Aberdeen 2, Rangers 0
ABERDEEN clawed themselves away from second bottom place in the
Premier League with this victory. And Pittodrie players who had failed
Willie Miller so often this season pushed caretaker manager Roy Aitken
toward a permanent role with the club.
If Aitken can continue to coax and cajole this kind of fighting
performance from his team, then the manager's job will surely be his for
keeps.
Rangers remain 14 points clear at the top of the premier division, but
this result suggests that manager Walter Smith's caution over the
championship has some foundation.
Certainly the champions returned to Glasgow last night still angry
over two penalty claims that went against them in the second half.
One came before the Aberdeen spot kick that Billy Dodds converted to
give his team the lead; the other came after it. Neither incident
convinced referee Jim McCluskey, though the second looked as if it
should certainly have been awarded.
By the end, however, Duncan Shearer had scored a second goal and
Aberdeen had taken the three points convincingly.
It was a gritty performance from Aberdeen, one which brought to mind
the manner in which their caretaker manager himself played. The result
now allows Aitken breathing space as he begins to pick up the pieces
after the sacking of Miller.
It was an important result for the new man, and it demonstrated to the
rest of the country that Rangers' relentless march towards the title can
at least be delayed.
Aberdeen fielded a team that looked equipped to attack, while Rangers
appeared to have opted for a more conservative approach. They played new
signings, Alex Cleland and Gary Bollan, in midfield, sitting in the wide
positions.
For long enough in the first half that set-up looked good enough to
allow the Ibrox men to remain at least unbeaten. And, perhaps, do
better.
Eventually, however, the game hinged on the decisions of referee
McCluskey. In 55 minutes, Charlie Miller was brought down by Stephen
Wright as he went through, but the referee waved away Rangers' penalty
claims.
Then, in 58 minutes, a pass-back from Richard Gough had Ally Maxwell
in trouble. When Shearer reached the ball the 'keeper desperately
brought him down, the penalty was given, and Dodds scored.
In 69 minutes, Brian Laudrup was pushed off the ball by John Inglis.
It looked a certain penalty this time, but once more referee McCluskey
waved away Rangers' protests.
Just last week, Rangers' boss Walter Smith was critical of decisions
that went against his team when they met Dundee United. It must have
seemed like history repeating itself yesterday.
The game had started excitingly with Maxwell holding a low shot from
Dodds and then Theo Snelders pushing away a drive from Miller.
In 30 minutes David Robertson saw a gap in the Aberdeen defence, burst
through it, and slammed in a shot only to watch in disbelief as Snelders
punched the ball away.
At this stage Rangers had the better chances but, in the second half,
it was Aberdeen who took the lead and, despite Rangers' pressure, the
Pittodrie men remained in front and added a late second.
After the interval, young Stephen Glass had taken over from Stewart
McKimmie, injured halfway through the first half. The change did not
stop Aberdeen from looking more aggressive.
In 58 minutes they stunned Rangers by going ahead from their penalty.
Four minutes later Gordon Durie replaced Bollan and the Ibrox men pushed
forward looking for the equaliser.
In 68 minutes a corner from Laudrup -- his third in rapid succession
-- found Gough. His header forward almost reached Durie just short of
the goal line, but somehow Snelders got there first with a brave save as
Durie prepared to hook the ball into the net.
Four minutes after that Basil Boli had a chance from close range, but
shot high over.
While Rangers had pressure, Aberdeen were looking dangerous when they
broke forward. There was a warning ten minutes from the end when Shearer
swept over a cross from the left and Dodds smacked a header against the
bar.
The second goal was delayed for just eight minutes. Stuart McCall
tried to be over-elaborate at the edge of his own penalty box. He was
dispossessed by Shearer, who then sent a vicious low shot past Maxwell
to confirm the Aberdeen victory.
Still not content, the burly striker almost scored a third with a long
range shot that Maxwell pushed clear.
At the end, the only demonstrations at Pittodrie came from the fans
celebrating victory.
The threatened protests against chairman Ian Donald did not take place
beforehand -- and there was certainly no room for them afterwards.
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