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Aberdeen 0 - 2 Rangers

Div 1 (Old)
Rangers scorers: Paterson 29, Walls 43

20/03/1920 | KO:

The Rangers, playing a cool and steady game, defeated Aberdeen by 2 goals to 0 in the return League match at Pittodrie Park. While the Aberdeen back division showed to great advantage during the first twenty-five minutes of the match, and Anderson proved a reliable goalkeeper, who was several times heartily cheered for the manner in which he saved extremely likely shots, the close of the first period and the greater part of the second half showed the team's want of cohesion, especially in the forward line. For the Rangers, Manderton proved an outstanding right back, Dixon and Walls were reliable halves, and Low, Paterson, and Cairns were a trio of forwards who kept attention throughout. Especially was this the case with Low, the ex-Hearts outside right, who has been assisting Elgin City this season, and who was wanted by Aberdeen before he was snapped by the Rangers recently. There was a record attendance of 25,000. The scorers were Paterson and Walls.

Source: The Scotsman, 22nd March 1920

By a 2-0 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, Rangers enhanced their prospects of winning the Scottish League championship, which is now practically assured to them since they hold a relative advantage of 5 points over Celtic.
The game was played under ideal conditions, and attracted an attendance of 24,000, which is the record crowd for a league game on the ground. Throughout there was no disputing the superiority of the Glasgow team, who, apart from a brief period in the first half, when Aberdeen attacked strongly but without success, were not seriously tried, and considering that they were without the assistance of such able exponents of the game as Gordon, Bowie, Archibald, and Cunningham, gave a meritorious and class display of refreshing football.

it was mainly the result of clever goalkeeping by Anderson and the adoption of offside tactics by the Aberdeen backs that the score-opener was delated until 29 minutes had gone. At the end of the period Low, the visitors' outside-right, whipped across a perfect centre. The ball was missed by an Aberdeen defender and by the Rangers' centre-forward, but Paterson, getting possession, scored with a ground shot which gave Aberdeen no chance. Subsequently there was a deal of midfield play in which the Rangers showed by far the better football without being very dangerous at goalmouth. Near the end of the period Aberdeen rallied strongly, and the Rangers' goal had narrow escapes from Wright and Wilson, but the defence lived through the ordeal, and close upon the interval, following upon a clearance from Paterson, Walls, the Rangers' left half-back, found the net with a great drive from nearly thirty yards' range.

Although the play was more even in the second half, the exchanges generally favoured the Rangers, who served up some fine passages of forward combination and displayed a fine understanding between the middle and front divisions. On one occasion Rangers claimed for a goal when it appeared the ball had rebounded from the underside of the cross-bar over the line, after Low had shot, for the Aberdeen goalkeeper to turn and kick clear. The referee disallowed the claim, however, and did not even trouble to consult the linesmen. Dash and bustle frequently put Aberdeen into scoring position, but generally there was a deal of muddling at close quarters, and sever likely chances were not improved upon. It was obvious that Rangers did not unduly exert themselves, and in a game in which interest was maintained to the end, they gave a clever and clean exhibition of football which did not go unappreciated by the big crowd.
Rangers were strong in all departments and well balanced. Manderson, Dixon, and Walls excelled in the defence, and forward Paterson, Cairns, and Low in the order named were best. This was Low's first game for the Rangers. He is the Elgin City player, and showed that he is of the class requisite for such a team, and generally gave a clever and judicious display. Anderson, Colman, and V. E> Milne were best in the Aberdeen defence, and in a disappointing forward line Yule, Connon, and Wilson caught the eye.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 22nd March 1920

Rangers Teamsheet
Locke; Manderson, Ritchie; Meiklejohn, Dixon, Walls; Low, Muirhead, Henderson, Cairns, Paterson
Attendance: 24,000
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Referee: W. G. Johnstone, Edinburgh