Rangers back to winning ways

RANGERS returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over under-fire Aberdeen at Ibrox.

The win moved the Gers four points clear of second-placed Celtic, with the latter having the opportunity to cut it back to one in today’s live ESPN clash at St Mirren.

The teams entered an Ibrox full of grace and colour. The fans had organised a fantastic card display to commemorate Remembrance Day with a poppy display in the Govan, Broomloan and Copland stands.

It was a fitting tribute to the fallen heroes of the country along with the minute’s silence, even with the ridiculous excuse of a human being in the Aberdeen end who shouted “Come on the Reds” near the end. The home support booed and vented their rightful anger at the away support by bombarding them with the cards they had just held aloft.

To matters on the pitch and Rangers started pretty well in this encounter.

After a great save from Jamie Langfield earlier, Kenny Miller got the better of the away goalie with a backwards header after a fine cross from Vladimir Weiss.

The Slovakian winger then turned finisher when he blasted in a blocked John Fleck shot.

Steven Whittaker was then fouled in the box and a penalty was given to Rangers. Aberdeen supporters must have feared the worst when Miller stepped up having leaked nine goals in the other side of Glasgow the week earlier. Surprisingly Miller missed the opportunity to give his team a 3-goal lead however after a fine save from Langfield.

The second 45 wasn’t exactly top notch stuff. Miller flashed a shot wide in the opening minutes of the second half and Weiss’s free-kick attempt was held by Langfield.

The Aberdeen keeper came to his side’s rescue again with an excellent stop to deny Miller after the striker had gone through on goal.

Naismith then fired wide after being found by Whittaker’s cross.

The visitors ventured up field and won a free-kick after a foul on Paul Hartley but Sone Aluko’s shot was high over the target.

Wylde, one of only six substitutes listed on the Rangers bench, came on for Weiss and fizzed a shot just over Langfield’s bar.

Lee McCulloch seen various of his shots fly wide as the no.6 was eager to add to the home side’s tally. This did not happen however and the game finished at 2-0.

Manager Walter Smith was delighted his side recovered from the shock 3-0 reverse at home to Hibernian on Wednesday.

“We’re just delighted that we’ve managed to win what was always going to be a tough game,” said Smith. “No team loses in the manner Aberdeen did last weekend at Celtic Park and then come to Ibrox and set their stall out in the same manner.”

“Today, they stuck to their task throughout the 90 minutes. If the third one goes in, there’s obviously a little bit of pressure on them to change a little bit, which is what we would’ve hoped to happen but we missed it. We kept going, we kept playing. We had one or two chances in the second half that could have added to the score.”

“I’m just delighted that we managed to get the breakthrough early, it was a terrific goal by Kenny Miller, a good header.

The lad (Weiss) has got a heel injury that is causing him a bit of discomfort and it’s easing as the weeks go on. He’s been hampered a bit with that in the last two, three weeks. He’s starting to show that he’s coming out of that a little bit. He played well and I’m delighted that he managed to get a goal.”

A good victory for the Gers but perhaps worryingly is the amount of knocks and injuries we seem to be picking up. With a relatively small squad at his disposal, Smith will have to use youngsters like Fleck and Wylde more often.