Relichtie

   

Quarter finals No. 8

   November 8 1978         Rangers 1-0 Arbroath        League Cup 1st leg

November 15 1978           Arbroath 1-2 Rangers          League Cup 2nd leg

Aggregate Rangers 3-1 Arbroath

The League Cup's new format of two legged matches instead of groups was in it's second season. Arbroath, after receiving a bye in the 1st round had accounted for East Fife, ( 1-0, 1-0 ), and Airdrie, ( 1-1, 2-1 ), while Rangers had played Albion Rovers (3-0, 1-0 ), in the 1st round and Forfar Athletic (3-0, 4-1 ), and St. Mirren, ( 3-2, 0-0 ) in the subsequent rounds.

On Wednesday, November 8th at Ibrox as the venue for the 1st leg. Rangers dominated the first half, but a magnificent defensive display in which Lister, McKenzie, and Rylance were outstanding kept the Gers at bay. Arbroath only attacked spasmodically and their best chance of the first half fell to Yule, but his effort went high over the bar.

The second half saw a resumption of the attacks by the Glasgow side and chances fell to McDonald and Watson, but again Lister thwarted them. Fletcher had a great chance to "steal" the match for Arbroath but he failed to beat McCloy. With 70 mins. on the clock it was tragedy for the lichties, and particularly for Billy Wells, when he headed a cross from Alex Forsyth past his own keeper. This spurred Rangers on, and they continued to press, and only the post saved Arbroath from a Russell shot.

Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, A. Forsyth, T. Forsyth, Johnstone, McDonald, McLean, Russell, Parlane, Smith, Watson. subs Cooper and Armour.

Arbroath - Lister, McKenzie, Rylance, Cargill, Wells, Fettes, Fletcher, Edwards, Wilson, Carson, Yule. subs Gavine and Follon.

Referee M. Delaney, Airdrie.

Attendance 10000.

A goal behind from the 1st leg seven days earlier, Arbroath made Rangers fight all the way for the right to contest the semis.

Rangers tried to finish the match, and were the more prominent of the teams in the early stages, but Kidd came close for the home side when his 25 yard shot went inches over the bar. The visiors took the lead in the 15th minute, Smith had a shot which Lister saved but the rebound fell to the winger who shot into the net. Arbroath fought back, and after Kidd had another long range effort pushed behind by McCloy, Yule worked his way up the left and passed to Fletcher, who took advantage of hesitancy in the Ibrox defence to score. This rocked Rangers and Arbroath exerted some sustained pressure for the remainder of the half, but no goals came from it.

Rangers were seen more as an attacking force in the second half, and Watson had a shot from 30 yards which clipped the top of the bar, then McLean had a shot which was deflected behind. Rangers continued to press and McLean again came close when his dipping shot was pushed over the bar by Lister. Arbroath were defending stubbornly, and looking dangerous on the break, but with time running out Russell put the Glasgow side further ahead and settled the outcome when he hit a 25 yard shot into the net. 

Arbroath - Lister, McKenzie, Rylance, Cargill, Wells, Fettes, Fletcher, Carson, Wilson, Kidd, Yule. subs Gavine and Follon.

 Rangers - McCloy, Miller, A. Forsyth, Jardine, T. Forsyth, Watson, McLean, Russell, Johnstone, Urquhart, Smith. subs McDonald and Cooper. 

 

Semi-finals.                          1972                          1974                          Quarter-final 1993.