Rangers join Celtic at top of cinch Premiership after battling victory over Aberdeen

Although the 75-year-old’s appointment through the end of the season had piqued curiosity across the United Kingdom, the home team’s intense opening half saw Rabbi Matondo, a winger, take advantage of a mistake made by Dons keeper Kelle Roos to give the Gers the lead.

But three minutes into the second half, Dons forward Bojan Miovski tied the score with his 20th goal of the year.

After Roos parried a thunderbolt from Tom Lawrence in the 73rd minute, Todd Cantwell scored the game’s final goal as Rangers increased their pressure in the second half.
Rabbi Matondo of Rangers celebrates his team’s first goal at Ibrox as they defeat Aberdeen 2-1.
Referee Don Robertson gave Rangers’ Dujon Sterling a straight red card in the 88th minute for a tackle on Jack MacKenzie. The official stood by his call even after the VAR asked him to examine his pitchside monitor, and the 10-man home team had to play out eight extra minutes to secure the victory.

Celtic and Rangers now have 58 points apiece, with the Hoops having a better goal differential of just one.

On Wednesday, Celtic will visit Hibernian, giving the Light Blues another game in hand as the race for the title intensifies.

John Souttar, Ridvan Yilmaz, Lawrence, and Cyriel Dessers were brought in by Gers manager Philippe Clement, while Mohamed Diomande, a 22-year-old midfielder who signed a loan from Nordsjaelland with an obligation to buy for the Light Blues, was benched.

Two changes were made to Warnock’s starting lineup from the team that began the weekend’s draw against Celtic: Jonny Hayes and Leighton Clarkson were selected in place of Dante Polvara and Killian Phillips.

The goal, which was started by Matondo’s ball to Cantwell, gave the home crowd, who had been anticipating the match, something to celebrate.

After the Gers player shifted the ball to the winger Ross McCausland, the latter seemed to lack the actual strength to trouble Roos with his low drive from the edge of the box. However, he fumbled the shot to the charging Matondo, who fired it into the net from close range.
Most of them were Rangers.

After breaking through the Aberdeen defence, Matondo hesitated to take a shot before Lawrence headed the resulting corner over.

Rangers looked to be in control, but the Light Blues were caught off guard as midfielder Connor Barron lobbed the ball forward. Miovski confidently ducked past Butland after fending off defender Connor Goldson.

The Ibrox crowd became critical after the goal, and the beginning of the second half had a distinct vibe.

Roos stopped Matondo and Dessers from scoring, but the flag was raised for offside. For Clement, that was sufficient.

Matondo gave way to Oscar Cortes, the new signing who is a Colombian winger on loan from Lens, while Dessers was replaced by Fabio Silva.

Aberdeen found themselves pressed back in their own half, but a disciplined and focused defence held off a furious Rangers team.

After one of Yilmaz’s deliveries, Roos stopped a shot by Lawrence with his foot as the Dons rejected many corners.

Lawrence’s subsequent long-range attempt, though, was vicious, and even though the Pittodrie keeper made a good save, Cantwell was able to slide the ball back into the net for his fifth goal in eight games.

In the midst of several substitutes, Diomande made his debut by replacing Cantwell in the 85th minute. He then participated in a furious ending in which Sterling, who had replaced Lawrence, was sent off and referee Robertson refused to back down when the VAR requested him to examine his pitchside monitor.

Warnock had a fascinating introduction to Scottish football, but Rangers is still after Celtic.

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