ABERDEEN 0 RANGERS 1 SPFL Premiership Sunday August 30 2026 Pittodrie Ref: Matthew MacDermid Attendance: 18,343

A close fought fixture was decided in controversy as Kevin Nisbet had an equaliser chalked off late on after a VAR check, and the same player had a penalty shout denied. Following the 3-0 win over Dundee in the Premier Sports Cup a fortnight ago, Stephen Robinson named an unchanged starting XI. Mats Knoester returned to the bench for the first time this season, replacing Findlay Marshall. After Rangers went out of the Conference League at the hands of Jablonec on Thursday, Rangers made four changes. Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin, Findlay Curtis and Kim Minsu replaced Vanja Dragojevic, Daisuke Yokota, Tochi Chukwuani and Ryan Naderi. A forest of flags and bright sunshine greeted the sides at Pittodrie, Fernandez greeting Tony Yogane with a late challenge in the opening minute. From the free-kick, Dan Happe had a real chance. Kevin Nisbet hoisted in the ball, Happe got free at the back post, but he kicked the ball into the ground and it missed the target as it bounced up and into the RDS, a real let-off for the visitors. Toyosi Olusanya bunded his way past two defenders in the fourth minute, then found Mitchy Ntelo on his own 25 yards out. He chose to hit it first time when he might have advanced further, Pandur making a comfortable save. Moments later, Happe was the first player to be booked, after being adjudged to handle the ball on the edge of the box. Rangers’ new signing Minsu looked lively, and he had their first shot in the ninth minute, Marius Muller gobbling up his 20 yard effort. Olusanya’s driving running won a corner two minutes later, Nisbet heading over from 10 yards out following a good delivery from Connor Ronan. From there, the game moved into a period of stalemate, Rangers having more of the ball, but Aberdeen ensuring they could do little of consequence with it. Gassama tried his luck on 26, running across the top of the box before pivoting to shoot. The effort took a deflection and squirmed wide of goal. Chris Cadden was next to be booked, pulling back Penrice as Rangers tried a quick counter-attack from a Dons free-kick in the 36th minute. Curtis followed him in a minute later when he was late on Happe. Rangers almost had the lead on 38. Gassama made a fine run forward, galloping over 70 yards before feeding Kim inside the box. He curled the ball around Muller but had his shot deflected by two converging defenders. The loose ball looked like a tap in for Shankland from a couple of yards out, but instead, Afeez Aremu swooped down on him to make a magnificent clearance. From the resulting corner, Muller had to be alert at the near post to claw away a flicked header from Shankland. Ronan was booked in the 43rd minute for being high on Neil, then Aremu was carded a minute later for a poor tackle on Devlin. HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 RANGERS 0 The Dons made their first change at the break, Stuart Armstrong replacing Yogane. He was quickly into things, pouncing on a half cleared corner in the second minute of the half, drilling his shot wide of goal from the edge of the area. Devlin was booked on 49, hooking down Ntelo as he chased after a long goal kick out from Muller after he had gathered a corner. Gassama was the threat again three minutes later, accelerating down the left before crossing for Shankland, Happe getting across to block his effort. Olusanya was booked on 55, colliding with Devlin as they went up for a header, the Aberdeen man catching him with a leading arm. From the free-kick, Minsu unleashed a rocket that looked destined for the top corner until Muller got across to make a terrific diving save at full stretch. Lewis Smith replaced Ntelo after 63 minutes, pitting him against his former Livingston colleague, Penrice. Sterling was booked two minutes later for hauling down Olusanya. A Rangers break down the right allowed Sterling to get in a cross. Lewis Mayo didn’t get enough on his clearance and it fell for Gassama inside the box. He tried to sway past Happe, but was clipped by the big defender for a Rangers penalty. Shankland took it and fired into the top corner to give Rangers a 69th minute lead. The visitors replaced Penrice and Minsu with Nedeljkovic and Yokota on 72. Aberdeen responded by bring on Ayoub Mouloua for Ronan. Mayo had his name taken on 77 as Gassama tried to get away from him on halfway. Smith did really well down the left to whip in a cross to the back post where Nisbet went tumbling as he tried to get on the end of it in the 81st minute. VAR took a look, but no penalty. Nisbet would not be denied after 83 minutes though. or so we thought. Armstrong produced a superb ball to the back post, Nisbet getting up to power a header at goal. Pandur pushed it across goal where Mouloua got his head on it. Pandur clawed that away, but Nisbet was following in to head home from a couple of yards out. VAR looked at it for a push by Nisbet on Sterling for the first header, and the goal was chalked off. There was effort and endeavour from there, but the Dons could not find a way back.

FULL-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 RANGERS 1 ABERDEEN: Muller, Cadden, Mayo, Happe, Guinness-Walker, Ntelo (Smith 63), Aremu, Ronan (Mouloua 75), Yogane (Armstrong 46), Olusanya, Nisbet. Subs not used: Suman, Briedl, Milne, Knoester, Fasanya, Molloy. Booked: Happe, Cadden, Ronan, Aremu, Olusanya, Mayo RANGERS: Pandur, Sterling, Fernandez, Makhanya, Penrice (Nedeljkovic 72), Devlin, Neil, Minsu (Yokota 72), Curtis (Godfrey 86), Gassama, Shankland (Naderi 86). Subs not used: Kelly, Barron, Chukuwani, Dragojevic, Aasgard. Goal: Shankland (69 (pen)) Booked: Curtis, Devlin, Sterling