B McPhail 12
Hogg 14
Hogg 70
Connor 75
Gillick 80
Match Information
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: T Small (Dundee)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Yes, thats the score but take it from me, Airdrieonians gave Rangers a fright. Against the run of the play, the Broomfield boys were a goal down at the interval 2-1. They went behind to the extent of 4-1 in the second half, brought it to 4-3, and were going well for an equaliser when a bit of desperate attack by Rangers left wing produced a fifth goal, and made the points right for Ibrox. The way Airdrie fought was a treat and a surprise. Their forwards in the first half had the Rangers defence on the stretch. They played smart football quick, ground passing which found the man better than the Rangers attempts could do. Had Mooneys shot, which slapped the bar, got home, or Rosss shot which hit the post, anything might have happened. But McPhail and Smith came to the rescue of the Rangers. I dont know how the champions could have got along without them. They were the matchwinners, plus Gillick with his whippety fifth goal, although he had not a great day otherwise. You see, when things were not looking at all good for Rangers, Smith sent McPhail in to open the scoring. That was after 12 minutes. Seven minutes later, Main got one, but in the twinkling of an eye Hogg beat Dawson and, until the interval, Airdrie were bidding for the equaliser. Then in came the McPhail-Smith act again. The former made the opening for Smith to smash home a third goal seven minutes after the restart and repeated the performance twelve minutes later. It looked east for Rangers then, but not so easy when Hogg and Connor each snapped a goal for Broomfield. A draw was on the horizon when McPhail and Gillick staged a penetrative thrust, and the latter flashed the ball into the net. It was a match. Dawson made one faulty clearance and lost a goal, but he was a fine custodian otherwise. Gray had difficulty with Mooney in the first half but finished the usual sound back. McDonald had no easy job against Ross and Hogg a clever pair; not was Simpson allowed to go easy by Connor. Kennedy was the workmanlike half-back, tackling strongly and putting the ball about to advantage. The Ibrox front line was not impressive, but it contained two strong men in McPhail and Smith, who could win the match. Airdrieonians get good marks even if beaten. The half backs could have recovered better, but they stuck it out and contributed to the rally in the second half, including Murray who was off for a spell, injured, quite accidentally
