Full TimeSecond Half ends, Rangers 1, Aberdeen 0.Post updateAttempt missed. Connor Goldson (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by James Tavernier with a cross following a corner.Post updateCorner, Rangers. Conceded by Kelle Roos.Post updateAttempt blocked. Ryan Kent (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Aribo.Post updateAttempt saved. Joe Aribo (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ryan Kent.Post updateAttempt blocked. Ryan Kent (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Aribo.Post updateFoul by Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen).Post updateRyan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Rangers got back to winning ways and dented Aberdeen’s push for third place in the Scottish Premiership as Todd Cantwell’s superb volley secured a 1-0 victory. Celtic had already secured the title by beating Hearts earlier in the day, so Rangers ensured they avoided a third match without victory by overcoming Aberdeen’s stubbornness. Kelle Roos denied Fashion Sakala on three occasions and Jonny Hayes almost scored an own goal by hitting the Aberdeen crossbar before Cantwell struck at a corner. Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes had the visitors’ best chances, two shots saved by Robby McCrorie and a gilt-edged chance going over. Despite the loss, Aberdeen remain five points clear of Hearts while Rangers are 13 points off Saturday’s visitors Celtic with four games to play.
Rangers included McCrorie making a first appearance of the season and Cantwell flashed two early efforts off target. Aberdeen came into the game as an attacking force and Bojan Miovski raced into space in the inside right channel to set up Duk on the opposite side, but the winger could not get the better of McCrorie. Duk and Connor Goldson then grappled in and around the Rangers area and the Aberdeen player went down before getting up to win a corner. Sakala was frustrated by Roos three times in quick succession with his header and then two shots from close range blocked by the alert Aberdeen keeper. Back at the other end, Duk burst clear off a long ball and should have done better than chip over the bar as McCrorie committed himself. Rabbi Matondo had set up two of Sakala’s first-half efforts and it was the winger’s low cross that was turned on to the crossbar by Aberdeen captain for the day Hayes.
But their patience was rewarded at a corner when Cantwell peeled off on the left of the box to meet Tavernier’s delivery square on the volley, with the ball sailing past Roos and Hayes on the line. Scott Wright, one of a multitude of substitutes, tested Roos then crossed for Liam Scales to turn just wide of his own goal as Rangers tried to force a second. With Miovski limping off to be replaced by Marley Watkins, Duk remained Aberdeen’s best outlet and his low shot was kept out by the left foot of McCrorie late on. Player of the match – Todd Cantwell – Rangers lacked a presence in attack without Antonio Colak and Alfredo Morelos and lofted balls were food and drink for Aberdeen’s back three. At times they wanted too much time on the ball, but when they played at pace they created good openings. The decisive moment from Cantwell was the bit of extra quality Rangers possessed on the day. Central to Aberdeen’s recent resurgence has been that rarest of qualities in Scottish football this season, defending – and it was very much in evidence at Ibrox with little space afforded Rangers’ playmakers. Though defeated in the end, Aberdeen have the exact same points advantage over Hearts and the games are running out for the latter to catch them.