Rangers roared back from behind to thump Aberdeen and take some of the heat off boss Gio van Bronckhorst.
James Tavernier gifted midfielder Connor Barron a first half opener and missed a penalty but plundered his 12th goal against the Dons after Antonio Colak and John Lundstram turned it around for Gers before the break and sub Alfredo Morelos grabbed a fourth with five minutes to go. The Light Blues skipper also missed a VAR awarded spot kick amid a second half onslaught but the victory was just what van Bronckhorst needed when the spotlight was on.
The injuries to Ridvan Yilmaz and Ben Davies were a blow but Gers clicked in to gear and showed guts to deal with the early set back and swat aside a Dons side who came to have a go but left themselves wide open. Van Bronckhorst had demanded a fast start – and he got one. Rangers were on the Dons from the off and should have been ahead inside five minutes when Fashion Sakala got on the end of Ryan Kent’s cross but could only divert over the top.
The early loss of Yilmaz was a blow to the momentum though and Aberdeen managed to get more of a foothold in the game. There still wasn’t much of a threat from the visitors but they surged ahead in almost comical fashion after 21 minutes. Barron’s finish was emphatic but the defending from Rangers was farcical. Luis Duk had the Light Blues flapping with a burst down the left, turned inside James Tavernier and hit the deck looking for a penalty.
It didn’t look like one but while the Gers captain bizarrely pleaded his innocence, Barron didn’t hang about waiting for the whistle and he slammed into the net. Van Bronckhorst's men were rattled but nearly hit back soon after when Sakala bundled his way in to the box and the ball spun off Kent and had to be hoofed off the goal line by Ross McCrorie.
But the leveller arrived on 27 minutes when Lundstram superbly picked out Tillman’s burst down the inside right channel and he neatly teed up Colak to find the bottom corner. Sakala had another big chance when Colak turned provider but to send the attacker clear but Kelle Roos was out to block in a flash.
Gers piled on the pressure – and it told in first half stoppage time. Lundstram bust a gut to smash up the afters when Tavernier’s shot was saved by Roos and cut back by Ben Davies. The defender picked up a knock in the process and it forced Gers in to another change. But some things never change – like a Tavernier goal against Aberdeen. This time the skipper popped up at the back post to thump home a header from Kent’s deep cross on 51 minutes to bury memories of his earlier boo boo.
He almost got another moments later but Roos made the save – and another huge chance was on way after VAR eventually stepped in to flag up Jayden Richardson’s juggling act in the box. Tavernier – usually solid from the spot – thumped the post and Dons survived for a little longer.
Morelos was denied the fourth by the flag and VAR but it was only delayed when he tucked away Sakala’s low cross to round off a deserved big win. There was another long check on the video but there was not any doubt about the result.
Big Rangers response
There have been some serious questions asked about Rangers’ character in recent weeks but this was a big statement. This game was seen as a major danger for Gio van Bronckhorst and it might not have helped him much having former coach Michael Beale in the directors’ box at a time when some fans would love to see the QPR gaffer and Steven Gerrard’s old right hand man in the dugout.
Going behind early on looked ominous for the manager and his team but the reaction was emphatic. Rangers battered Aberdeen for most of the afternoon and there was much more energy and intensity about the side. It could have been more but Gers – and van Bronckhorst – will be glad of the win and now need more of the same.
Tav's eventful day
Rangers captain James Tavernier is having to play his way through ropey form right now but no one could doubt his desire to do the business for his side. He was culpable for the opening goal when he was too busy pleading his case against a penalty that wasn’t even going to be awarded instead of concentrating on defending.
But Tavernier refused to hide. He constantly pushed forward, tried crosses and shots from distance. They didn’t always come off but it didn’t stop him offering himself up.
The perseverance paid off with his trademark goal against Aberdeen. He took his tally to 12 in 22 games against the Dons – and it should have been 13. You would have stuck the house on him burying the spot kick but his penalty hit the post, which kind of summed up his day.
Never dull Dons
No one can ever accuse Aberdeen of boring. Jim Goodwin’s men have scored more goals than anyone in Scotland outside the Old Firm and they were not happy to just go to Ibrox and sit.
Even after going ahead, the Dons were still trying to get bodies forward when they got the chance to break. It was admirable but it also left the Pittodrie men far too wide open at times and the likes of Malik Tillman and Fashion Sakala ran amok.
The Reds posed plenty of danger whenever they could get out though so it was understandable Goodwin wanted his men to play to their strengths. But there might need to be more of a balance in the weeks to come in the race for third spot in the Premiership. Either way, it’s going to be a wild ride.
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