Aberdeen 1 - 1 Rangers

Rangers travelled to Pittodrie Park to engage Aberdeen, and on the afternoon's play they were a beaten team till about ten minutes from the close of the game, when through a misunderstanding Forsyth, Aberdeen's left half-back, in an attempt to clear, headed the ball into his own goal. This was the more unfortunate considering the sterling, steady game that player had shown throughout the match. It was comparatively early in the first half when Aberdeen manifested superiority and pressed, but it was within a few minutes from the call of half-time before Yule passed to Rankine, who headed to Fisher, and that player ran the ball into the goal. With a 1-0 lead the Aberdeen played strongly in the second period, and but for Anderson leaving his charge to return a shot which he failed to get far away the incident would not have occurred which enable Rangers to draw.

The Scotsman, 27th September 1920

There is really accounting for football form. A week ago Aberdeen were beaten at Greenock by 6?1, and on Saturday, with only two changes in the team, the same combination were equal to dividing the points with Rangers at Pittodrie, each side scoring once. A huge crowd 23,000 witnessed a game that was brimful of exciting incidents, and on the run of the play, and especially in the manner in which Rangers got the equalising goal five minutes from the end, the visitors were fortunate to escape defeat.

Having won the toss, Aberdeen faced the east goal with the sun behind them and whatever little advantage there was from a strong cross wind in their favour. Rangers made the more promising start, Morton repeatedly threatening danger, but Aberdeen gradually got going, and subsequently play ruled from end to end, with both sets of defenders showing up well against nippy forward play, crosses from the extreme wingers on both sides being cleared with difficulty. After a clever piece of individual play, Cairns shot wide for Rangers from short range, and Fisher was off the mark in an effort to improve a centre by Middleton. Later the Aberdeen right winger tested Ross from near the touchline. Morton forced the first corner for Rangers, and following up that the home goal was in danger, a number of shots being blocked in front of Anderson. Towards the interval Aberdeen attacked vigorously. A great shot by Thomson was blocked, and Robb knocked down a try by Middleton, while later a Rangers defender deflected a shot by Fisher that looked to be finding the net. At the other end, Archibald just failed to catch on to a pass across the goalmouth by Morton. Aberdeen again came away strongly, and shot after shot was blocked in front of the Rangers' goal. Five minutes from the interval Yule got possession and returned to Rankine: the latter shot, and his effort was blocked, but Fisher, following up, met the return to crash the ball into the net. The exchanges were desperately keen after this. Anderson saved at close range from Morton, and following a flag kick by Archibald, Wright and Anderson cleared in quick succession for Aberdeen to cross over with deserved lead of 1-0.

Fluke Goal.

The second half was contested at a tremendous pace, and even with sun and wind advantage the Rangers found the Aberdeen defence at their best. Early in the period Muirhead headed a cross from Morton into Anderson's hands, and the Aberdeen goalkeeper saved finely from Cairns. Clever work by Rankine and Yule had the visitors' goal in danger, but play was quickly transferred, and Archibald lost a good chance of equalising by ballooning at close range. Forcing work by and Fisher saw the Rangers' defence waver and successive corners fell to the home team. There was a confident claim for a penalty against Manderson for "'hands?," but the referee adjudged the infringement be accidental. Aberdeen maintained severe pressure, and just missed with a commendable effort to improve upon a cross by Yule. Aberdeen looked much more likely to score when Rangers got level. Archibald sent over a high ball from the right, and Anderson left his goal to clear. With both hands, he fisted weakly to the foot of Cunningham, who lifted the ball over the custodian's head towards the empty goal. Even then the ball seemed to be going behind, but, caught by the wind, it struck the inside of the upright and rebounded on the goal-line, and Forsyth, in a desperate effort to clear, hit the ball into the net with his elbow. The "fluke," for such it was, appeared to take the heart out of Aberdeen, for in the closing stages Rangers came near to snatching the winning goal. Several corners fell to their lot, and on one occasion Anderson in the act of clearing was charged to the back of the net. It was an exciting finish to a thrilling game, and in causing the champions to drop their first point this season, Aberdeen can besaid to have accomplished a most creditable performance.

Outstanding Players.

Apart, from the Aberdeen goalkeeper's costly misjudgement, he played well. Hannah and Forsyth were brilliant, and showed great resource at back. All three half-backs did their work well, if their tackling was better than their placing. Forward the honours went to Rankine, and Thomson, who never failed to force matters. The team was weakened in the closing stages by an injury to Middleton. On the Rangers? side, Robb played faultlessly in goal, and Manderson was the better of the two backs, who wavered under pressure, in that he paid attention to his forwards. Bowie was the best of the half-backs, and forward the honours went to Morton, Cunningham, and Archibald.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 27th September 1920