The Pittodrie powder keg that blew up in Aberdeen’s face on Tuesday night was the hot top of conversation on the Hotline - with Rangers fans queueing up to claim that Jim Goodwin’s side’s display proved they raise their game more for the visit of the Light Blues than they do when Celtic come to town.
Rangers won with two injury time goals but it was the complete contrast in Aberdeen’s performance to the defensively-minded display against the Hoops at the weekend that grabbed the attention. Alfie Mullen, London, emailed: “As usual, Aberdeen try harder against Rangers than they do against Celtic. Nothing changes. At least karma was at work and they got no more points than they did at the weekend.”
Andy Lanigan, Bishopbriggs, chimed in on the same theme: “Let no one doubt now that Aberdeen only play full out four times a season. They cheat their fans, cheat themselves and they absolutely deserve the nightmares they will have after Tuesday. Attacked more in one minute than they did for 95 on Saturday. And they still lost. Karma, eh?” Brian Wright, Bannockburn, agreed, saying: “On Sunday, I said you would see a different Aberdeen from the game against Celtic. How true was that! Tried, again, to boot the Rangers off the park. It didn’t work in the end and they got what they deserved from the game. Nothing. Has Jim Goodwin got shares in Parkhead?”
John Bruce said: “Aberdeen deserved everything they got from their game against Rangers - nothing - whilst Rangers’ ‘never say die’ attitude won them the spoils. Aberdeen made more forays up the park against Rangers in the first 10 minutes than they did in their entire game against Celtic. The last two Aberdeen games surely prove the Rangers fans’ thoughts that Aberdeen traditionally sit back against Celtic, whilst treating every game against Rangers like a cup final. A poor performance from Rangers, but a great - and possibly decisive - victory.”
But Kenny Houston didn’t see it like that. He emailed: “After the dire team performance by Aberdeen against Celtic, a much better team display against Rangers. I expect to see Gers fans on raging that the Dons only raise their game against them. Give the opposition credit instead of criticism. They have asked for help from the other teams to help them catch Celtic because they know that they cannot do it on their own.”
Gers fans were delighted with their team’s attitude more than the performance.
Lewis Fotheringham, Mount Ellen , said: “I think it is time for Scott Arfield to start more games for Rangers. He is not necessarily one of the first names on the team sheet, but when he does come on off the bench, he makes this team tick. Last night we were hopeless before he came on.”
Andrew Lamb, Fraserburgh, added: “Rangers certainly got away with one at Pittodrie on Tuesday , but well done for having the never say die attitude. Great game, although annoyed at Don’s fans’ constant howling for red cards at every Rangers tackle .”
Gordon Hendry, Ochiltree , said: “Just as Rangers fans were gutted to see McGregor score Celtic’s winner against Aberdeen late on, Celtic fans must be even more gutted to see Arfield score Rangers winner in added on time at Pittodrie. What a magnificent fight back by a never-say-die Rangers team - you have got to hand it to Beale for his substitutions which worked a treat.”
Robert Livingstone messaged from Palm Beach, Florida: “It’s just amazing, Beale’s seemingly Svengali influence over a side who again came back from near dead! Snatching an unlikely victory when they looked certain to be defeated, they should be buying Xmas lotto tickets. Poor unlucky Aberdeen must wonder what the hell happened, it’s like a brick hit them.
“An injustice? Yes! They certainly didn’t deserve it, only a fool would say otherwise, but that’s football and it could be a defining moment for Rangers’ league chances.”
Kevin Kean, Inchinnan, said: “I’m not sure what to make of Beale. That’s the second game in a row where he has strongly criticised the performance. Actually he was right , but is that being brutally honest or a psychological blunder?”
Celtic fan Kenny Wilson, Moffat, had this to say about the game: “Surely Rangers fans won’t be complaining about how much time added on other teams get from now on (no chance of that) but they will be complaining about Aberdeen trying against them as usual.
“If they played like that against Celtic we would have won by 3 or 4 goals.”
And Arrin Geddes, Irvine, said: “No doubt the Rangers fans will be on the Hotline today hailing their ‘magnificent’ victory over a naive Aberdeen but it just looked like a different chef cooking the same recipe. A Christmas gift from Aberdeen, Mick Beale probably needs a few more just to keep in touch.”
Dr Robert Pender emailed: “It must be a concern if you are a young player at Celtic to make a breakthrough with their continually buying players to top up the first team. Maybe it’s time for government bodies to stipulate a number of players under 20’s to be included in each match for all teams.”
Mark Hendry, Glasgow, said: “Jimmy Murray’s constant anti-Celtic comments are becoming rather boring and tedious. If Ange Postecoglou didn’t rate James Forrest and John Kennedy and felt they didn’t bring anything to the team, do you think they would still be at the club? He should concentrate on his own team instead.”
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