DON OUT OF A WIN

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Aug 24, 2008 | by IAN BROADLEY

ABERDEEN 1

Young 45

RANGERS 1

Weir 24

WALTER Smith has never won at Aberdeen since returning to Ibrox - but that record should have ended yesterday.

Rangers ought to have taken revenge for the Dons ripping the title from their grasp on the final day last season at Pittodrie.

But a bad blunder by linesman Billy Baxter ruled out an injurytime winner from sub DaMarcus Beasley for offside, and two precious points were lost.

However, the Light Blues have only themselves to blame for failing to make their superiority count in a one-sided first half.

They missed several clear-cut chances and paid a heavy price.

Rangers dominated the first period with new signings Pedro Mendes and Steven Davis forging an instantly effective partnership in midfield.

Their fluent passing game put the Dons under pressure right from the kick-off and eventually the home defence cracked.

In the 24th minute, Andy Considine brought down Nacho Novo to concede a needless freekick and veteran David Weir rose unchallenged to head in Kevin Thomson's precise free-kick.

The goal was no more than Rangers deserved after such a positive approach, but it was a disaster for the Reds to allow Weir a free header at a set-piece.

The visitors' grip on the game tightened but Kris Boyd failed to hit the target when Novo released the striker with a superb pass - and then the little Spaniard missed with a lob when Dons keeper Jamie Langfield was stranded off his line.

With the home side being run ragged, Boyd spun away from his marker and drove just wide of the near post.

But seconds before the break, Aberdeen stunned their bitter rivals by snatching the equaliser.

Left-back Charlie Mulgrew whipped in a deep cross and Lee Miller connected with a close-range header which keeper Allan McGregor brilliantly blocked.

Derek Young was first to react to the loose ball and buried it in the roof of the net - to the relief of the Red Army who had been silenced by Gers' supremacy.

The loss of that goal in the Dons' first attack rocked Rangers, who never moved again with the same fluency after the re-start.

And it gave the home side a massive injection of confidence.

For the first time in the game Aberdeen held their own, with Scott Severin inspirational in organising his defence and starting attacks. But Langfield almost gifted Rangers the lead when he was caught by Boyd as he dribbled the ball out of his box, before recovering.

Then McGregor was injured and needed treatment when he dived bravely at Darren Mackie's feet as the striker raced into the area.

Then, in injury time, Mendes delivered a smart cross from the right flank. The linesman flagged for offside even though Boyd was moving away from goal when the cross came in, and Beasley's rifled shot was chalked off to leave the Ibrox fans raging.

The controversial decision means Rangers have won only once in seven at Pittodrie - but Walter Smith will be satisfied with how new signings Davis, Mendes and Madjid Bougherra settled into the system so quickly.

His side are clearly on the road to recovery after their disastrous Champions League exit to Kaunas and will be a real test for Celtic next Sunday at Parkhead.

Aberdeen will take heart from the fact that they were able to battle back and savage a point after being totally outplayed for most of the match.

And Jimmy Calderwood knows there is more to come, with his side still to gel after losing key players.

But now another bad decision will dominate the agenda yet again.

STORY OF THE GAME

ABERDEEN RANGERS

49% POSSESSION 51%

3 SHOTS ON TARGET 3

2 SHOTS OFF TARGET 7

0 CORNERS 3

23 FOULS CONCEDED 18

2 OFFSIDES 2

2 YELLOW CARDS 0

0 RED CARDS 0

HOW THEY RATED

ABERDEEN

Langfield 6, Foster 6, Severin 7, Considine 6, Mulgrew 6, Smith 5 (Wright 5), McDonald 5, Kerr 6, Young 6, Mackie 6 (Duff 4), Miller 7.

MANAGER Calderwood 6

RANGERS

McGregor 7, Broadfoot 5, Bougherra 6, Weir 6, Papac 6, Davis 7, MENDES 8, Thomson 6, Miller 6 (Beasley 6), Novo 7 (Darcheville 5), Boyd 5.

MANAGER Smith 6

REFEREE C Thomson 6

MAN OF THE MATCH

PEDRO MENDES

Portuguese playmaker pulled the strings for Rangers.