Shayden Morris blasted a dramatic late winner to keep Aberdeen flying and plunge Rangers boss Philippe Clement into even deeper turmoil.
The Dons sub celebrated his 50th Reds appearance by hammering the second-half winner for Jimmy Thelin’s jubilant boys. However, it was horrendous for Clement, whose team now trail Celtic and the Dons by nine points after just 10 top-flight games.
Nicky Devlin gave Aberdeen a deserved half-time lead and it could have been more as Graeme Shinnie hit a post and Jamie McGrath had a weak penalty saved. Nedim Bajrami found an equaliser, but Morris took advantage of dismal Ibrox defending to smash the clincher. Here’s five talking points from a pulsating Pittodrie night:
Floundering Phil
The Rangers manager is staring down the barrel. Defeat was simply not an option and falling nine points behind Celtic and Aberdeen at this stage is woeful. Clement had to get something out of his ragged side. Prior to their team travelling north, the annual report gave another jolt to the fatigued Rangers support.
A loss of £17.2 million and the news that more loans would be taken outlined the fact the team needs to deliver on the park, the boss needs to turn it around. Pittodtie was a chance to show they had what it takes to grit their teeth and get through gruelling situations. They failed.
For 45 minutes, they were nowhere it. Bossed in every area, they had to cling on for dear life to just trail by one at the interval. The interval introduction of Dujon Sterling and some improved intensity got them level, but they just didn’t have the backbone to sustain or carry it through.
Clement’s pleas for time to fully integrate new players are being blown out of the water by his counterpart at Pittodrie, who has made individuals better and has signings making big impacts. The sight of Ianis Hagi being brought on, a man he jettisoned, to try and save it is a poor sign.
Perfect 10 at pulsating Pittodrie
Thelin has put together a brilliant run since taking charge with the home record, the cornerstone of any successful side, simply sensational in the beginning. The nine wins in nine games this term chalked up in the Granite City going into the contest were merely an extension to the end of last season where a trio of successes meant it was 12 out of 12 going into the game with a defeat at St Johnstone in February the last time Pittodrie had been breached.
The stadium was red-hot and that wasn’t just due to the pyros both in the Red Shed, the away end and on the pitch for the organised display. It’s the Swede who has really ignited it. Thelin’s now levelled his unbeaten top-flight run of 6 from coaching in Sweden with Elfsborg and he’s doing it by putting faith and belief into players who were going nowhere.
Pape Habib Gueye’s brilliant work before lay-off just showed what he the manager can do to turn players around and winning goalscorer Shayden Morris, capping his 50th Dons appearance, another. Morris was toiling under Jim Goodwin, got nowhere under Neil Warnock, yet is now making regular impacts for Thelin. Now it’s perfect 10 out of 10 at Pittodrie and counting.
Ropey rearguard
John Souttar returned to Rangers’ backline and Clement made changes again in his hunt to find the right blend. It seemed to just confuse. Robin Propper was withdrawn from the previous game against St Mirren having struggled which resulted in Neraysho Kasanwirjo going inside from right-back to centre-back, yet he started in the left-back position with Jefte left out of the starting line-up.
Leon Balogun kept his spot, but they looked uncomfortable from the outset. Straight away the signs were not good as Balogun was too easily bullied by Ester Sokler in a one-on-one and it needed Tavernier’s covering block to deny Jamie McGrath The Nigerian had to go off the park groggy after sustaining a head knock and would have been off for good had he not got the faintest touch on the ball as Sokler threatened to burst into the box.
Rangers were all over the shop. It was taking last-ditch blocks to save them, but Balogun and Souttar were nowhere near Topi Keskinen when he flicked on for Nicky Devlin to score and there was more wobbling everywhere even before Souttar’s handball brought the Butland penalty save. The lack of conviction and slackness for Morris’ winner said it all. It was simply not good enough and Aberdeen punished them.
Brave Barron
Connor Barron was going to attract savage attention and he didn’t shirk it. Straight onto the ball and dropping deep to take possession and the catcalls within moments of the start. He was hounded for knocking one out of the park early doors.
The 21-year-old was right in the face of the fire as he made his return to the place he used to call his home. It is expected next month will see a Tribunal set the fee which the Ibrox club have to pay the Reds for him moving to Glasgow.
Partnered with Nico Raskin, the Belgian just didn’t have the same bite or boldness. He was too easily walked away from by Jack MacKenzie which led to Devlin’s opening goal for the Dons. His manager thought it was a pity that he would get stick due to the fact he gave his best for the Dons, but it was relentless.
Barron stood up to it and kept both his head and his composure when unceremoniously dumped onto the trackside in front of the Ibrox fans by old colleague Shinnie. It was not the youngster’s night. His team were outgunned and he had to suffer at the finale. If some of his team-mates had his heart, Rangers might not be in such a mire.
Deadly Duk
Thelin has made everyone in the Aberdeen team an attacking weapon and Duk adds to the mix. The Cape Verde international has had a lot of making up to do after opting not to return to training in pre-season.
Back in the side at the beginning of the month as a sub in the success over Hearts, the 24-year-old made a big contribution off the bench against Celtic with his disallowed goal and late clearance off the line marking him down as a key figure. Duk got a first start for Thelin last weekend against Dundee United and did enough to earn himself a face-off with away skipper, James Tavernier.
Confidence has rarely been a problem for the winger and a couple of deft flicks suggested he was in the mood to do damage. Given the frantic pace of the game, he only got to 54 minutes before his body wilted and Shayden Morris took over, but, if he gets back to peak, the potential is there to a major man.
It says much that, while their full-back counterparts were trying frantically to hold the fort in the first period, Nicky Devlin was charging forward to score and Jack MacKenzie was having shots at goal beaten away by Jack Butland. Devlin and Morris are amongst 15 different scorers for the Reds. The Reds can get at teams from all areas.