Rangers keep their faint title hopes alive with an extraordinary late show against Aberdeen which showed a mentality and character that was missing in early season.
The Gers looked to be heading for defeat in the northeast after falling 2-1 behind to Jim Goodwin’s side in the second half, Duck’s free-kick and Leighton Clarkson’s long-range effort cancelling out Fashion Sakala’s rebounded opener.
But amid growing complaints and grumbling moans from the Rangers faithful, and an undoubtedly stuttering Gers performance, Michael Beale’s side dug deep to win the day with an injury time Scott Arfield double.
The Rangers midfielder had come on to the pitch midway through the second half as part of a four-man substitution and equalised in the 94th minute by sprinting onto Ryan Kent’s rebounded shot.
The midfielder would then fire the ball into the ground after Alfredo Morelos nodded back a Malik Tillman cross to net the winner in an extraordinary finish in Pittodrie.
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This could potentially be a season-defining moment for a Rangers side who’ve lacked belief all season long, with this late goal at the home of fierce rivals Aberdeen proof positive of a mentality shift since Beale took the job.
Rangers still have major issues throughout their side and its clear a makeshift defence is costing the club big, defensive midfielder James Sands again putting in a horror show at centre-back.
The return of Connor Goldson and Ben Davies to the side, albeit still in recovery from injury, is a welcome sight and should bode the club well in the weeks and months ahead.
In midfield Rangers still lack that dominant, creative quality and whilst every side in world football looks for this type of player, the pressure is on the Gers recruitment team to deliver in this area in January.
Rangers revel in momentum building Aberdeen victory
Rangers struggled to cope with Aberdeen pressure early in the second half and it eventually told with their goal, the Dons probably suffering for reverting to a defensive formation in the aftermath of going ahead.
But this moment could be a potentially huge one as Rangers hope to keep pace with Celtic in the title race, the gap now six points with Celtic’s game in hand v Livingston to come tomorrow.
The goal will also serve as a hammer blow to the club’s rivals, with plenty ready to gloat and announce Rangers’ title ambitions dead, if they aren’t already, come the final whistle.
Rangers fans too were getting ready to tear up the contracts of several first-team players who have consistently failed to deliver and thrown in the towel when things have gotten hairy.
But this time around the Rangers team showed character and resolve to come through a tough clash in the northeast and now all attention will turn to keeping up the momentum in Dingwall on Friday evening.
Whilst there is still a substantial gap to pull back, this week has shown Rangers fans that the team don’t feel it’s over yet and this victory has the power to be a momentum gathering and potentially season-defining one in the weeks and months ahead.
Meanwhile, Rangers boss Beale had been putting a few outspoken pundits in their place in the run up to the game.