Aberdeen 1 - 0 Rangers
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By Keir Murray
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Ten-man Aberdeen showed great determination to inflict Rangers' first domestic defeat in 25 matches.
Charlie Mulgrew pinged a free-kick just over the bar before Lee Miller got in front of Danny Wilson to fire the Dons in front after 17 minutes.
Kris Boyd's drive was headed over by Kyle Lafferty from two yards, then Jamie Langfield saved a Boyd shot.
Captain Mark Kerr was sent off for two challenges on Steven Naismith, but the Dons repelled Rangers' frantic efforts.
Aberdeen, in sixth place at kick-off, entered the match in fine fettle, according to their manager Mark McGhee, and keen to start accumulating points for a push up the table.
For Walter Smith's Rangers, having exited the Champions League with a dismal performance in midweek against Stuttgart, they must have kicked off with a sense of trepidation, having won at Pittodrie just once in their last eight visits.
Yet with Celtic not in action until later in the day, the chance was there for the Light Blues to extend their lead over their Glasgow rivals to four points.
Despite Smith re-admitting Madjid Bougherra into the Rangers fold after his late return from World Cup qualifying duty with Algeria, it was Wilson partnering David Weir in central defence once more.
In the early exchanges, Kerr did enough to thwart Boyd as the moustachioed striker ran into the box to connect with a Davis pass, then the unmarked Lee McCulloch headed high and wide from John Fleck's corner.
Peter Pawlett showed early promise when he drifted past Sasa Papac and Naismith down the right before his left-foot shot was deflected out for the Dons' first corner.
And Mulgrew was just a foot over Allan McGregor's bar with a trademark free-kick from a central position in the 11th minute.
The opener came after a teasing run by 20-year-old Michael Paton on the left flank, skinning Steven Whittaker and crossing low for Scotland striker Lee Miller to nip ahead of Wilson and stab the ball past McGregor.
Boyd broke down the inside-right channel and into the box midway through the first half, lobbed the closing defender and rifled a shot across the Aberdeen goal.
Lafferty threw himself at it but succeeded only in heading over the bar from just two yards out.
Whittaker made a claim for a penalty when he crashed to the turf as he was challenged by Chris Maguire, but referee Craig Thomson waved for play to continue.
Rangers ended the first half strongly, Steven Davis and McCulloch eventually winning most of the midfield challenges with Kerr and the eye-catching Derek Young, and their task was eased when Kerr had to leave the field for three stitches to a leg wound.
Boyd kept his eye on a long, high punt up the park and withstood the attentions of Richard Foster to power a shot which was parried by the well-positioned Langfield.
And it was the brave Foster who got in the way of a Boyd hook shot before McCulloch tried his luck with a dipping shot from long range, again handled well by the impressive Dons keeper.
Smith replaced the ineffective Lafferty with Miller at half-time, but it was the effervescent Paton who lit up the early second-half proceedings with a dazzling run down the left.
Pawlett, a player McGhee has urged the Dons fans to enjoy while he is contracted to Aberdeen, danced through the Rangers defence in the 56th minute and was sent tumbling by Sasa Papac on the edge of the box.
Had Maguire shown greater awareness, he would have been able to poke Mulgrew's ricocheted free-kick beyond McGregor.
The combative Kerr, instrumental in upsetting Rangers' attempts to draw level, was shown a second yellow card with 30 minutes remaining by referee Thomson for a crude block in midfield on Naismith.
The Dons midfielder had fouled the same player in blue four minutes after the restart, yet for Kerr to have received Aberdeen's fourth red card in as many games did not go down well with the fans in red.
Smith sent on Nacho Novo for McCulloch to increase the striking threat but in Mulgrew, Young and Pawlett they had players keen to get on the ball and pass to frustrate the increasingly desperate visitors.
A Novo shot with three minutes to go almost levelled the score but Mulgrew, standing two yards off the goal-line, was well positioned to clear and Langfield's goal remained intact for the remainder of the match, despite a last-ditch stabbed shot by Boyd.
