match thread (image) [FT] Aberdeen 2 - 2 Rangers (Arfield 18; Jack 30)

[Rousseau 10,605]

Rangers make the long trip north to Pittodrie on Wednesday night to take on Derek McInnes' Aberdeen. The games against the Dons last season were trying, for fans and management alike; most trips to Pittodrie are difficult hunting grounds for Rangers teams, but Rangers can take a lot of confidence from recent results, including the last meeting between the sides. 

It is easy to get distracted by the upcoming game at the weekend, but this represents a tough challenge; a crucial test that we need to pass. Our record against Aberdeen last season was terrible, culminating in them knocking us out of both cup competitions. We played Aberdeen seven times last season, winning only twice, drawing twice, but losing three times. No matter how well we played going into these games, getting a good result was a difficult proposition. 

 

Gerrard himself has mentioned the challenge we face on Wednesday, saying "it will be a tough game. Certainly, in my time, we have had some battles up there."

 

"Aberdeen are a good team capable of going on good runs - Derek [McInnes] will get his team fighting all the way to climb up the league". 

 

One of this Rangers squad's biggest assets this season thus far is the ability to withstand intense pressure and weather hostile atmospheres, whether that is Feyenoord's De Kuip or Porto's Dragao. In both instances we have gone behind and managed to drag ourselves back into the game. 

 

Pittodrie may not be a glamour tie, but it will be a hostile atmosphere, which Gerrard is aware of:

 

"We thrive and enjoy the atmosphere up there, the players have faced challenges such as Legia and Feyenoord so I don't think any of my players will be intimated by Pittodrie."  

 

Rangers continued their good form beating Hearts on Sunday. The 5-0 win was their 5th on the bounce. Despite this string of good results, we're still a little too passive in games. We clearly have the ability to step it up, but we're almost drifting through games at times. We'll not be allowed to drift through this one. 

 

Aberdeen have been in good form, scoring goals and winning the majority of their games - outwith their customary loss to Celtic. Although last weekend saw them stumble to a draw against lowly St Johnstone (despite having a two-man advantage for the last 15 minutes of the game) they followed it up with a win against St Mirren at the weekend. 

 

Their main man is forward Sam Cosgrove, with the 22 year-old notching up 9 league goals this season -- almost half Aberdeen's entire tally. Altogether, he currently has 18 goals in 22 appearances. It's fair to say, if we can stop him, we take away Aberdeen's main threat. There is reportedly a host of Championship clubs interested in the Englishman. 

 

Despite the poor head-to-head record last season, the last meeting between the sides was the emphatic 5-0 win at Ibrox. Rangers produced 27 shots to Aberdeen's meagre 4, with goals from Morelos, Stewart, Defoe and Tavernier wrapping up the victory. The manner of the result went a long way in shaking that monkey off our backs. 

 

Funso Ojo is nearing a return for Aberdeen but will still miss out on the clash on Wednesday, while Scott Wright remains a long-term absentee. McInnes revealed that Craig Bryson’s ankle problem isn’t as bad as was first suspected, but after missing the St Mirren game, he may not be ready quite yet for Wednesday's game.

 

Aberdeen's win against St Mirren was a close one, apparently helped by an inability to get to grips with a new formation. They employed a 3-4-2-1 formation, with McGinn and Hedges playing off Cosgrove. Their three-man defence was vulnerable at set-pieces too. Aberdeen will probably resort to their more typical 4-2-3-1 formation against Rangers. 

 

Rangers have no new injury concerns. 

 

 

It is likely Gerrard will recall Jack to the side for this match, to play alongside Davis and Kamara; the three have been immense this season, providing a solid foundation to let the forwards, and full-backs, get forward. It has been a main feature of our play to see the wide central midfielders drop out into the half-space to facilitate the build-up.

 

Further forward, Ojo may be preferred. Gerrard does seem to prefer Ojo's energy and running ability in the tight, cagey games. He is always a threat in the final third -- when he decides show up -- and he does put in a shift defensively. Alongside Ojo, it should be Kent, with Morelos leading the line.  

