects after their try-out with the reserves.
Unless Rangers, Celtic and St Mirren all collapse in their remaining fixtures the League Cup is a lost cause so far as the Dons are concerned.
The three matches already played suggest that the spirit amongst the players is all right if only the correct blend can be found.
The remaining three League Cup matches provide the opportunity to find a winning team before the start of the League competition on Saturday, September 10.
The form of some of the Pittodrie players against Rangers was too bad to be true. Waddell, for instance, has seldom been seen to less advantage. He was moved to outside left mid-way through the second half. Yorston, too, was rarely in the game as a potent force.
Only three Aberdeen players were consistently good. Curran in goal clearly demonstrated that he had not allowed last Wednesday's bad game to affect his play. He was keen and confident.

Good Start

Emery must be bracketted with the 'keeper as the best of the Pittodrie defence. The Welshman is certainly playing better at back this season than he did last.
Harris was the only forward who appeared to have any real drive. He was useful in defence and hard-working in attack, particularly in the first half.
The Dons got off to an encouraging start. They were a goal up within two minutes, and a snappy score it was, too. McKenna made the first move, sweeping the ball out to Pearson on the left. When the winger dropped in the middle, Kelly edged the ball out to Harris, who cracked it into the net.
Nine minutes later, while the Pittodrie defence hesitated. Findlay ran through to equalise from a shrewd through pass from McColl. The inside right seemed to be in an offside position when he received the ball.
Rangers probed the Dons' defence unceasingly, and in twenty-three minutes they found an opening. Following a throw-in, Findlay whipped the ball into the middle and Duncanson dived forward to head home.

Emery's Goal,/p> Burly right back Don Emery rocked Rangers just on the half-time whistle, when he slammed a free kick from twenty yards into the back of the net.
Fifteen minutes after the start of the second half the Light Blues struck twice within two minutes, and Aberdeen's hopes dropped to zero.
Duncanson got the third goal. He raced through the Dons' defence to score after Waddell on the right had made the opening.
Waddell was the man who also blue-printed the fourth goal. Thornton swept his cross along the goalmouth and Findlay dashed in to crash the ball into the roof of the net.