Match Report

Full Time: Aberdeen 1 Rangers 1

(Weir 23, Young 45)

The fans of both teams greeted the players onto the pitch at a sunny Pittodrie. The importance of the match so early in the season was clear to see for both sets of fans.

Aberdeen started brightly in the 2nd minute when Miller knocked the ball into Mackie but his lay off was struck harmlessly wide by Young. In the 4th minute a long ball from Broadfoot resulted in Considine losing his footing but when Novo gathered, his left foot shot was hit well over the bar.

Rangers should have taken the lead in the 6th minute when Kenny Miller’s cross broke off Mulgrew to Mendes. He really should done better as he dragged his shot wide from the edge of the box.

Miller was then pushed by Bougherra in the 10th minute in a dangerous area but Mulrew’s free kick from 25 yards out was saved well by McGregor in the Rangers goal. A soft free kick was given against Severin as he battled for a ball with Boyd in the 13th minute but Thomson’s free kick was blocked by the Don’s wall.

In the 23rd minute Rangers took the lead. Novo went down easily on the right under pressure from Mulgrew and Thomson’s resulting free kick was headed home powerfully by WEIR for the opening goal of the game.

Aberdeen tried to battle back from the set back in the 25th minute and a neat exchange between Mackie and McDonald led to Mackie’s cross and Miller’s first time shot was blocked by Bougherra. The Aberdeen fan’s felt aggrieved in the 28th minute when Miller was forcefully tackled from behind by Bougherra at the edge of the box but no free kick was given.

In the 30th minute a long ball from Broadfoot led to a mix up in defence and Novo almost punished Aberdeen but his lob from wide on the right drifted just wide of Aberdeen’s goal. A good tackle from Considine at the edge of the box in the 33rd minute blocked Novo as he raced onto Boyd’s through ball. The referee waved away a penalty claim in the 39th minute when Miller went down under a challenge from Weir.

Aberdeen levelled right on the stroke of half time with a well worked goal. Smith took a quick throw to Mulgrew whose right footed inswinger was met by Miller at the back post. His header was blocked by McGregor but the ball fell to the feet of YOUNG and from 8 yards out he smashed the ball high into the net with his left foot to level the game.

In the 50th minute Mackie chased a long ball and after holding of Bougherra his lay off was drilled well wide by McDonald. Nacho Novo almost gave Rangers the lead in the 53th minute when the ball broke to him in the Dons box, he slipped past Severin before firing high and wide with his left foot. Mackie was booked in the 56th minute for persistant fouling as he pushed Weir in a chase for a long ball.

 

Foster came to Aberdeen’s rescue in the 57th minute when Mendes robed Mulgrew at the half way line. His dangerous cross was cleared for a corner by Foster as Boyd was ready to pounce. In the 63rd minute Thomson caught Foster late but he managed to escape a booking. In the 67th minute Langfield had to look sharp to parry away Boyd’s powerful header after a good run and cross on the wing from Kenny Miller. The Goalkeeper almost undid his good work in the 72nd minute when he took a bad touch from a Foster throw in and had to tackle Boyd who had the goal at his mercy.

Miller was then wrongly adjudged to have fouled Bougherra when he was on the receiving end of a poor tackle as the Don’s fans became frustrated. Rangers replaced Novo with Darcheville in the 74th minute as they looked to freshen up their attack. In the 76th minute Miller’s knock on found Mackie in the box but McGregor bravely smothered at the feet of the striker and after treatment he was able to continue.

Duff was introduced to the midfield as he replaced Mackie in the 80th minute as Jimmy Calderwood pushed Jamie Smith into the attack and Rangers also made a change as Beasley replaced Kenny Miller. Tommy Wright replaced Jamie Smith in the 87th as the game drew to a close and the striker was warmly welcomed as he made his home debut.

In the 89th minute Aberdeen had a lucky break when Davis’s cross landed at the feet of Beasley who finished powerfully with his left foot. The linesman had other ideas however and chopped the goal off for offside much to the relief of Aberdeen. Considine was booked for a tug on Darchville in the 90th minute and then the referee called time on a scrappy but entertaining afternoon.

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Aberdeen: Langfield, Mulgrew, Foster, McDonald, Severin, Smith, (Wright 87) Kerr, Miller, Mackie, (Duff 80) Young, Considine

Subs not used: Bossu, de Visscher, Paton, Maguire, Mair

ATTENDANCE 16, 849

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The Dons new friend, who help get rid of the seagulls today. He seemed to do a good job!