Ending the Ibrox jinx is key to glory for Mason
IF someone had told Paul Mason when Aberdeen beat Rangers 2-0 in Govan in 1991 that it would be the last time the club would win at Ibrox, he’d have looked at them like they were a visitor from another planet.
After all, this was a man who was used to success against both halves of the Old Firm during a bountiful spell in the Granite City. Not to mention an influential figure when the Dons did the cup double under Alex Smith and Jocky Scott during season 1989-90, featuring in the Scottish Cup final defeat of Celtic and scoring both goals in their League Cup win over Rangers.
When attacking midfielder Mason watched team-mates Eoin Jess and Brian Grant shoot their hosts down in a league match at Ibrox one September afternoon some 26 years ago, he could have been forgiven for thinking such results in Glasgow would become a regular occurrence. How wrong he would be.
Aberdeen travel to Ibrox tomorrow night looking for their first victory there in an incredible 43 attempts in all competitions.
With Derek McInnes’s side having already beaten Rangers to second place in the Premiership, Mason insists there would be no better time to hammer home their authority over Pedro Caixinha’s side than this evening.
And, if they can end that long-running jinx in Govan, the 53-year-old Englishman believes it would be a huge step towards emulating the Scottish Cup success he enjoyed 27 years ago when they meet Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic in the Hampden final on May 27.
‘We went down to Glasgow regularly and got a result. We weren’t scared of the Old Firm,’ said Mason (right).
‘In my day, we were very fit and we had ten international players in that team, so it was a very strong squad.
‘I actually played in that league game in 1991, so it’s hard to believe it has been so long since the team’s last win at Ibrox.
‘There is no time like the present to fix that, though.
‘They’ve already beaten them to second in the league and it would be the ideal time to beat them down there.
‘It would also be the perfect boost for when they go back to Glasgow for the cup final.’
Mason knows there will only be one downside if Aberdeen do shock Celtic. Namely, that it will intensify the chances of another club luring McInnes away from Pittodrie.
Mason, who went on to play for Ipswich in the English Premier League after leaving the Dons, is certain that the club’s current manager would be a success down south after misfiring with Bristol City.
And what’s really impressed him about McInnes is the quality of player he’s brought in for less than the £400,000 Aberdeen paid Dutch club Groningen for Mason’s services back in 1988. By contrast, the £250,000 Kenny McLean cost from St Mirren is the
only transfer fee McInnes has paid in his four years in charge.
‘I’ve been very impressed by Derek. He has done an amazing job,’ said Mason.
‘He’s spent hardly any cash so he’s obviously a good motivator able to get the most out of the players. It is unbelievable the job he’s done.
‘He’s got a good eye for a player and a good scouting system, so you’ve got to take your hat off to him. Clubs in England will recognise what he’s done.
‘If he wins the cup, there will be even more people looking at him.’
Mason was the hero in the 1989 League Cup final but had already been substituted in that season’s Scottish Cup showpiece when Aberdeen beat Celtic in a dramatic 9-8 shoot-out when Brian Irvine scored the decisive spot-kick.
He recalled with a smile: ‘The first five players had taken their penalties and then the others were getting further and further back.
‘Brian was nearly in the goalmouth at the opposite end! I couldn’t stop laughing at that but he was the hero in the end. He didn’t want to take one at all but he tucked it away well.
‘It would be great if someone in the Aberdeen team was to make a name for themselves in the final against Celtic.’