Steven Gerrard believes his Rangers side laid down “a marker” as they got the Scottish Premiership season under way with a comfortable win in Aberdeen.
The manager suggested “everyone was saying” they might drop points because of intense rivalry between the sides.
But, until defender Andrew Considine was sent off late on, there was little bite from a home side, who succumbed meekly to Ryan Kent’s first-half goal.
“We have to build on this, but no-one is getting carried away,” Gerrard said.
“All eyes were on us in the first game, so we’ll go away pleased at picking up three points and getting a clean sheet.”
Without displaying the intensity of a side desperate to prevent Celtic securing a 10th consecutive league title, the victory was thoroughly deserved given their almost total control of the first period.
Lille’s interest in Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos dominated the pre-match talk, but it was the absence of Aberdeen’s Sam Cosgrove and and Curtis Main that was most significant in the early stages.
Young stand-in Bruce Anderson was superbly marshalled by a central defence into which Leon Balogun – described by Gerrard as “outstanding” – slotted imperiously.
For all their possession, Rangers rarely threatened until a clever chest flick from Ianis Hagi found Morelos on the half-way line and the striker slipped it through for Kent to direct past Joe Lewis.
It took the home side 28 minutes to force Allan McGregor into an easy save from Funso Ojo, before Considine’s straight-leg challenge on Scott Arfield damaged their chances further.
Gerrard’s visitors had done enough and it took a fine goal-line clearance from Ash Taylor to prevent Joe Aribo extending the lead in the closing minutes.
Man of the match – Joe Aribo
What did we learn?
Could the Premiership be mirroring the re-start experience in England, where the Covid-19 enforced absence of fans appeared to favour away sides?
Certainly, Aberdeen lacked that extra spark of menace required to trouble the visitors until Leeds United loanee Ryan Edmondson came on. The 19-year-old appears to have the physical presence required to compensate for the absence of Cosgrove.
Gerrard and his players have bemoaned last season’s tendency to fade after impressive starts to matches and the Rangers manager’s concern could continue despite this victory.
On the plus side, former Wigan Athletic centre-half Balogun looks like a shrewd acquisition. On the down side, Morelos rarely looked like preventing his run of competitive games without scoring being extended to eight.
What did they say?
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: “Rangers controlled the game early on, but I thought we finished the first half better, got closer to them, got our distances better for pressing and, in the second half, it felt like a game.
“I thought the level of performance was decent, in the second half in particular, and we just needed to work the goalkeeper more.”
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard: “I thought, in the main, Alfredo did a good job for us. He dropped in, overloaded the midfield area for us and listened to instructions.
“But we want him fitter and sharper. He had a couple of chances that, with more game time, he might have got on the end of and killed the game off for us.
“We can’t go much longer with just one fit forward. I want one in yesterday.”
What’s next?
Aberdeen head to Perth to take on St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park next Saturday and Rangers host St Mirren a day later. But, before that, Gerrard’s side will look to overcome a 3-1 Europa League last-16 deficit against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday in Germany.
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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