So Rangers lost for the first time in Scottish football since March, while McGhee will take a great deal of pride in the desire and composure shown by his players.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Scottish Premier
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 1-0 | Rangers | R |
| (HT 1-0) | |||
|
|
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Aberdeen
- 01 Langfield
- 02 Mulgrew yellow card
- 03 Foster
- 17 Ross
- 18 Grassi
- 08 Kerr yellow card, red card
- 14 Young
- 19 Pawlett yellow card
- 07 Maguire (Duff 63)
- 09 Miller
- 24 Paton (Mackie 85)
Substitutes
- 21 Nelson,
- 05 Diamond,
- 37 Shaughnessy,
- 16 Duff,
- 26 Jack,
- 10 Mackie,
- 15 Wright
Rangers
- 01 McGregor
- 03 Weir
- 05 Papac yellow card
- 16 Whittaker (Bougherra 76)
- 66 Wilson
- 06 McCulloch (Novo 69)
- 07 Davis
- 09 Boyd yellow card
- 14 Naismith
- 27 Lafferty (Miller 46)
- 29 Fleck yellow card
Substitutes
- 25 Alexander,
- 26 Smith,
- 08 Thomson,
- 24 Bougherra,
- 10 Novo,
- 18 Miller,
- 48 Little
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+4:17 The match has reached full-time.
- 90:00+3:54 David Weir produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.
- 90:00+2:41 Kris Boyd takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Langfield.
- 90:00+1:14 Madjid Bougherra gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Miller. Darren Mackie takes the free kick.
- 89:56 Sasa Papac has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
- 89:08 Davide Grassi challenges Nacho Novo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steven Davis takes the direct free kick.
- 87:47 Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Danny Wilson goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
- 87:14 Free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
- 87:14 Booking The referee books Peter Pawlett for unsporting behaviour.
- 86:59 Free kick awarded for a foul by Peter Pawlett on Steven Naismith.
- 84:10 Derek Young restarts play with the free kick.
- 84:10 Substitution Darren Mackie joins the action as a substitute, replacing Michael Paton.
- 84:10 Booking John Fleck receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
- 83:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Peter Pawlett by John Fleck.
- 81:40 Michael Paton concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Naismith. Direct free kick taken by Steven Naismith.
- 79:30 Foul by Danny Wilson on Lee Miller, free kick awarded. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.
- 77:28 Effort from inside the area by Kris Boyd misses to the left of the goal.
- 76:25 Foul by Nacho Novo on Lee Miller, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
- 75:54 Substitution Steven Whittaker leaves the field to be replaced by Madjid Bougherra.
- 75:33 Kenny Miller produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.
- 72:55 Lee Miller fouled by David Weir, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
- 72:36 Steven Davis fouled by Stuart Duff, the ref awards a free kick. David Weir takes the direct free kick.
- 71:38 Kris Boyd fouled by Charlie Mulgrew, the ref awards a free kick. Centre by Steven Whittaker, Headed effort from close range by Danny Wilson goes wide left of the goal.
- 71:17 Nacho Novo takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Langfield.
- 70:45 Unfair challenge on Nacho Novo by Stuart Duff results in a free kick. Steven Davis takes the direct free kick.
- 69:55 David Weir gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Miller. Direct free kick taken by Davide Grassi.
- 68:37 Substitution (Rangers) makes a substitution, with Nacho Novo coming on for Lee McCulloch.
- 67:08 Shot from just outside the box by Derek Young misses to the left of the goal.
- 66:30 Lee McCulloch concedes a free kick for a foul on Derek Young. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
- 64:00 Shot by Kris Boyd from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
- 62:49 Substitution Christopher Maguire leaves the field to be replaced by Stuart Duff.
- 61:07 Shot from just outside the area by Kris Boyd goes over the bar.
- 60:09 Danny Wilson takes the free kick.
- 60:09 Booking Charlie Mulgrew receives a caution.
- 60:04 Booking Kris Boyd is shown a yellow card.
- 59:17 Sent off The referee shows Mark Kerr a red card.
- 59:10 Foul by Mark Kerr on Steven Naismith, free kick awarded.
- 57:54 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by John Fleck, Charlie Mulgrew makes a clearance.
- 57:26 The ball is delivered by Kenny Miller, Shot by Kris Boyd. Save by Jamie Langfield.
- 55:57 Charlie Mulgrew shoots direct from the free kick.
- 55:57 Booking Sasa Papac is shown a yellow card.
