J Smith 10
B McPhail 10
Bertram
Muir 85
Match Information
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: H Watson (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers dropped a point at Airdrie through defensive carelessness. Airdrieonians two second-half goals were both preventable. As a matter of fact, the scoring of six goals in this match was no tribute to the forwards on either side, but the result of poor work behind. All over, it was a most disappointing game. Neither side played football of anything but the crudest description, mingled with much undesirable tactics. The only man who tried to impart a touch of science was the least experienced of the lot, Murray the Ibrox reserve left half. And in a game in which science was at a discount, he alone could not effect much. Rangers, considering the comparative amounts of pressure put upon the respective defences, should have won. When they left the field at half-time leading 3-1, the result seemed almost certainty. But they could not increase their advantage and allowed Airdrie to score two goals against the run of play. Apart of Bill Paterson in the Airdrie goal, it is impossible to add another name except Murrays to the list of those who played to reputations, Broomfield housed two bad teams. After an opening Airdrie burst, Rangers were on top most of the first half. Paterson saved grandly from Archibald before, in the ninth minute, Smith flicked his foot at the ball as it was bouncing into Patersons hands and landed it in the net in the most unexpected fashion. Smith hit the bar once when this happened, and Rangers second goal came his way. Meiklejohn lofted a free kick into the badly guarded goal area, and McPhail headed into the net. Hamiltons best save was from a miskick by Ibrox McDonald under pressure and on top of this came a penalty goal for Airdrie. McPhails offence was not clear, and the Airdrie players were actually walking away, expecting a free kick against them, when the referee pointed to the spot. McQueen scored. Just on half-time Crapnells offside obsession cost another goal. Smith got clean away from the centre of the field, and McQueen tripped him from behind in the penalty area. Smith got the ball into the net, but the whistle had gone for a penalty kick, and Gray beat Paterson. There was some really dreadful football in the second half. A free kick for over-carrying against Paterson revealed amazing ignorance as to what should be done. All the Airdrie players cleared out except the goalkeeper, and Meiklejohn should have scored from Browns tap, but hit Paterson and then fouled him. Bertram reduced the Airdrie deficit with a grand firs-time shot when the Rangers defence covered up badly, and the culminating shock came when Muir, challenged by both Gray and Meiklejohn, scored the equalising goal. It was a sad finish for the champions.
