Rangers’ crisis deepened as a 2-1 defeat at Aberdeen left them nine points behind Celtic and the Dons at the top of the William Hill Premiership.
Dons full-back Nicky Devlin fired in a opener at Pittodrie after 31 minutes before Gers keeper Jack Butland saved a Jamie McGrath penalty six minutes from the interval as Jimmy Thelin’s side dominated.
The lethargic Light Blues responded after the break and wide-man Nedim Bajrami levelled in the 63rd minute with a fine solo goal only for second-half substitute Shayden Morris to fire in from close range 11 minutes later to heap more pressure on Gers boss Philippe Clement.
In contrast, Thelin is now unbeaten in 16 games since taking over as Aberdeen boss in the summer, winning 15 of those.
The Ibrox club is in turmoil with no permanent chairman, chief executive or director of football while on Tuesday it was revealed they made a net loss of £17.2million last season
Belgian boss Clement has to limp on under the weight of negativity which surrounds him, the team and the club. Rangers’ title hopes have surely gone beyond forlorn.
Clement was dealt another injury blow with winger Vaclav Cerny, who had scored five goals in four games, out through injury, replaced by Ross McCausland with skipper James Tavernier, John Souttar, Tom Lawrence and Cyriel Dessers returning.
Connor Barron returned to Pittodrie for the first time since leaving in the summer to join the Govan outfit – and inevitably he was booed loudly throughout.
Thelin’s only change was the return of captain Graeme Shinnie, who took over from Ante Palaversa and, after a dramatic pre-match firework display, frantic football followed from referee John Beaton’s first whistle.
Gers striker Dessers had an early chance but his shot was blocked by Devlin.
At the other end, McGrath had a goal-bound drive blocked by Tavernier before Devlin drove just wide from the edge of the box and then McGrath curled a free-kick from 25 yards past Butland’s post.
An Aberdeen goal was in the post and it came when Topi Keskinen flicked on a cross from left-back Jack McKenzie to Devlin who had time and space to hammer the ball high past Butland.
The home side swarmed around the Rangers box and Shinnie crashed a shot off the post and then there was a VAR check when Souttar appeared to block a Keskinen shot with his arm.
Beaton checked his pitchside monitor and pointed to the spot but Butland guessed right to save McGrath’s unconvincing spot-kick.
Butland made another save from McKenzie’s long-range effort and in a rare Rangers attack just before the break, McCausland tapped in a Bajrami pass from a yard out but was ruled offside.
Dujon Sterling replaced the Northern Ireland winger for the start of the second half and the visitors at last began to play with some pace and purpose.
The visitors were well on top when Bejrami created a goal for himself, taking a Lawrence pass and with Devlin, Shinnie and Slobodan Rubezic in close attention inside the box, he drove past keeper Dimitar Mitov and in at the far post.
The Govan side had the initiative and Lawrence and Dessers failed to capitalise on a cut-back from Tavernier following yet another attack but the Dons regained the lead after Butland had saved a powerful drive from substitute Palaversa.
Rangers could not get out of their own penalty area and when Devlin’s toe-poke from a tight angle went through Butland’s legs and hit the far post, Morris, on for Duk in the 54th minute, hammered in the loose ball.
A frustrated Clement picked up a yellow card in the final five minutes for remonstrating at a decision against his team, who once again in a big game this season, fell short.
[(Shimizu S-Pulse) Weakness]: 1. Shimizu S-Pulse are 13th in the J1 League table. Facing 2nd-placed Kashima Antlers, they will find it hard to win this match due to their declining form, indicating doubtful motivation.2. Shimizu S-Pulse defender Yuji Takahashi and forward Sena Saito will miss this league game due to injuries.3. Shimizu S-Pulse were winless with 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5 g...
Liverpool table fresh Guehi bidAccording to The Athletic, Liverpool have submitted a fresh bid worth £35 million ($47m) to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The Reds had earlier seen two bids rejected by the Eagles, but they remain hopeful that this time the offer will be accepted.Fenerbahce eyeing move for EdersonTurkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are eyeing a move for out-of-favour Manc...
Roma medical for Liverpool fullback TsimikasAS Roma are holding a medical for Kostas Tsimikas today.The Liverpool fullback is leaving Anfield after finding himself third-choice this season behind fellow left-backs Andrew Robertson and Milos Kerkez.La Gazzetta dello Sport says the Greece international is expected in Italy today to finalise his move.Tsimikas will undergo a medical ahead of signing a...
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-FULHAMMarco Silva has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after lambasting three "shocking" refereeing decisions in Fulham's 2-0 Premier League loss at Chelsea.WHAT HAPPENED?The Whites thought they had taken the lead against their west London rivals Chelsea when 18-year-old Josh King coolly slotted past Robert Sanchez. However, the goal was chalked off by referee Rob...
[(Shonan Bellmare) Strength]: 1. Shonan Bellmare are one of the bottom teams in the table, taking 25 points and being in the relegation zone. They are strongly motivated to grab points.[(Shonan Bellmare) Neutral]: 1. Shonan Bellmare drew the last 4 home games, revealing mediocre home performances.[(Shonan Bellmare) Weakness]: 1. Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to Fagiano Okayama on the road in the last g...
Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2025Chelsea have completed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.WHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues after the two Premier League clubs agreed a deal worth a fixed £40 million fee ($54m) with a 10 per cent sell-on clause, Goal understands. The 21-year-old ha...
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace 2025-26Liverpool have launched a fresh bid for Marc Guehi as they hope that Crystal Palace will finally accept their proposal and agree to sell their star defender before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The Reds have been linked with a move for the England international throughout the summer and the champions are determined to secure his signature.WHAT HAPPEN...
West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season FriendlyAston Villa are close to signing West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.WHAT HAPPENED?Villa are on the brink of agreeing a £47 million (€54m/$63m) package for Paqueta which includes a loan fee and add-ons, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report also states the 28-year-old has ac...
[(Nagoya Grampus) Strength]: 1. Nagoya Grampus currently have only 28 points and are near the bottom of the league table. To avoid relegation, they need to earn points.[(Nagoya Grampus) Neutral]: 1. Nagoya Grampus' 7 successive games ended with OVER.[(Nagoya Grampus) Weakness]: 1. Nagoya Grampus lost 2-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their last Emperor's Cup game, with poor performance.2. In the lates...
Cody Gakpo Liverpool 2025Premier League champions Liverpool have confirmed that star attacker Cody Gakpo has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract, which has extended his stay at Anfield beyond 2028. The Dutchman who joined the club in January 2023, during the Jurgen Klopp era, has established himself as a regular starter under new boss Arne Slot and has now committed his future to the Reds...
