Match Report: Aberdeen 1:1 Rangers

A Derek Young strike in the last minute of the first half cancelled out a David Weir's 24th minute goal as Aberdeen and Rangers share the points in the early game at Pittodrie. A fair result at the end of the day, Aberdeen will be the happier side while Rangers should perhaps feel they deserved the points, especially given the controversial off-side decision at the end of the game.

Rangers where definitely on top in the first half with all the possession and the chances. Steven Davis and Pedro Mendes had been particularly tricky for the Aberdeen midfield to deal with and both Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd had made the Aberdeen defence work for their money. The goal from Rangers came from a free-kick on the Aberdeen left side, level with the 18-yard line, conceded by Andrew Considine. Steven Thomson fired in the cross and David Weir managed to get behind Lee Miller to head the ball powerfully past a diving Jamie Langfield. Aberdeen had few chances as Rangers continued their dominance throughout the first half. But with the first 45 minutes drawing to a close, Charlie Mulgrew put in a cross towards Lee Miller on the 6-yard area which was beaten out by Allan McGregor, but the Scotland keeper could only parry it into the path of Derek Young who drilled the ball into the roof of the net from 8-yards out: a possible goal of the month candidate?

A more assured Aberdeen performance came in the second half as they continued to contain Rangers. The defence certainly seemed to have settled down with captain Severin, playing back in the centre in the continued absence of Zander Diamond, in particular imposing himself. Langfield nearly lost Aberdeen a goal in the 70th minute when he failed to spot Boyd lurking on the edge of the area as the keeper was too casual in controlling the ball from a throw by Mulgrew - he recovered with a sliding tackle to deny Boyd, but the Pittodrie crowd let out a sigh of relief. Aberdeen nearly took the lead when on 77 minutes Darren Mackie escaped the attention of a hesitating Bougherra; it took brave goalkeeping from Allan McGregor, diving down at the feet of Mackie to keep the score level. There where few other chances in the last 15 minutes as the midfield slugged it out, Tommy Wright making an appearance for Aberdeen towards the end of the game, but his appearance came too late to make a difference for the Dons. Demarcus Beasley put the ball in the net on 90 minutes, but was - incorrectly - adjudged offside in a decision that will have Walter Smith and the Rangers fan's shaking their heads in disbelief.

Walter Smith's side drops two points, Aberdeen gain one. Celtic can draw level with Rangers if they beat Falkirk today, while Hamilton can go clear at the top if they beat Kilmarnock.

Final score: Aberdeen 1:1 Rangers

Picture source: BBC
Aberdeen	Rangers
01 Langfield 03 Foster 06 Severin 21 Considine 02 Mulgrew 14 Young 08 Kerr 04 McDonald 07 Smith (Wright, 87) 10 Mackie (Duff, 81) 09 Miller	01 McGregor 21 Broadfoot 03 Weir 24 Bougherra 05 Papac 10 Novo (Darcheville,74) 04 Pedro Mendes 35 Davis 08 Thomson 18 Miller (Beasley, 81) 09 Boyd