Match ended 0-0
Missed Penalties
A Cunningham pen miss
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Andrew Allan (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers should have beaten Airdrieonians at Ibrox. And Andy Cunningham should have been the match-winner! If he had ‘shot’ with anything like the precision which hall-marked his play in the open three goals would have been his, and two points been added to the credit side of his club’s register. Note only did he twice miss an open goal from short range, but he was yards wide from a penalty. And yet, after all, his misses were venial; for the pitch was traitorous. A goalless draw gives the ‘Onians rather more then their due. But they put up a pretty and powerful fight. They are just about the gamest lot I’ve seen this season. They stretched the Rangers, but never looked like mastering them, whereas the Rangers had them under several times, but failed to click when clicking seemed to be dead easy. To be deeply critical of men who played on a frost-bound surface and found it difficult to keep their feet would nit be fair. The fact of the matter is it was a capital game considering the untoward conditions. Mistakes were numerous, but there were many passages of pretty play. Some of the passing on both sides was captivating, and there was seen defensive work of a high order. Risks were run all the time; for with the ball twisting and writhing on the frozen ground and the players slipping and sliding, sound control and proper direction were far from easy. The ‘Onians had only one real scoring chance. It came when times was well within sight. McDougall, on top of a rapid raid, sent the ball to Reid. He at once lobbed it into goal – a surprise move. The ball flew off the ground sharply and struck the far post, with Robb, who played his usual sure game, scarcely in a position to clear first time. Rangers, over and above Cunningham three very good things – they would have been cinches in ordinary weather – had other fairly easy opportunities to score but finish decently they seldom did. Indeed, I do not think Jock Ewart was troubled seriously unless on one occasion, when he showed just how fine a keeper he is. All over, Airdrieonians are a clever side, well-balanced and well-blended. The outstanding man yesterday was McDougall. His pivoting, if not perfect was strong and purposeful. He broke up and built up. He kept Henderson on a short rein. The whole defence came out of a dangerous and tricky game with credit. Dick and McQueen were steady and fearless. The ex-Ranger is as good again as when he made Ibrox his headquarters. Gallacher was a cute leader, and the forward line fitted. The raids of it were often fraught with peril. One word about the penalty. The ‘Onians protested vigorously against it, claiming that the ball had hit their player on the breast. But Referee Allan was just as sure that it did not. Muirhead was the great man of the match. He played magnificently, in quite international form and ably though Meiklejohn and Dixon performed, Tommy’s show put theirs in the shade. For vigour, dexterity, dash and daring he was IT. Rangers’ backs were solid and sound, after somewhat shaky start. Cunningham was the best and the worst forward – brilliant in the outfield, no good near goal. The other were quite all right, but the line did not impress me as a goal-getting concern. The passing was overdone in the shooting zone. But I must not forget that the condition under foot were not safe. That accounted for lots of errors of omission as well as of commission in the back, half-back and forward divisions
