Aberdeen 0 - 0 Rangers

This League fixture was played at Pittodrie before 9000 spectators. The game all through was stubbornly contested, the defence prevailing, though the attack was nevertheless keen. Rangers had slightly the best of matters in the second half for a time but latterly Aberdeen pressed hard, and were within an ace of scoring several times. The whistle just sounded with Aberdeen all but beating Newbigging. The finish was a draw - no scoring.

Source: The Scotsman, 20th January 1908

Following upon Aberdeen's great performance against Falkirk the previous week, there was another huge attendance of spectators at Pittodrie on Saturday to see the game with Rangers. The weather was all that could be desired, and the pitch was in prime condition, with a fine firm surface, consequent upon mild frost after Friday's rain. The local team was out in full strength, but the Rangers were not so fortunate, in respect that they were without Kyle in the van and Craig at back. Alec Smith at outside left and Gordon at half, however, we're able to turn out, after being off the list owing to injuries. Mr. R. T. Murray, Stenhousemuir, had charge of the game, and the teams were:-

Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Colman, Hume; Halkett, McIntosh, Low; Macdonald, Simpson, Murray, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Rangers: Newbigging; Hendry, Jackson; Gordon, Campbell, May; Macdonald, Livingstone, Spiers, Stephen, Smith.

From the kick-off by Rangers Low got the ball and passed to Murray, who crossed well down to Macdonald on the right. The winger, however, made a weak effort to centre, and put behind. The Rangers came away in the centre, Smith beat Colman prettily, finishing up with a very nice cross directly in front of Macfarlane. The lines were cleared with a rush, and off again went Aberdeen towards Newbigging, and had Lennie accepted a good cross from the right, head RE might have been made. It was a case of end-to-end running, and Lennie made a fool of Hendry and Gordon, but his effort was only rewarded with a foul, which gave no advantage. Smith on the Rangers' left wing caused Aberdeen hearts to flatter when he sent in a great shot on the run. The try had any amount of sting in it, and Rab just touched the ball as it banged into the side net with terrific force. May was the next to have a try, and his punt just sailed over the bar. An invasion by Aberdeen went to a melee in front of Newbigging, but Murray ended the matter by sending over. Aberdeen's left wing got agoing nicely, and showed some pretty foot work in conjunction with Murray. O'Hagan made the final effort, and seemed to miskick, with the result that the sphere rolled easily over the line. Aberdeen were now are continually on the aggressive, but the strangers' front line were always ready to snap up chances, which were frequently provided by the middle division. The homesters' game was pretty to watch, and effective in the outfield, but there seemed to be a weakness in penetrating the defence of the blues. A great chance was lost by Lennie at this stage. Simpson crossed over, and Lennie had only to beat Newbigging, but, amid howls of disappointment, the little winger drove wide of the mark. Rangers had been defending for some time now, but Smith carried the war into Aberdeen territory with a sprint down the margin. He had to give up possession, however, and Steven, who accepted the pass, was palpably offside. It was the visitors turn now, and both Smith and Macdonald put over some good square crosses. Livingstone, while the blues were pressing, made a rare opening. May stepped into the breach and sent in a straight drive, but just a trifle high. Smith, on the visitors' left, was well watched, but he succeeded at times in getting in a few of his characteristic crosses, which gave the local defence some trouble. The game swung around once more to the sea end, and Macdonald, Aberdeen, made a bold drive for goal from the corner flag. The shot came in with an deceptive droop and landed on the outside of the side net. When Rangers did get down to Macfarlane's end there was generally some excitement, for the blue's seemed to have the faculty of availing themselves of opportunities. Low almost let his side down by fouling May just beyond the penalty area, but from this point Lennie lead the way into Rangers' ground and commenced what proved to be a protracted and exciting, though fruitless, siege on Newbigging's charge. Fouls were frequent, but the infringements were not of a serious nature although the interfered at times with good cooperation. The half was very equally contested, and it was only fitting that the owners should be divided.

Immediately after the restart Rangers got down on the right, and Macfarlane had to handle a couple of shots in quick succession from Smith. Lennie was racing with cored and for the ball, and the back deliberately took the fee from the Aberdeen favourite. Simpson made a clever attempt to score with an overhead kick, but it was pretty much of a chance shot. Campbell used his arm on O'Hagan about a yard outside the penalty area, and from the foul kick granted, the Irishman drove into Newbigging's hands. Livingstone and Lowe, who had previously been at war with one another, came into contact once again, and the referee found it necessary to give the pair of little advice. The game now entered into an exciting stage, with Aberdeen pressing. Lennie was prominent in the attack, and after beating Hendry in the race, drove hard and true for goal, the custodian blocking the shot and then fisting out. The rough element was creeping into the game, and Hendry all but gave away a penalty by grassing Murray about a foot outside of the fatal space. Rangers made headway again, and after some pressure, secured a fruitless corner, following upon which Livingston had a try, which only missed by a narrow margin. There was a long spell of uninteresting play of an end to end nature, and a sprint on the left by Lennie came as a happy relief. The winger parted to O'Hagan, who sent forward, but, unfortunately, Murray was offside. May sent in a nice straight drive at the other end, and although Macfarlane met the drive squarely, he had some difficulty in getting rid of the ball. The strangers continued to have slightly the better of matters, and kept up a most persistent pressure on Macfarlane's citadel. Strange to say, Alec Smith, who was always dangerous, missed a great chance in identically the same manner and from the same position as Lennie had done for Aberdeen in the first period. The fight was raging on the right wing, when suddenly the ball was swung over to the left-winger, who was uncovered, and practically had the goal at his mercy. Hysteria repeated itself, however, for Smith sent the ball wildly behind, in much the same fashion as did his compact rate on the Aberdeen left wing. Up till a minute from time to play continued at Macfarlane's goal, but Aberdeen came away with a rush, and in a trice the ball bobbing about in front of Newbigging. No one, on either side, seemed to be able to get in a kick, until Murray got the sphere at his foot about 10 yards in front of the goal. It was on sawn Aberdeen snatching the only goal of the match of the last moment, but though the home pivot had a clear course in front of him, he sent the leather flying high above the crossbar. The chance was gone, and the whistle sounded time immediately thereafter, with no scoring having taken place.