 

This is a big test. Despite the good result when we last met at Ibrox, matches at Pittodrie are a different proposition. It will be a battle; good football often goes out the window. If Ranges can deal with the physical threat, and the players can win their individual battles, we'll give ourselves the opportunity to win. The threat lies on the counter. Aberdeen have a few pacey players, which can cause problems; and, of course, Cosgrove will be a threat we need to snuff out at every occasion. Rangers have shown an ability to stand up to the physical side of these games this season, so I'm looking forward to it. 

 

[Scott7 6,004]

4 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

(Ojo) is always a thread in the final third

Let’s hope he can sew up a victory.

 

Great isn’t it? Some bloke does the hard work and along comes a smart alec to make fun of it. Will I be banned?

[Rousseau 10,605]

2 minutes ago, Scott7 said:

Let’s hope he can sew up a victory.

 

Great isn’t it? Some bloke does the hard work and along comes a smart alec to make fun of it. Will I be banned?

You shall be thanked wholeheartedly -- I was just about to publish on the main site.  

 

 

[Bill 13,717]

Good preview for a change. You should do it every week ?

 

Anyone think Katic might replace Helander for this one?

[Bluedell 5,624]

28 minutes ago, Bill said:

Anyone think Katic might replace Helander for this one?

It's possible, as I thought Helander struggled in the first half on Sunday and it may be good to rest him prior to the next few games.

 

However Gerrard seems to have adopted an approach of wanted a settled defence and he may not make the change.

[JFK-1 1,693]

Reminds me of the first time we played them under Gerrard which if I remember correctly was in fact the very first league match under Gerrard. Away game, Alfie red carded inside around 10 minutes yet we still went on take a 1-0 lead and dominate the game. They equalised in the dying minutes then afterwards Gerrard stated that we were on another level in comparison to them.

He was simply stating a fact that was evident for everyone to see but perhaps shouldn't have given their delusions of being a footballing superpower. What he said still applies and in fact since then Rangers are on yet another level in comparison to them.

There's a lot of talk about them being a good team and in a sense they are but it's not in a footballing sense the way Rangers are a good team. They're a good team in the way Livingston or Motherwell are good teams. They litter the side with physicality rather than real footballing quality then proceed to their 'game plan' which is simple.

Kick and harry and when I say kick i'm not referring to kicking the ball. A major part of their 'plan' is to actually hurt our players while conceding foul after foul in an attempt to prevent any rhythm occurring. And they're 'good' at that.

Look out for a catalogue of fouls against Kent because he's closing in on some real form while providing goals and assists. Ryan jack will be targeted simply because he's Ryan Jack and their players know that hurting him gets you a baa from their bleating crowd.

Alfie will also be targeted just to see if they can get a rise out of him but he's a tank. Heavily armoured and can take the punishment largely undamaged while Kent on the other hand is more of a lightly armoured fast transport vehicle. I fear for him with Sunday coming up fast when he's going to be a key factor.

With the prospect of this sheep game on the horizon I watched dthe highlights of their game with St Mirren and believe you me they were lucky to get a win. St Mirren deserved at least a draw and a win wouldn't have flattered them. St Mirren were carving them open with relative ease but just didn't have the quality to take their chances and even missed a penalty.

In my view all away games are a potential banana skin and for that simple reason this one is too but it's not because they're a good side. We're far superior and all we need is for the referee to do his job letting our player impose their class and this will be a standard win.

[compo 7,037]

I wont be surprised if we don't pick up some injuries and I hope no cards let's keep our cool and win the school  .

[Uilleam 5,929]

Sad to relate, but some of their players (some?) will accept a Pyrrhic victory tomorrow night:

no goals, no points, but a couple of our more influential lads kicked out of the League Cup Final. 

 

 

[Gonzo79 15,293]

Winning is all that matters tomorrow night.  Aberdeen will be well up for it (as always).  

 

Our players should be able to withstand the physical nature of Scottish football.  Otherwise we have bought them unwisely. 

[ian1964 10,723]

I think Stewart may get a deserved start tomorrow, I quite fancy him to score. Jordan Jones has had a wee set back and will miss the next couple of games.

No doubt it will be a physical/dirty match with the sheep cloggers out in force, fingers crossed we don't suffer any injuries. 

As always a win is a must just now, get a win then onto the cup final.