Dundee Football Club Season 1961-1962
Championship season
Game Eleven.
Saturday 11th November 1961
GILZEAN SCORES FOUR GOALS
Rangers 1, Dundee 5.
Amazing Ibrox Second Half
Only 35 minutes before kick off at fog-shrouded Ibrox came the big decision, "The game will go on".
It was announced to waiting pressmen and players at the main entrance by Tom Petrie, chauffer to the Ranger’s chairman, Bailie Wilson. Right away someone cracked to the neatly attired Jim Baxter, "Get into your working clothes."
Word spread like wildfire to the thousands of anxious fans and there was a rustle of excitement as the gates opened at 2.27.
However, quite a few Dundee supporters were absent. Some coach drivers, running into the "pea-souper" on Glasgow’s outskirts, turned back. As it was, there was no certainty that the game would finish. Each fan was given a ticket on entering the ground in case of abandonment.
From the press box on the roof of the stand conditions seemed near prefect for the battle of the giants. There was no wind, the pitch looked in good shape and the wintry sun penetrated the light haze, making it barely perceptible.
The kick-off was delayed to allow the fans to filter in. Despite pre-match uncertainty, a big attendance was indicated. Both teams were as expected. Dundee were at full strength and Rangers fielded Christie for the injured Millar. Rangers trailed out at 3.05 to a miniature Hampden roar. They were wearing their allegedly "unlucky" strip --- vertical light blue and white stripes with red numbers and light blue shorts. Dundee followed in their customary Dark Blue. They also got a warm welcome. The roar reached a crescendo as Christie kicked off 13 minutes late.
Rangers --- Ritchie, Shearer, Caldow, Davis, Paterson, Baxter, Scott, McMillan, Christie, Brand, Wilson.
Dundee --- Liney, Hamilton, Cox, Seith, Ure, Wishart, Smith, Penman, Cousin,
Gilzean, Robertson.
Referee --- R. Rodger, Stonehouse.
Dundee get a glorious chance in the opening minute from a neat Wishart-Robertson-Cousin move. The centre cuts back a low ball from the left. Davis apparently has it covered, but misses the ball completely and lets it run to Wishart. Bobby’s lob-cum-shot is hindered by Paterson and Ritchie gathers easily under the bar.
Dundee settle to a neat, useful game. Cousin foraging dangerously down the left, puts over another picture cross, Robertson back – heads it to Smith, but the danger is cleared. Then a big let off for the ‘Gers. Penman chases a long Gilzean pass from the centre circle and catches up near the by-line. He works back an inviting ball to Smith on the edge of the area.
Gordon’s 20 – yarder streaks past Ritchie, smacks against the base of the post, hits the keeper’s body and settles practically on the line. Ritchie stumbles back to gather safely.
Close call
Then two close calls at Liney’s end. Christie, tearing in, is tackled hard by Cox. He ball flicks to Scott, whose first- timer flashes past Liney – and the far upright. Alex. Gets a similar chance minutes later and Liney dives to save his screaming "daisy-cutter."
PENMAN CAPS DUNDEE SCORING SPREE
Ritchie’s charge undergoes a series of fantastic misses in an action packed melee. Cox starts it by foraging up the wing and parting to Robertson. The wee winger’s shot is a hot handful and Ritchie can’t hold it. Hugh chips the rebound to the far post. Smith flicks it to Penman and Andy’s side-foot shot seems a "homer."
Ritchie, going the wrong way, sticks out a hand to parry for a corner. Time – 11 minutes. Two minutes later cool-as-a-cucumber Rab Seith almost "sells" the opening counter. The ball is headed down to him by Ure in a heading duel with Christie. Seith casually glides it towards Liney, but Rangers leader is in between. He latches onto it first to drive past the diving Liney. His effort grazes the wrong side of the post.
Hot pace
Its thrill-a-minute stuff with no easing of pace. From a Smith corner Gilzean rattles the side netting with a fierce header. Liney does well to clutch a scorching 20-yarder. From a Scott corner Ralph unleashes a tremendous shot. Cox, covering up intelligently as usual, blocks the ball on the line and clears.
Back to Ritchie’s territory sweep the Dark Blues. Robertson forces a corner, over floats the ball, Cousin heads it to Penman’s feet and whoomph, the leather is a blur as it streaks goalwards, but Andy is inches off target. What a cracker of a game. The struggle for supremacy is tough, but clean and nerve-wracking.
Ranger’s corners
Rangers are applying the screw. Scott forces two corners. From the second Davis blazes wildly over when well placed 15 yards out. Temporarily Dundee have lost their edge. Penman squanders a glorious chance after Gilzean puts him through with an up-the-middle-slide-rule pass. Instead of going in on his own, Andy elects to wait for support and the opportunity is lost.
Cox is finding the flying Scott a hot handful. Half the time Bobby is having difficulty locating him. Alex. is inside one moment and outside the next. Roar and roar thunders out as the light blue faithful sense their heroes are getting on top.
Charmed life
In a breakaway Ritchie’s goal has another charmed life. Penman puts Gilzean in the clear with a cute pass. Alan bears down on Ritchie, lets go a beauty and everyone watches for the net bulging. However, the ball hits the keeper’s le, bounces clear and clears the bar by a fraction.
Brand gives Liney a fright, but the inside man’s shot is just too high. Cousin tosses away yet another gilt – edged opportunity near the half time whistle. On his own in the middle of the area he tries to tee up Robertson’s pass and is crowded out. Christie hits a Scott cross on to the top of the net.
Half time --- Rangers 0, Dundee 0.
Reflections --- A fabulous game, living up to its pre-match build-up. Give us stuff like this every week and the stay-at-home fans will roll up in their thousands. Ure has been immense, as have Hamilton and Cox. Ranger’s front line is devastating, Brand, after his displays for Scotland recently, has been a revelation.