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Match Report: Rangers 1-1 Aberdeen Sunday, 22 January 2012 12:27 Written by DarcheVinny

A deflected volley from Maurice Edu wasn't enough to defeat Aberdeen at Ibrox, as Rangers dropped two points further behind the regular SPL runners' up.

Just one change was made to the side that secured all three points against St. Johnstone last weekend, with the fit again Allan McGregor coming back in for his deputy, Neil Alexander.

All the talk pre-match was about David Weir, as the legend and Hall of Famer was ending his time with the club, after five incredibly successful years. The day itself was a bitterly cold and wet one, with the home crowd no doubt digging out their thermals and the away support, bringing down their favourite woollen jumper.

Rangers started the match brightly as Mo' Edu charged forward, only to be fouled by Arnason, approximately forty-five yards out. From the resultant free-kick, Steven Davis lofted a ball to the far post from Kyle Bartley to knock back in, but the on loan Gooner's header was cleared for the first corner of the match. Corner taker Sone Aluko recieved a rapturous reception from the home crowd, as the Aberdeen fans typified their usual lack of class. Jelavic met the corner with his head, but was unable to control the effort, as it flew well over.

The early play was confident from Rangers, with the backline and midfield looking in control and Edu in particular, ensuring the midfield had the better quality of possession, utilising his strength and detemrination to win the ball back when it was lost. David Healy was another who did well early on, dropping deep to make the link between midfield and attack.

The first real chance of the match came to the Rangers and SPL top scorer, Nikica Jelavic, who's header clipped off the bar, before the referee awarded a freekick for a clash inside the six yard box. Sone Aluko had been blocked of by Clark Robertson on the right flank, who was rightly awarded with a yellow card for his trouble. Aluko took the freekick and Dorin Goian stooped low to head the ball on. Jelavic got up welll but his header looped awkwardly, but still caused Brown to reach for the ball as it bounced off the top of the bar.

David Healy was the next to spurn a good opportunity, as a Jelavic flick on played in the Ulsterman. His shot went flashed wide of the near post, when perhaps he should have looked to find the far post instead.

Aberdeen managed their first opportunity of the game around the half hour mark, from a Fraser Fyvie corner, which the home crowd never throught they would see taken! Fyvie's corner was eventually taken after the wind had been causing a problem and it was met by Arnason, who's header will have concerned Allan McGregor, but it failed to test the goalkeeper and went over.

In to the second half and Rangers didn't start as brightly as they had started the first, as the visitors were increasingly allowed to settle in to the game and start to threaten the home side.

However it was Rangers who created the first chance of the second half, as Davis crossed for Jelavic, who couldn't get on the end of it but Lee Wallace did, only for his effort to hit off Brown and the ball was cleared despite Aluko's best efforts to make use of the rebound.

Aberdeen were still threatening to cause damage and cause damage they did after sixty-three minutes. Chris Clark broke through the midfield, after possession had been lost cheaply by Healy and Steven Davis was unable to regain it. Clark broke through in to the Rangers half with Arnason for support. As Kyle Bartley moved towards the ball, Arnason filled the space Bartley left behind and was slipped in by Clark. Arnason cut inside Bartley to side foot a well placed shot around Goian in to the far corner, leaving McGregor helpless.

Ally McCoist immediately looked to the bench for an inspiring change as Lee Wallace made way for Gregg Wylde and David Healy for Salim Kerkar.

It only took four minutes for Rangers to peg back the equaliser, as Edu's volley deflected in to the goal. From a scrappy Rangers corner, the ball had been cleared to Sasa Papac, who played it back in and the ball broke to Edu on the edge of the box. The American controlled the ball and took a shot, which deflected very fortunately off an Aberdeen player and found its way in to the net.

Despite excellent chances for Edu, who missed when it was perhaps easier to score and Aluko, who had a volley smartly saved by Brown, Rangers were unable to take the lead in the latter stages, despite numerous corners.

The match finished 1-1 and the away support celebrated the draw as if they had won the Champions League, whereas the home crowd were particularly unimpressed.

Ally McCoist said after the game; "I'm frustrated as I certainly feel as though we could have won the game given the chances we created. In the second half we could have scored more and even in the first, when I didn't think we played particularly well, we caused them problems. That is our fourth draw at home this year and eight points dropped which is not ideal".

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