Rangers 2-0 Aidrieonians: Familiar script for Gers

Lee McCulloch (right) celebrates his goal with Rangers team mate Nicky Clark. Picture: SNS

Scorers: Rangers - Daly 46; McCulloch 64pen

Ally McCoist’s side have developed a habit of turning a poor first half into a comfortable win and they were at it again against a well-organised Airdrie outfit.

Rangers have now made it 12 league wins in a row and 16 in all competitions, but remarkably, 23 of their last 24 goals have come after the interval and they have now not been in front in the opening 45 minutes in their last seven games.

Yesterday, it took them just 33 seconds of the second half to make their mark when the prolific Jon Daly netted his 12th goal in his last seven games and his 16th in total. Lee McCulloch made the win secure with a penalty, but the focus was on yet another new chairman, after Somers was appointed this week.

McCoist met the new man yesterday morning and insisted he was impressed with the encounter, although there was a demonstration before the game along with plenty of chants against the board.

He said: “I had a cup of tea with David today. I left a message with him on Thursday and we spoke on Friday night to arrange to have a cup of tea before the game.

“But it was just a very brief chat because David was at the laying of the wreath for Remembrance Day and I had the game to prepare for. It was an encouraging ten or 15 minutes. I was asking one or two questions about what his hopes and plans would be and he was obviously asking the same of myself. I would say it was a very pleasant and encouraging meeting and I am very hopeful that we can have a successful working relationship.

“He knows the current problems at the club in terms of effectively only having two directors and not having a chief executive. Obviously for corporate governance and running a football club that is far from ideal, but obviously that’s his game and he probably appreciates that fact more than me.

“He is very aware of what the club needs and how he sees it moving forward. I think he has a few appointments in mind that he will be making in the near future.

“We’ve got a bit of time off before our next game and I don’t know what the new chairman’s moves will be, whether he is down south or up here. But we’ll certainly be in contact and having dialogue.”

McCoist insists their tame first-half performances aren’t a concern. He pointed out: “I think we’d have a problem if we weren’t getting the goals eventually. The game lasts 90 minutes so it doesn’t pose a big problem to me when we score as long as we are winning games and not conceding.”

One of the main reasons why Rangers were kept at bay was the performance of rookie, 21-year-old Airdrie keeper Andrew Duncan, who was making just his second appearance. He particularly frustrated Rangers striker Nicky Clark, who one of those days where nothing would go right for him.

The opposite is true for Daly, who netted after an Arnold Peralta cross and can seemingly do no wrong right now.

Rangers secured another win in the 64th minute when Gregor Buchanan tripped David Templeton in the box and McCulloch drilled home the resulting penalty, causing Airdrie boss Gary Bollan to complain: “The penalty did look a bit soft and would it have been given if it was at the other end of the pitch?”

Rangers: Bell; Faure, McCulloch, Moshni, Wallace; Peralta (Macleod 77), Law, Black, Templeton (Crawford 87); Clark (Aird 77), Daly.

Airdrie: Duncan; Buchanan, Drummond, McCormack, Boyle; Bain (Trialist 84), Hardie, Sinclair (Watt 84), Blockley; Coogans, Lister.

Referee: D Robertson.

Attendance: 43,158.