- 55:20 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Peter Pawlett by Sasa Papac.
- 50:54 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.
- 50:38 Foul by Peter Pawlett on Steven Naismith, free kick awarded. David Weir restarts play with the free kick.
- 49:05 Direct free kick taken by Danny Wilson.
- 49:05 Booking Mark Kerr booked.
- 48:34 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Naismith by Mark Kerr.
- 47:41 Kenny Miller takes a shot. Save by Jamie Langfield.
- 46:56 Free kick awarded for a foul by Sasa Papac on Lee Miller. Direct free kick taken by Maurice Ross.
- 45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
- 45:01 Substitution Kenny Miller is brought on as a substitute for Kyle Lafferty.
- Half Time
- 45:00+1:06 The referee blows for half time.
- 45:00+0:44 Foul by Derek Young on Steven Naismith, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by David Weir.
- 44:58 Kris Boyd produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the crossbar.
- 44:46 Centre by Steven Whittaker.
- 44:00 Kyle Lafferty fouled by Lee Miller, the ref awards a free kick. David Weir takes the free kick.
- 43:46 Christopher Maguire concedes a free kick for a foul on John Fleck. David Weir takes the free kick.
- 43:03 Corner taken right-footed by Steven Davis from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Peter Pawlett.
- 42:26 Unfair challenge on Kris Boyd by Charlie Mulgrew results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by David Weir.
- 40:28 Kris Boyd concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Langfield. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.
- 39:41 A cross is delivered by Steven Whittaker.
- 36:26 Lee McCulloch takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Langfield.
- 36:07 Peter Pawlett takes a shot. Lee McCulloch gets a block in.
- 34:18 Foul by Charlie Mulgrew on Steven Naismith, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Steven Davis, Charlie Mulgrew manages to make a clearance.
- 33:13 Kris Boyd takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Langfield. Corner taken by Steven Davis from the left by-line played to the near post, save by Jamie Langfield.
- 32:33 Foul by John Fleck on Mark Kerr, free kick awarded. Jamie Langfield takes the direct free kick.
- 31:16 Lee Miller concedes a free kick for a foul on David Weir. David Weir restarts play with the free kick.
- 29:48 Unfair challenge on Davide Grassi by Kyle Lafferty results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
- 29:03 Steven Davis fouled by Derek Young, the ref awards a free kick. David Weir restarts play with the free kick.
- 27:53 Steven Davis challenges Lee Miller unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is delivered by Charlie Mulgrew, Christopher Maguire takes a shot.
- 27:07 Effort on goal by John Fleck from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
- 25:37 Shot by Kris Boyd. Kyle Lafferty produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the crossbar.
- 24:46 Christopher Maguire fouled by Kyle Lafferty, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Christopher Maguire.
- 21:48 Unfair challenge on Christopher Maguire by Steven Naismith results in a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew restarts play with the free kick.
- 19:28 The offside flag is raised against Lee Miller. Free kick taken by David Weir.
- 18:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sasa Papac by Peter Pawlett. Direct free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
- 16:12 Assist on the goal came from Michael Paton.
- 16:12 GOAL - Lee Miller:Aberdeen 1 - 0 Rangers Lee Miller grabs a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers.
- 13:52 Shot by Christopher Maguire from outside the box goes over the target.
- 13:27 Kyle Lafferty gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Richard Foster. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.
- 10:15 Peter Pawlett fouled by John Fleck, the ref awards a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Charlie Mulgrew from the free kick.
- 9:15 Kris Boyd challenges Davide Grassi unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the direct free kick.
- 8:32 John Fleck takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Peter Pawlett.
- 5:07 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Peter Pawlett, clearance made by Kyle Lafferty.
- 4:50 Derek Young challenges David Weir unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Weir takes the free kick.
- 3:46 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by John Fleck, Header from close in by Lee McCulloch misses to the right of the target.
- 3:10 Shot on goal by Christopher Maguire from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
- 2:39 Foul by John Fleck on Derek Young, free kick awarded. Charlie Mulgrew restarts play with the free kick.
- 1:11 John Fleck challenges Christopher Maguire unfairly and gives away a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing. The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
- 0:09 Mark Kerr concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Naismith. David Weir restarts play with the free kick.
- 0:00 The referee starts the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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