Blair (2, 2 pens)
Hastie
Match Information
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: G.W. Hamilton (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers were not in championship form against Airdrieonians at Ibrox. The tale of hard holiday games was clearly reflected in their play; not only that, but Manderson, Gordon, Bowie and McLean were rested. This policy of the League leaders was rather daring, and as it proved they just managed to scrape in the points with nothing to spare. McQueen, Pursell, Cunningham and Lawson were the team changes. Bowie was the man most missed. Without him the front line was like a ship without a skipper – at sixes and sevens. Airdrie put up a fair game, with the defence outstanding, and for a long time gave almost as much as they got. Rangers certainly had the better of the exchanges, pressing more, but failing entirely to reproduce the form which sent them to the top of the table. Their attack was wooden; Brown was seldom on the canvas and the five were feckless and feeble in their efforts’ at goal. Cairns got a golden chance, but refused it. Cunningham should have netted from a cross by Lawson, but he simply tapped the ball to Bernard. Lawson and Archibald had each a decent shot stopped – one by the crossbar, and the other by the upright. These were really the only noteworthy tries by the Light Blues men in this period. The ‘Onians did not trouble Hempsey much. Brogan and Kennedy were a worrying left-wing pair. The other forwards did not matter, and the visitors never looked like smelling the points. Up till the interval there had not been anything done. After the turn the Rangers did the screwing, with Airdrie chipping in occasionally with a raid, two of which nearly gave them goals. Kennedy looked home all the way with a dandy shot, which shivered the bar and rebounded, and Brogan’s oblique drive deserving a count, was dexterously saved by Hempsey when he seemed to be a dead loser. Rangers, through Blair, scored after missed chances, from a penalty, which ought not to have been given for the left-back did not intentional handle. Later they were granted another penalty. It, too was undeserved. McDonald did not err, and could not help the ball hitting his hand. Blair again scored from the spot. Airdrie got through, and Hastie netted a good goal. The ‘Onians lost a weary game somewhat unluckily. Rangers, however, were the better of two second rate teams, but their show was far from giving encouragement to their supporters. Even Dixon was below par, and obviously needing a rest. There were 15,000 onlookers
