| Match Pictures | Matches: 1953 – 1954 | 1953-54 pictures |
Trivia
- Semi Final played at Ibrox.
- Tickets had gone on sale for the game at Ibrox a week and a half before the game. Tickets were slow moving despite the reduction in price with Stand seats reduced from 1 guinea to 7s 6d. Despite apparently 'moving slow' 60,000 people turned up for what effectively was the first, and an extra Glasgow derby game.
- Rangers had made only two changes in their team selections in all their games so far this season. Stein came back in as centre half after missing the Airdrie League Cup game; Mike Conroy came in as left half; Mochan was still out of the team and McMillan was dropped in favour of Fernie.
Review
Both teams played classy football. After scoring a great goal from a right footed shot from 30 yards from Bertie Peacock, Celtic had Bonnar injured in a clash with Paton. Evans went into goal. Bonnar did not return till 5 minutes into the second half and then as an outfield player at outside left. On 65 minutes Walsh broke through the Rangers defense from an excellent McPhail through pass and his shot from 25 yards was well saved by Niven onto a post. Bonnar following up with his right arm strapped to his side was not quick enough to get to the rebound to hit the ball into an empty net. On 74 minutes Hubbard picked up a clearance from the Rangers defenders and hit a goal from 25 yards. Rangers forwards appeared to be afflicted with the same disease that had been affecting the Celtic forwards. Stein, Conroy and Evans, even in goal, had excellent games, in fact the entire team played with spirit and skill – better than they had played all season to this date. McPhail at centre forward played well with good passing, throwing the Rangers defense out with his movement. Only a good save from Niven denied him a goal in the first half from a swerving, dipping free kick. Young, the Rangers right back received commendations from the way he held off physically challenging his opposite number Bonnar.
Bonnar's injury was diagnosed as a broken collar bone. He had refused to go to hospital.
Teams
Rangers:
Niven; Young, Little; McColl, Woodburn, Cox; Waddell, Grierson, Paton, Prentice, Hubbard.
Scorers: Hubbard (76)
Celtic:
Bonnar, Haughney, Meechan; Evans, Stein, Conroy; Collins, Walsh, McPhail, Peacock, Fernie.
Scorers: Peacock (26)
Referee: J Cox (Rutherglen)
Attendance: 60,000
Articles
Evening Times 3rd September 1953
Glasgow Herald 2nd September 1953
- Match Report (see end of page below)