The crowd numbered about 10,000, and the gate realised £217.

The result was a fair criterion of the run of the game, for if Aberdeen had the better of matters in the opening period, Rangers balanced things in the second half. Of the players little can be said, except that Hendry was the most prominent defender on the field. Both middle divisions were mediocre, and neither of the quintettes we're outstanding, Barr Smith, who was conspicuous for his fine crosses. The referee was inclined to be severe in the extreme, but, in view of the inclination to be rough which crept into the game latterly, probably this was not a fault.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 20th January 1908

A Rough Game.

There was no occasion for several of the passages that occurred in the game at Pittodrie, and which did not contribute to the reputation of the Rangers as a playing team. We could have been doing without the wild leaps of Hendry or the deliberate fouls of R. G. Campbell, for which free kicks in each case were awarded. The punishment did not fit the crime by a long way, a fact which the crowd were not slow to realise. We are astonished that any of the local players are able to do training this week, and as it is we learn that six of them were more or less injured and unable to do their usual routine work on Monday. The game started at break-neck pace, the left-wing on each side being prominent. Good football was being shown by the forwards; the halves backing up the attack at every point. It was a pull-baker, pull-devil, sort of game, the first real chance of scoring coming to Lennie, who shot rashly past with an oblique shot. Shortly after Smith had a glorious chance at the other end, but Colman, hanging well on, spoiled the parting effort. Lennie was giving Gordon the slip too often and some of Hendry's bull-like rushes at the left-winger to cover up the half's weakness invariably resulted in the back getting left, though danger was meant all the same. Spiers had one or two creditable runs, but he never looked like getting home, for the simple reason that Macintosh stuck to him like a leech. Time wore on, the only production of hard football being corners to either side, of which there were quite a number granted to either side. Resuming, Rangers made off as if business was their sole aim, but Rab and his confreres were invincible, Colman chipping in with some grand work. Smith sent in several trimmers to Rab, but he was on the spot every time. So on the game went, neither having the pull to any extent, the special items being the number of fouls granted. In one particular instance we thought Campbell got off lightly when he switched the legs from under Murray in a most deliberate manner. At the very close Aber¬deen ought to have scored had any of the inside men followed up as they should have done, for Lennie had Newbigging on all fours, and a gentle tap was all that was required to do the need¬ful, and with this the whistle sounded time, and never a goal scored during the whole ninety minutes.

Play and Players.

As far as real saving work was concerned, Newbigging had by far the most work to do, and the Rangers' backs, while strong in kicking, tackled very poorly. The halves were the best line of the team, Smith on the left being the best forward. Macfarlane had nothing difficult to do, and both Coleman and Hume were the better backs and did nothing shady. Halket was not a great success against Smith, but he did some very clever things all the same. Macintosh and Low were a shade better than their captain, while the forwards worked hard, the left and centre being prominent. Simpson was again afraid to go in, and sup¬ported Macdonald a little better than last week, but not nearly so well as we would like to see. In a sense a draw was about a fair index of the play.

Chatty Bits.

Aberdeen had another big gate on Saturday, and the chance of another this week.
Rangers were well pleased at going away with a draw, and went back to Callander light-hearted.
They were resting Kyle, Gault, and Craig for their tie with Falkirk.
The play of Hendry and Campbell did not commend itself to Aberdeen spectators, who gave vent to their feelings in no un¬stinted manner.
It would appear as if the Rangers had set their mind on the cup, as their training at Callander will continue for another week.
The Rangers fancy Aberdeen do not require to go for a change, having plenty of good "caller " air at home, which cannot be got so readily in Glasgow.
It seems to be the proper thing now to put teams away for special training before cup ties. Dundee are away to Doune this week.
Aberdeen's forward play on Saturday was superior to the Rangers, and had more vim behind it. The fault was that they did not follow up when the defence was beaten.
Macdonald was far from well during the second half, and only pluck to stay the game made him turn out.
In this case it has been wisely decided not to include Macdonald in the cup-tie eleven for this week.
The infusion of new blood should tend to good results, and we are not sure but they will play well for a chance of "getting a show."
The A's gave a creditable performance - in drawing with Kirkcaldy United away. The point comes in handy.
When the Harp failed, Peterhead made sure of the final for the Aberdeenshire Cup.
On Saturday Keith Strathisla got their dismissal from Peterhead by 11 goals to 1. Looks like a cricket score!
In, the Huntly and District League competition, Macduff Fife beat Turriff by, 4 goals to 1. The former look like making a name for themselves in the football world.
The pity is that Macduff should not have a chance of appearing in Aberdeen. It is reported they have some good players.

Source: Bon-Accord, 23rd January 1908