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Celtic Games 1891 – Rangers
Trivia
- Played on Ibrox Park.
- Before 10,000 spectators.
Review
Glasgow Herald 4th May 1891
Teams
Rangers:-
Reid, Hodge, Gow, Marshall, Andy McCreadie, Mitchell, Hyslop, Henderson, Neil Kerr, White, John McPherson.
Goal:- Henderson 37.
Celtic:-
Bell, Reynolds, T Dunbar, Gallagher, Kelly, W Maley, Madden, M Dunbar, Dowds, Campbell, McMahon.
Goals:- Dowds 30, Madden.
Att:- 10,000.
Articles
Dundee Courier 4th May 1891
Glasgow Herald 4th May 1891
The Rangers and the Celtic played their return league game on Ibrox Park, before 10,000 spectators. The ground was heavy and against a first-class display. The Rangers won the toss and Dowds kicked off for the Celtic. McPherson got on the ball and ran it down till within shooting distance but his final effort was wide of the mark. The Celtic left wing assayed a run, and the ball being passed to the right, Madden would likely have scored but for the intervention of Donald Gow. From the kick off the Rangers attacked in force, and Kerr had hard lines in not scoring with a good long shot. By long kicking the Celts again got well down into their opponents territory, but they were again repulsed and T Dunbar, who was playing in McKeown's place, being worsted, it looked odds on the Rangers scoring. Kelly, however, covered the mistake, and the ball was eventually sent past. Madden had a capital run by himself, but he finished up with a ridiculously wide shot for goal. Play fluctuated from end to end, the defence on either side being well tried. The Celts, however, were the most dangerous, and during a sharp but short siege Dowds sent in a stinging shot, which was saved by Reid. Again the Celts had terribly hard lines, Reid saving splendidly a capital shot from McMahon. Relieved at length from the pressure, the Rangers came away in fine style, and secured a corner, but the ball was sent behind. From a foul against the Celts, Mitchell quickly kicked into the goalmouth, but Bell, jumping up, saved. On the ball coming into play the Rangers sent it through, but as the whistle had previously been blown for a foul the point was disallowed. The game was being very evenly contested, but the ball was so heavy that it could hardly be lifted. Mitchell was displaying fine form for the Rangers, while Reynolds and Dunbar were putting in a lot of strong, useful work for the other side. the Celts forwards were working fairly well, and had hard luck in not scoring. From a long return by Maley, Dowds nearly scored. However, Maley immediately afterwards struck the crossbar, and Dowds, getting the ball, banged it through after half an hour's play. Keeping up severe pressure, the Celts almost increased their score with a long, swift shot, which passed the post. Following upon this the Rangers equalised with a grand shot from Henderson. The Rangers had a grand chance of leading, as McPherson, on outwitting Reynolds, sent the ball across the goalmouth, and all that Hislop had to do was to send it through, but he missed badly, to the chagrin of the "light blues" supporters. The Rangers were playing in spirited form, and for the time being at any rate found the measure of their opponents. They secured a corner, but Mitchell shot behind. M Dunbar, forward, twisted his leg, and had to retire from the field. Up to this stage he had been playing very well. The Rangers were nearly scoring goals again, Bell saving at the expense of a corner, and when half-time was called the score was – Rangers, 1 goal; Celtic, 1 goal.
The Celts had a slight wind with them in the second half. After a brisk attack by the Rangers, the Celts got down close on their opponents' goal, and from a foul the ball was sent in, but Reid, catching it, saved brilliantly. McMahon then tried Reid with a quick, long shot, but the Ranger saved again. the Celts secured a corner, but it came to nothing, and the rangers, aided by a couple of fouls, got dangerously near the Celtic goal. Campbell and McMahon were showing something of their form, and severely tested Reid, who kept his goal intact despite many clever attempts to capture it. With ten men only, the Celts were playing very well indeed, and were having as much of the game as the Rangers, but the play was by no means interesting. McCreadie met with an unfortunate injury, and had to be assisted off the field. After a few minutes' play McCreadie returned to the field limping. From some loose play by an opponent the Celts might have scored, but bungled it among them in front of goal. However, a minute afterwards madden scored, Reid coming out and missing the ball. the Rangers played desperately hard to equalise, and, had they taken advantage of their opportunity, they could have done so easily. McMahon was cheered for a grand run, but he was grassed as he was about to shoot. The Rangers played an uphill game on the close, but could not equalise. A rather disappointing game, accounted for partially, no doubt, by the nature of the ground, resulted as follows – Celtic, 2 goals; rangers, 1 goal.
The Scotsman – Monday, 4th May 1891, page 5
Rangers v Celtic – This important league match came off at Ibrox in wet weather. The home team was again without Hugh McCreadie, for whom White, of the Swifts, played. The Celtic kicked off, and were first dangerous, and for some time held the advantage. Then play was more equal, both goals being visited. The standard of play was not exceptionally good. In half an hour the Celts cleverly equalised. The Celtic started the second half with ten men, but scored first. The Rangers fell away badly. Result :- Celtic, two goals; Rangers, one goal.