We can halt Ibrox machine
Taylor says improved Dons will halt Rangers this time
Taylor ready for revenge after Rangers rout
ABERDEEN are grinding out results and Ash Taylor believes his side can now put the brakes on runaway Rangers.
The Dons were frustrated by the home draw with Dundee United that took their unbeaten Premiership run to seven games.
Aberdeen have already lost twice to Steven Gerrard’s men this season.
But the first defeat came on the opening day with a limp display and then they went to Ibrox side with a squad decimated by injury and the fallout from the Scotland Under-21s’ Covid-19 outbreak.
So Taylor thinks his team, who are clear in third spot, will be a far different proposition when they meet at Pittodrie on Sunday.
He said: “It is always a tough game against them but we will plan our week and try to get a result.
“We are in a better place than we were at the start of the season. We’ll look to put in a better performance. We had players missing at Ibrox and some of the goals were deflections. It was a difficult one to take.
“They are flying this season and doing really well. They are well drilled so it will be a tough task but we have the players in the squad who are capable of doing it.
“If we keep putting the right type of balls in the box we know the goals will come.”
Aberdeen were the better team in the first period against United although it was Micky Mellon’s men who came closest to scoring.
A decent turnover gave Lawrence Shankland a sight of goal but he was unlucky to see his long-range effort smash back off the bar. The home side had a strong shout for a penalty amidst claims that Mark Connolly had shoved Ryan Hedges as he burst into the box.
Taylor said: “The one with Hedges was a penalty. He clipped him.
“You could hear it as well. It was a stonewaller for me.”
Aberdeen lost their grip in the second half. United certainly looked a lot more solid and were vastly improved from the team who were crushed by Celtic last midweek.
Tannadice manager Mellon has built from the back and now they are starting to look a bit more potent in the front areas.
Shankland did well to get another shot away at the back post but he was denied by a defensive lunge and late on he let fly from the tightest of angles, forcing Joe Lewis to tip wide.
Aberdeen did get forward but more often than not their final ball into the box wasn’t up to scratch. Boss Derek McInnes wants to make changes in the transfer market but in the meantime has to hope Curtis Main or Sam Cosgrove find their shooting boots again.
Hedges was the most creative Dons player although Ross McCrorie set up their best chance in the second period by releasing Main who lashed wildly over.
More of a cutting edge will certainly be required if they are to have any chance of sending Rangers to their first league defeat of the season.
Taylor admitted: “That is the other frustration from it. We created chances but didn’t manage to get the goal to take the three points.
“It is another clean sheet and a point in the right direction. We will look to build on it.
“The second half was frustrating. We were good in the first half and were getting some good balls into the box.
“Unfortunately we didn’t capitalise on that but I thought we were a little bit rushed in the second half. The positive is another clean sheet.”