Scottish Premier League: Aberdeen vs. Rangers (part 1) – Rangers edge past Aberdeen to go top of the table
Aderdeen were heading into their match with Rangers, without their team captain Paul Hartley. The midfielder had picked up a hamstring injury, in the mid week cup matches and was going to be missing in action for the next three weeks or
so.
The team’s manager, Mark McGhee insisted that he was going to turn, to set up a much more attacking formation against the Rangers, after receiving some heavy criticism for parking a bus against Motherwell, this previous week.
The manager admitted that he was impressed by the Rangers, ability to get a draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, but despite that he would be going all out against the team.
"Rangers have scored 11 goals in two games so we have got to find a way of stopping them,'' McGhee said.
"If that means an extra defender we will put one there and we won't be embarrassed, I can assure you.
"If we do park the bus it will be because Rangers force us to, not because we are just going out there and dropping off.
"We will be trying to cope as best we can with good players - some of that will mean defending deep and in numbers.''
James Beattie, finally made his much awaited return to the Rangers side, after being sidelined due to an injury.
Rangers had not won away to Aberdeen since December 2006, but were looking to break that cycle, heading into the match tonight.
The match kicked off with Rangers looking to take the game to the home side. They were doing remarkably well at doing that, however on the tenth minute the away team were caught on the counter.
Scott Vernon sprung the offside trap and placed a good ball into the far post behind McGregor, with ease, giving the home side the lead on the tenth minute.
The man responsible for the goal was Rangers defender, Madjid Bougherra. The defender tried to be a little too clever and tried to play an offside by taking a step forward, but the ball that was played to Vernon was inch perfect. In the
end due to Bougherra's decision the forward was given ample space and time on the ball to perform as he pleased and that happened to be putting his team in the lead.
Soon after the goal, Rangers started to recuperate; the team started spending more time on the ball and were looking to finally be at their best again. On the twenty eighth minute, they almost scored. There was a brilliant one-two played
between Naismith and Jelavic. Naismith then hit a volley which managed to sail right in front of the goal. That was the best chance that Rangers had all night long and were surely looking to build on it.
However two minutes later, it was Aberdeen, who got the two goal advantage. This time around it was Maguire who got the goal. Mackie received the ball on the left wing and turned it to his right side, before sending in a brilliant low
cross, which was met by Maguire, who slide in to double the home team’s advantage.
(continued in part 2)
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