MICHAEL BEALE suffered his second Premiership defeat as Rangers boss as Aberdeen continued their charge for third spot in the top flight.
Liam Scales opened the scoring with a speculative strike early in the second half and a neat Bojan Miovski header secured all three points for Barry Robson’s side.
Rangers are now 13 points adrift of Celtic in the standings as attentions turn to their all-or-nothing Old Firm showdown in the Scottish Cup next Sunday.
DONS DESERVED THEIR WIN
This was a game that Rangers could, and should, have won. It was one they never looked like emerging victorious from once they went behind, though, and Beale can have no complaints about the outcome.
The opening goal from Scales was a slice of luck rather than a touch of class. The defender did well to read a James Tavernier pass and nip in ahead of Alfredo Morelos but there is no way that he was aiming for the top corner when he swung his left foot at the ball from 30 yards out.
Keeper Allan McGregor could only watch on helplessly as Scales celebrated. It was hugely fortuitous but just the break that Aberdeen had needed after spending the first period on the back foot.
That moment turned the game. Within nine minutes, Miovski had doubled the lead as he drifted away from a static Rangers defence and nodded a lovely cross from Leighton Clarkson beyond McGregor.
It was all about the reaction from the visitors at that stage. The one that Beale would have hoped for never came and this was a largely passive, uninspiring performance all round.
Rangers still had time on their side, but a repeat of their smash-and-grab win here earlier in the season never looked likely. As the minutes ticked away, their hopes steadily faded and Rabbi Matondo effort that was wide of the far post was a rare chance spurned ahead of a desperate finale.
MISTAKES SUMMED UP THE SEASON
Rangers had nearly 80 per cent of the possession in the first half. Yet it yielded just two shots on target, out of eight in total, as Beale’s side failed to make their dominance count where it mattered.
The first goal is so important for Rangers on occasions like this and it has to come when they are on top. When it doesn’t, they always run the risk of seeing the tables turned when teams regroup and home crowds feel their side has weathered the storm.
Morelos was unfortunate to see Clarkson produce an acrobatic block to deny him on the line. Fashion Sakala simply had to score when through one-on-one with Kelle Roos, though, and a Borna Barisic effort hit the post as Aberdeen’s best openings – which saw McGregor save from Ylber Ramadani and Ryan Duncan fire wide – came from Rangers’ defensive failings.
When you don’t take the chances that come your way, you leave yourself open to being caught out at the other end. Rangers fans need no reminding about that situation and few would have been surprised when Beale’s side were made to pay for their profligacy at Pittodrie.
Missing good chances and conceding bad goals has been the story of the campaign for Rangers and this was an afternoon that summed up all that has been wrong with this side this term.
Rangers got what they deserved at Pittodrie. This was a sore one for Beale just when he didn’t need it.
OLD FIRM DECISION TIME
Beale came in for plenty of criticism in the aftermath of the last Hampden fixture as supporters questioned his team selection, tactics and substitutions during the final defeat. This time, he has to be spot on and hope that his players hold up their end of the bargain.
The Englishman stuck with the same eleven that were given the nod against St Mirren last weekend. It was one last chance for some to make sure of their derby berths but an afternoon where few impressed.
Connor Goldson and Ryan Kent are on course to return for the Celtic showdown and both will, and should, come straight back into the team following their respective injury lay-offs in recent weeks. Having Kent start ahead of Sakala is a fairly straightforward call but Beale has a decision to make at the back as he deliberates over who partners Goldson after another shaky showing from Ben Davies.
Davies has never been the most imposing of commanding of stoppers and he has looked vulnerable in recent weeks. His use of the ball is often highlighted as a key trait but he wasn’t exactly comfortable in possession at Pittodrie.
The line-up for the Old Firm largely picks itself given the options that Beale will have available at Hampden. Beale should consider his defensive options, though, ahead of a fixture that will see even more questions asked of this Rangers side.
RARE OFF DAY ON THE ROAD
The dramatic win here back in December was the first win away from home for Beale following his appointment as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s successor. Until the Old Firm defeat that ended their Premiership title bid, Rangers were point perfect on the road.
Being able to travel to venues such as Pittodrie, Tynecastle and Easter Road and emerge victorious were signs of the progress that was being made under Beale’s guidance. The successes against the likes of Livingston, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone were hard fought and significant in their own right.
But this was a day that Beale and those that he retains for next term must learn from. It was a regression and a reminder about just where this side are and the work that needs done.
Given the gulf between the Old Firm and the rest of the top flight, fixtures such as this cannot be approached with trepidation these days. A battling draw at some of the more hostile venues in the league will be two points lost rather than one gained during Beale’s first crack at the title.
It looked like Rangers had found the right formula under Beale’s guidance. This was a significant step back, though, as old failings re-emerged and Rangers fell further behind Celtic at the end of a rare weekend when their Old Firm rivals dropped points for the first time in a long time.
This was a test of Rangers’ character as much as their quality. It was one that they failed as Beale suffered his second league loss as boss on a dreadful day for the visitors.
RACE FOR THIRD IS ON
Hearts put the ball firmly back in the Dons’ court with their thumping win against Ross County in the first Premiership fixture of the weekend. In the last one, Robson’s side laid down a marker of their own to re-establish their five-point advantage over the Jambos in the standings.
Few would have predicted Aberdeen would find themselves in this position heading into the split when the Jim Goodwin era came to an ignominious end at Easter Road. With just five games to play, the Reds are in pole position to be best of the rest behind the Old Firm once again.
The fixtures for the final weeks of the campaign will be confirmed in due course. It is a schedule that Robson’s side can look forward to and head into with plenty of confidence as the spotlight shines on the race for third and battle to beat the drop now that the title and top six have been decided.
The home support sang about going on a European tour in the final stages. That confidence – and this fine win – says it all about the turnaround under Robson.
