RANGERS OUT
ABERDEEN .... 1 RANGERS .... 1 GARY RALSTON AT PITTODRIE
DAVE KING told how Celtic could fold like a pack of cards and 48 hours later he’s holding out for an ace from Hearts.
Aberdeen moved within a whisker of European football next season after a pulsating, bad-tempered affair.
Are there any other type of encounters when these sides meet?
There had been five red cards in their last six meetings and the only surprise at Pittodrie last night was it finished 11 against 11.
Referee Steven McLean, who was almost overwhelmed by it all, was surprisingly lenient at times as hands were raised and boots left in but still booked 10 players with Rangers winning the crime count 6-4.
Ibrox chairman King sounded more like The Gambler on Monday morning when he spoke with a poker straight face about the troubles that lie ahead for Celtic, he claims, without Champions League riches.
But what price the reputation of Rangers without the prospect of Europa League football in Steven Gerrard’s first season in charge?
Hearts can do them a turn with victory over Hibs at Tynecastle this evening, which would render Sunday’s shootout at Easter Road virtually meaningless with such a goals advantage in the Ibrox club’s favour.
If they perform as positively as they did in the second half against the Dons they’ll be confident of winning against Neil Lennon’s side anyway.
However, the opening 10 minutes apart, they struggled to contain Aberdeen for the first half with Kenny McLean’s controversial penalty opener scant reward for the domination of Derek McInnes’s side.
Ross McCrorie nodded an equaliser in 63 minutes and although both sides went for broke in the closing stages, neither defence was willing to budge with second spot in the Premiership remaining up for grabs.
Rangers started brightest as they sought to bolster their bid to land it and were especially forceful down the right flank.
Gary Mackay-Steven, troubled by an Achilles injury, looked out of sorts and was dominated by James Tavernier as Rangers forced three corners inside the first five minutes.
They came to nothing but Dons No.1 Joe Lewis was alert early on to block Alfredo Morelos’s shot from eight yards after being played in by Graham Dorrans’s clever pass.
It looked only a matter of time before the opener would come and it did in 13 minutes – surprisingly for Aberdeen.
Morelos had already incurred the ref ’s wrath for spats with Anthony O’Connor and Shay Logan. This time the consequences were further reaching when the striker moved to tackle McLean at the edge of the box.
The low pass towards the penalty spot off Ryan Christie’s corner was straight off the training ground but Morelos appeared to get a nick on the ball as McLean tumbled and the ref ’s whistle went. The midfielder dusted himself down to send Jak