ONE OF THOSE DAZE
Red card, dodgy decisions, an injury-time equaliser and Pittodrie in permanent state of eruption. Welcome to Scotland, Steven...
ABERDEEN ...... 1 RANGERS ...... 1
STEVEN GERRARD is learning on the job. It’s maybe just as well because there’s no chapter in any coaching manual in the world that could have prepared him for Pittodrie yesterday.
The new Rangers boss watched his side start smartly, lose Alfredo Morelos inside 12 minutes, grab the lead from the penalty spot and then – just when it looked like they’d hang on for a superb win – see an unknown kid rip two points from his grasp in the final seconds.
In between there was the mayhem of crunching tackles and fury at cards shown and unshown all in front of a stadium in an almost constant state of eruption. Welcome to Scotland, Stevie G, better stick on the seat belt.
Gerrard came close to pulling off the perfect start. He was bold when he decided to go with no strikers after Morelos was sent packing for stupidly taking a nibble at Scott McKenna.
James Tavernier slotted a penalty after Josh Windass was pulled back by Dominic Ball and it seemed Aberdeen were going to start with a familiar sense of woe against the Gers.
But youngster Bruce Anderson pounced right at the death to salvage a point for the Dons.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Glasgow, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will have been watching but hardly sweating over his Sunday roast at his first sight of the two sides expected to be his closest rivals.
Both Rangers and Aberdeen still look short up front – but they didn’t sell anyone short for drama yesterday.
Gerrard shook up his side with Windass, Scott Arfield and Jamie Murphy in for Daniel Candeias, Ryan Kent and Ovie Ejaria, while Aberdeen’s Shay Logan started his three-match ban for his Parkhead tantrum on the final day of last term.
It doesn’t matter who is involved in this fixture though, the crazy fog is never far away from the North East coastline. The pair can’t stand the sight of each other but there was a unique moment of solidarity between both sets of fans when they came together for a minute’s applause for Neale Cooper.
Tattie, who tragically passed away in the summer, served both clubs and would have probably had a chuckle at the temporary cease fire.
The hands across the divide were quickly replaced by clenched fists, mind you. Normal service resumed.
Aberdeen fans were too busy booing Ryan Jack to notice Rangers almost surging ahead inside barely four minutes.
Connor Goldson’s superb long ball caught the Aberdeen defence dozing and Jamie Murphy looked as surprised as anyone to find himself through on goal.
By the time he realised he was clear, Joe Lewis had raced from his line to throw himself in the way.
James Tavernier fired the rebound back in to Arfield but the keeper was again in the way.
Gerrard had set out his blueprint and then was forced to rip it up after just 12 minutes. The Morelos red might have been harsh but it was still petulant at best and sheer stupidity at worst.
The Gers frontman was barged by Scott McKenna and responded by flicking out a boot with as much force as you would use to wave away a midge. But it was spotted by assistant ref David McGeachie and the Colombian was a goner.
The rookie gaffer was forced to sort out his shape while getting his fuming men to keep the head, easier said than done in this atmosphere. Crunching tackles, missiles launched from the stands, the ref caught in the storm like a man trying to hold off a hurricane with an umbrella, it was a game on the edge.
Rangers winning a penalty didn’t diminish their sense of injustice. If anything it just lobbed more fuel on the fire. The spot-kick was spot on after Ball grasped at Windass just as he was about to shoot – but Gers were furious a second red wasn’t shown.
Tavernier buried from 12 yards and now McInnes had a headache, especially when McKenna limped off moments later. His side were struggling.
There’s not much advantage against 10 men if you’re launching the ball over nine of yours towards Sam Cosgrove.
It was buns to an elephant stuff for Goldson but if the Dons were to get any joy they needed to get it out wide. Niall McGinn finally got the chance to whip one over right before halftime, forcing Allan McGregor to claw the ball out from his back post.
The break didn’t ease the bad tempers but Rangers remained a threat. Windass nodded one over and Lassana Coulibaly’s break was only
Both teams look short up front but they didn’t sell anyone short for drama
halted by a last-gasp lunge from Andy Considine. Aberdeen were toiling – until Anderson replaced Cosgrove with 20 minutes left. Within seconds he got closer than the man he replaced, when he nodded a header over the top. It still looked like Aberdeen could have played until midnight without hitting the back of the net but the youngster had other ideas. The clock was ticking but Anderson pounced on a loose ball inside the box and his sweet finish took a nick on the way to the bottom corner. And with that, Gerrard was handed his first lesson in Scottish football expect the unexpected.