Airdrie 1, Rangers 1
IT WAS a slog, a real struggle on a bitterly cold night out at
Broomfield, the place football players don't like to visit. By the time
the ground's lights were doused Rangers had survived, barely, and had
stretched to 24 their run of undefeated matches.
That is about all that can be said of the Ibrox side, who were so out
of touch that it looked as though 11 imposters had stolen the strips and
taken to the field.
Even after John Brown had given Rangers the lead 10 minutes before the
break, Airdrie still were able to sense the vulnerability of the
defending premier-division champions.
Their endevour was rewarded three minutes from the end of the game
when Jimmy Boyle, who had threatened on a couple of occasions, scored.
A long free-kick, struck by Jimmy Sandison, floated into the danger
zone and Boyle managed to get on the end of the delivery. His connection
was sweet and Rangers had conceded their first league goal to Airdrie in
11 years.
Rangers knew then that they would have to settle for a draw and, to be
perfectly frank, were fortunate to get away with a point.
Of course, Broomfield is a tight ground with little space in which to
manoeuvre and Airdrie's players rarely are willing victims, but Rangers
ought to have been able to cope.
Their manager, Walter Smith, admitted his team had carried some luck,
but his stern demeanour suggested an inner rage which he may well let
out when the players report back at Ibrox. He was not at all happy with
the performance and had been looking for two points before entering into
what will be a difficult series of games.
The first of these is against Dundee United on Saturday and Gary
Stevens may not make that one. He was kept indoors at half-time last
night because he had taken a kick on the side of a knee and Smith did
not want to take any risks with a player who has not long returned from
a lengthy injury.
Trevor Steven, himself only recently back in action after injury,
dropped back from midfield to full-back with Dale Gordon leaving his
seat in the dug-out to play in midfield. Like those who had been there
before him, he contributed little.
Ian Durrant, Ian Ferguson, and Alexei Mikhailichenko did not function
properly and were never able to exert any influence on the match.
On the other hand, Airdrie were themselves, all running and tackling
and making the pitch even more claustrophobic.
Their tactic was obvious from the start and of a pretty basic nature
as the defenders and midfield players hoofed the ball on whenever it
bounced before them.
Hitting over the top, I think is the coaching jargon for the ploy, but
it's a blind toe-ender just the same. Yet, it caused panic within
Rangers back division.
Brown did his best to marshall the line and was constantly calling out
instructions to those around him, especially Steven Pressley, who
probably had a tougher time than he did when he played against Marseille
last midweek.
Up front Gary McSwegan was deployed with Mark Hateley, but they got
little change out of Sandison and the old warhorse himself, Walter Kidd.
He is not the most cultured defender in the world but is a hoary,
experienced performer who knows his limitations.
Kidd rarely takes chances and doesn't often attempt subtlety, although
he did early in the game when he intercepted a ball meant for McSwegan
and calmly controlled the pass on his chest. The ball dropped and he
played a perfect ball through to his front line. For his trouble he took
a clattering tackle from Ferguson.
As he dusted himself down the Airdrie defender probably muttered to
himself: ''That'll teach me to try to show them how it should be done.''
Brown, on the other hand, showed his strikers exactly how it ought to
be done when he rose in Airdrie's box and headed in the first goal from
Mikhailichenko's corner, and his contribution really should have been
enough to settle Rangers. It didn't and Airdrie looked the more likely
side in the second period.
Their point could prove to be a valuable one in the final reckoning,
but at least they demonstrated that their premier-division status will
not be taken away without a fight.
AIRDRIE -- Martin, Kidd, Stewart, Sandison, Caesar, Black, Boyle,
Balfour, Lawrence, Jack, Kirkwood. Substitutes -- Smith, Conn.
RANGERS -- Goram, Stevens, Robertson, Durrant, Pressley, Brown,
Steven, Ferguson, McSwegan, Hateley, Mikhailichenko. Substitutes --
Gordon, Huistra.
Referee -- W Crombie (Edinburgh).
PREMIER DIVISION
PWDLFAPt
Rangers 1471432
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