LOWE BLOWS Max: Gers players were trying to get in our heads but we kept cool
MAX LOWE has accused Rangers players of trying to give Aberdeen the elbow from the Scottish Cup with their off-the-ball antics.
The on-loan defender was disappointed the Dons weren’t able to make the most of their home dominance to see off the Ibrox side yesterday.
Lowe knows there is very little between the teams and that is why the visitors were trying to get under their skin but he was proud of Derek McInnes’s men for keeping cool heads at Pittodrie.
He said: “With the recent history there will be certain situations that arise. They do try to get in our heads. We just try and ignore it.
“Scott McKenna was unlucky in the last game when he was sent off. There were a couple of incidents but we kept our composure and did well.
“A lot of it is when the ref BY SCOTT BURNS doesn’t see it. It is hard to keep your head if no one else sees it and it is just you and the guy who has ran into you or given you an elbow. There were a couple of naughty tackles out there but to be fair the referee’s performance was top class.
“I don’t think he (Kevin Clancy) got any decision wrong.”
Lowe was involved in a flashpoint of his own. He took exception to how easily Scott Arfield had gone down from Graeme Shinnie’s challenge and that led to Glen Kamara pushing him – although it was only the Dons captain booked.
The full-back said: “I’m a bit too honest. I thought it was a 50-50 and Arfield made a lot of it.
“He tried to grab my leg and I just wanted my leg back. I stayed composed. We know we don’t want any players sent off in a situation like that and we tried to ignore it and get on with the game.
“I didn’t understand why Kamara pushed me. Arfield told him to relax after he pushed me. I am not bothered, I didn’t do anything. None of our lads reacted to it.”
The Englishman also rubbished claims Rangers are now red-hot favourites for the semi-finals and pointed to the fact Dons have already beaten them at Ibrox and Hampden this term. He said: “We have the Celtic game first but we kept a clean sheet with 10 men at Ibrox earlier this season so we will be full of confidence if we can perform the same way we did today.”
The main disappointment from yesterday was the cheap way Aberdeen lost Joe Worrall at a corner for Rangers’ equaliser after a dominant first period.
Lowe said: “We are gutted in the dressing room. We had a lot of chances we could have scored from and the goal we gave away from the set-piece was cheap.
“There was a question mark over us due to recent results but we answered that with a good performance.”
Lowe had been a doubt for yesterday’s game after he limped off against Hamilton in midweek and he revealed he spent the time in between on ice to get fit.
It paid off and he proved ice cool in the build-up for the
Aberdeen penalty. He robbed James Tavernier and put through a great ball to Gary Mackay-Steven who was tripped in the box before Cosgrove slotted it away.
Lowe said: “I’ve got a patella issue from the Hamilton game. It wasn’t a tackle but I’ve been icing it as I wanted to play. I was ready to take an injection if needed so I’m happy to get 90 minutes.
“The gaffer gave me and Dominic Ball licence to go forward and get tight. He’s been fantastic in the last three games.
“Andy Considine and McKenna were fantastic. Alfredo Morelos was up top but didn’t get to hold the ball up a lot and that was important as that’s a big part of his game.”
The performance was a big improvement and, although the Dons have only one win in eight at home, boss McInnes echoed praise for his centre-halves Considine and McKenna and the way they marshalled Morelos.
He said: “They had their hands full with Morelos but they were terrific. There were good battles all over the park.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t put one of our chances away. Andy’s chance from Niall McGinn’s outswinging corner and Scott’s header from another corner went close and we’re disappointed not to get a winner and to concede from a set-play.”
Winger Mackay-Steven limped off and McInnes is now waiting for scan results to assess the damage.
The manager said: “Gary is away to the hospital for an X-ray just as a precaution. We feel it is a bruise on the calf and hopefully it will heal in a few days.” MORE THAN A MATCH Considine shackles striker