EE Match Report

[K-9]

Not sure if Charlie or Moir though:

 

 

BATTLING DONS NO LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER

 

12:00 - 03 March 2008

 

 

 

The Rangers fans held up a banner saying "The silence of the sheep since 91" mocking the fact it is 17 years since the Dons won at Ibrox.

 

It was soon out of sight, however, as the Bears sat nervously and watched the Dons over-run their team in the first half.

 

I can't recall seeing the Dons create as many chances in such a short spell at Ibrox, which offers a lot of encouragement ahead of next Sunday's equally tough cup clash with Celtic.

 

 

 

Sadly, the Dons failed to take those chances and it cost them in the end.

 

Steve Lovell should have opened the scoring in the 15th minute after Lee Miller had split the Gers defence with a great through pass.

 

The striker had only McGregor to beat from 15 yards but the keeper got a touch on Lovell's shot to deflect it inches wide of his left post.

 

Lovell had another chance when De Visscher sent him clear but the striker delayed shooting and the effort was blocked for a corner.

 

De Visscher's corner reached Diamond and his powerful six-yard header was held by McGregor as the Dons threatened to run riot.

 

Rangers responded by forcing De Visscher to boot Dailly's diving header off the line. Charlie Adam then rattled the Dons crossbar with a delightful chip from the edge of the area.

 

The Dons got the goal they deserved in the 28th minute, after McGregor had made another save to push Nicholson's 10 yard shot behind for a corner.

 

De Visscher sent the corner over from the right, Miller nodded the ball on at the front post and LOVELL was well placed to nod it into the net at the far side of the six yard box.

 

Aberdeen should have made it 2-0 a couple of minutes later when De Visscher broke clear on the right. Weir rescued Rangers with a last-gasp challenge to deflect the Dutchman's 16 yard shot wide of McGregor's left post.

 

Rangers made the best of that let-off by equalising in the 38th minute. Adam sent a corner in from the right and DAILLY sneaked away from Nicholson to deftly flick the ball home with his right foot at the front post.

 

Slack marking by Alan Maybury helped Rangers make it 2-1 in the 51st minute.

 

Broadfoot swept a cross over from wide on the right and ADAM was allowed to drift unchallenged to head flick the ball past Soutar from the edge of the six yard box.

 

Considine should have equalised in the 55th minute, when McGregor missed a Maybury cross, but sent his header over.

 

Dons hopes died in the cruellest of fashions when referee Clark awarded a controversial penalty in the 83rd minute.

 

Novo threw himself theatrically to the ground after a challenge from Maybury and Clark, to the fury of the Dons players, pointed to the spot.

 

Soutar parried the BOYD penalty but Richard Foster, attempting to clear the rebound under pressure from the Rangers striker, appeared to touch the ball into the net.

 

Only then did those Light Blues fans feel confident enough to raise their banner again.