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

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Rangers 1471432