Aberdeen 1-1 Rangers: Visitors fail to close gap at top despite Tavernier’s late penalty
Rangers #Rangers
Bojan Miovski’s 11th goal of the season had Aberdeen one up until second-half stoppage time
Rangers failed to capitalise on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic’s dropped points as they had to rely on James Tavernier’s stoppage-time penalty to rescue a late draw at Aberdeen.
In a dress rehearsal of next month’s Viaplay Cup final, the visitors travelled north nine points adrift of top spot but with two games to spare, knowing that a victory would reduce the deficit to six on Celtic, who were held at home by Motherwell on Saturday.
However, Rangers struggled to deal with the hosts’ direct approach in the first half, which brought the first goal as Ester Sokler’s simple flick from a punt forward sent Bojan Miovski clean through to emphatically dispatch his 11th strike of the season.
That came just minutes after Sokler had burst through a similar gap in Rangers’ high line, but the Slovenian was denied by the boot of Jack Butland, who got low to deny a Jamie McGrath effort later in an electric first half.
Miovski’s opener woke up Clement’s men in an attacking sense, with Danilo having a pair of near-post attempts saved by Kelle Roos either side of the break before the Aberdeen goalkeeper reacted superbly to Leon Balogun’s close-range header.
The Ibrox club ramped up the pressure in the final quarter of the game, smashing the crossbar twice in as many minutes as a stunning Tom Lawrence strike was quickly followed by a Balogun header.
But it looked like a goal would never come until Stefan Gartenmann’s daft shirt pull on Connor Goldson resulted in a spot-kick being awarded after a VAR review.
Rangers captain Tavernier converted by burying straight down the middle to extend manager Philippe Clement’s unbeaten start to eight games, but the Ibrox boss will know that this is an opportunity missed against an Aberdeen side who remain ninth.
Player of the match – Leighton Clarkson (Aberdeen)
The midfielder (right) looked back to his best in a fantastic first-half performance, showing superb quality on the ball by creating three chances for his sideRangers’ mentality under scrutiny again as Dons respond – analysis
Is it possible for a draw to feel like a defeat for both teams? That could be the case here.
Aberdeen can be proud of their response to the 6-0 drubbing they were handed by Celtic a fortnight ago, though, and this will give them extra belief heading to Hampden next month as they now have two wins and a draw in their last four games against Sunday’s opponents.
Striker turned pundit Kris Boyd suggested that Barry Robson would have no problem getting his players fired up to face Rangers – a view that is shared by more than a few Ibrox fans.
But perhaps it says more about the Govan side’s mentality that they have now dropped four points to a team who currently sit seven places and 15 points behind them after just 13 games.
Rangers almost let the chance of closing the gap slip against Hearts last month, but two stoppage-time goals bailed them out. They couldn’t do it this time, although we would have seen a remarkable repeat had Sam Lammers steered a header beyond Roos in the dying seconds.
Overall, their inability to deal with Aberdeen’s direct play and a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal creeping back in will be the immediate concerns for Clement, whose side failed to score from open play with over 70% possession.
What’s next?
Both sides are in continental action on Thursday as Aberdeen travel to HJK Helsinki (17:45 GMT) in the Conference League before Rangers host Aris Limassol (20:00) in the Europa League.
Line-upsAberdeen
Formation 5-3-2
24Roos
2Devlin6Gartenmann33Rubezic5Jensen23Duncan
7McGrath10Clarkson4Shinnie
19Sokler9Miovski
Substitutes
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Butland
2Tavernier6Goldson27Balogun31Barisic
15Cifuentes4Lundstram
13Cantwell11Lawrence19Sima
99Pereira da Silva
Substitutes
Referee:Nick Walsh
Attendance:16,911
Live Text
Match ends, Aberdeen 1, Rangers 1.
Second Half ends, Aberdeen 1, Rangers 1.
Connor Goldson (Rangers) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Connor Goldson (Rangers).
Dante Polvara (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Sam Lammers (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rabbi Matondo with a cross.
Goal! Aberdeen 1, Rangers 1. James Tavernier (Rangers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Stefan Gartenmann (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
VAR Decision: Penalty Rangers.
Penalty Rangers. Connor Goldson draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Stefan Gartenmann (Aberdeen) after a foul in the penalty area.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Nicky Devlin.
Foul by Rabbi Matondo (Rangers).
Duk (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Duk (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card.
John Lundstram (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Dante Polvara (Aberdeen).
Substitution, Aberdeen. Duk replaces Bojan Miovski.
Attempt blocked. Borna Barisic (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ross McCausland.
Attempt missed. Dante Polvara (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Leighton Clarkson with a cross following a set piece situation.
Player of the match
MiovskiBojan Miovski
Aberdeen
Squad number9Player nameMiovski
Squad number24Player nameRoos
Squad number11Player nameDuk
Squad number15Player nameMcGarry
Squad number33Player nameRubezic
Squad number21Player namePolvara
Squad number6Player nameGartenmann
Squad number19Player nameSokler
Squad number4Player nameShinnie
Squad number2Player nameDevlin
Squad number5Player nameJensen
Squad number10Player nameClarkson
Squad number23Player nameDuncan
Squad number7Player nameMcGrath
Rangers
Squad number1Player nameButland
Squad number11Player nameLawrence
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Squad number99Player nameDanilo
Squad number27Player nameBalogun
Squad number15Player nameCifuentes
Squad number13Player nameCantwell
Squad number19Player nameSima
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number17Player nameMatondo
Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Squad number45Player nameMcCausland
Squad number14Player nameLammers