Young hurts fuming Gers

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 blunder by linesman Billy Baxter ruled out an injury-time winner from sub DaMarcus Beasley for offside, and two precious points were lost.

However, the Gers have only themselves to blame for failing to make their superiority count in a one-sided first half and missing several clear-cut chances in the process.

Seething boss Smith said: "We had what seemed a perfectly good goal disallowed.

"Kris Boyd was walking back and not in play. The technicalities of the laws make it awkward for linesmen, but this rule has been in operation for a couple of seasons and he should have been able to handle it better.

"I spoke to the referee afterwards but there is nothing we can do.

"In a period when we have heard that the Old Firm get everything, that clearly isn't the case. I just hope that referees and linesmen are not being put under pressure in this respect."

Smith admitted that Rangers' dominant firsthalf display was the best he has seen at Aberdeen since his return to Ibrox.

"I thought we played very well in the first half, although it was very disappointing to lose a goal right on half-time.

"That gave Aberdeen a massive lift and there wasn't much between the teams in the second half, although I felt we deserved to scrape the game. Pittodrie is always a hard place to come to. With new players fitting in, we did reasonably well and our retention of the ball was much better - but it is early days."

Rangers dominated the first half and went ahead in the 24th minute when Andy Considine brought down Nacho Novo and David Weir rose unchallenged to head in Kevin Thomson's precise free-kick.

Their grip on the game tightened as Boyd went close but, seconds before the break, Aberdeen stunned their rivals by snatching the equaliser.

Charlie Mulgrew whipped in a deep cross and Lee Miller connected with a close-range header which Scotland stopper Allan McGregor brilliantly blocked - but Derek Young was first to react to the rebound and buried the ball into the roof of the net.

However, Jamie Langfield almost gifted Rangers the lead when he was caught by Boyd as he dribbled the ball out of his but just managed to recover.

And then in time added on, former Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes delivered a dangerous cross from the right flank.

The linesman immediately flagged for offside - but Boyd was walking away from goal and Beasley's rifled 20-yarder, which flew in at the near post, was chalked off to leave the Ibrox fans raging.

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 M ATCH

PEDRO MENDES

Once again the Portuguese playmaker was pulling the strings for Rangers.