Today we look at a pair of wins over city rivals Celtic, a comprehensive victory over Partick Thistle and a win over Dundee from the turn of the century.
According to the media in 1977, Rangers performed a “(Rocky) Marciano Show” to come back from two goals down at halftime against Celtic to win 3:2. The Parkhead team scored two goals in the first half through Johannes Edvaldsson and the scoreline was made worse by the fact striker Derek Parlane fractured his cheekbone in a clash a couple of minutes into the match.
Parlane played the whole first half, but had to be substituted at half time for John Greig, with Derek Johnstone moving to centre forward. After the game, Jock Wallace was asked about what was said in the dressing room at half time, to which he replied: “Oh, I told them I did not think they were doing well enough. Maybe those were not my exact words, but the players certainly got the message”
The tactical switch and the words from Wallace were the catalyst for a much better second half performance from Rangers, resulting in two goals for Gordon Smith and one from Johnstone to complete the remarkable turnaround.
Gordon Smith was fantastic throughout the match and with Rangers set to play against Twente in the week following the result against Celtic, their Dutch manager Spitz Kohn said of Gordon Smith to Jock Wallace: “Smith – he is like an auto…a Mercedes” to which Wallace replied “You mean a Rolls-Royce.”
In 1960, Harold Davis was man of the match against Celtic at Parkhead as Rangers romped to a 5:1 win - their greatest Old Firm away victory. After an early goal from Alex Scott, the match was a close affair until Rangers scored the second goal of the match in the 65th minute through Jimmy Millar.
Thereafter, it was one-way traffic as Rangers ran away with the match with goals coming from Ralph Brand (’78), Davie Wilson (’84) and Harold Davis (’85).
It was another comprehensive victory in 1966 as Partick Thistle were left “Chasing Light Blue Shadows” in a 6:1 win at Ibrox. George McLean was the man of the match, scoring four goals on a rain soaked Ibrox pitch that led to many players struggling with their footing throughout the match.
Alex Smith and Davie Smith were also scorers on the day, with Davie Smith’s goal on 31 minutes his first for the club since a move from Aberdeen.
At the turn of the century, much as there has been this season, the Rangers fans turned out in force for an away fixture. This time, it was a trip to Den’s Park in Dundee in 1904 as a large number of the 14,000 fans present had made the trip from Glasgow.
Rangers won the match 3:0 with the goals scored via a double for goal machine RC Hamilton and an unfortunate own goal by Dundee’s Chaplin.
PICTURE: (Left to Right) Kenny Dalglish challenges Tom Forsyth in 1977, Harold Davis man of the match in 1960, Rangers vs Partick Thistle programme Sep 10th 1966 and marksman RC Hamilton.
