Mooney 15
Fleming 30, 70
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: J Thomson (Hamilton)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers won at Airdrie, as they certainly deserved to on play and pressure, but the most enthusiastic follower of the club will, I am sure, agree with me when I sat that they were most disappointing. Inly twice during the game did I see anything like the Rangers we know and expect. Barring some individual cleverness, they were little better than the home side, which showed poor understanding. They merely kept on trying. As I have said, Rangers deserved to win, but it was unfortunate that their goals were not more satisfactory. The first, and equaliser, but it noted, was the outcome of a foul for handling, which struck me as rather a severe penalty owing to the bouncing ball having appeared to be more the blame than the player against whom the decision was given. There was strong objection made by George McQueen and the goalkeeper, Morrison against Flemings winner: they held that the left-winger was offside that I am unable to refute or agree with, as I was not in a position to judge. Still, no one can grumble at the result so far as the play was concerned, but I must confess Rangers disappointed me very much. They were far below what I looked for. Frankly speaking, I dont like their formation, nor do the players either, as they seemed far from comfortable. Davie Meiklejohn is not a back. Thats my first complaint; and I think Messrs, Campbell, Bowie and Struth, who were present, will agree with me. He was, unless when under real pressure, generally in his old position or wing-half, and his kicking was bad. I doubt if Marshall will ever make an outside player. Ill be very much surprised if he does, and so will Rangers, I think. He changed position twice during the game to accommodate Smith and English, who met with minor injuries, and immediately the line improved. The last change, when the centre went out to the line, was most beneficial for the team. Not that English did badly far from it; he was decidedly good but got poor support. He was the man, however, who sensed the open position of Fleming and promptly sent the ball in his direction to win the game. Smith was not at home either as inside or outside right. At centre he appeared to be more at home. Can you wonder than that the Ibrox attack was far from being Rangers class? Kennedy did well in the first half but was not really so good later. I think he had difficulty in knowing where to find the man in his immediate front. Simpson was not too successful in his tackling of Armstrong, and Brown has often done better. Gray, against the unorthodox Mooney, played soundly, luckily for Rangers; and Hamilton deserved sympathy for losing the goal he was, I am certain, unsighted, as he displayed annoyance when Mooneys shot went in. Airdrie were well served at goal and back, Morrison performing splendidly, and Crapnell and McQueen first-class also, the wee International being in a class by himself. I was not impressed by the half-backs, but of course it must be remembered that two regulars were off injured. Mooney was erratic, Law a great little worker and Armstrong a clever centre. McIvor faded out, and Johnston disappointed. Mooney opened the scoring with a twenty-five yards free-kick after twenty-five minutes and Fleming equalised eight minutes later. Rangers winner coming seventeen minutes before the finish. The attendance was nearly 12,000.
