Aberdeen 0 Rangers 2: Managerless Dons’ Premiership form nosedive continues as vulnerability at set-pieces exposed again

Aberdeen’s damaging Premiership form slump continued with a 2-0 loss to Rangers as a vulnerability at defending set-pieces was yet again exploited.

It is the first time the Dons have lost four straight league games without scoring since December 2010.

Aberdeen were booed at full-time by many frustrated fans.

The club’s hierarchy sacked boss Jimmy Thelin in a bid to turnaround a nosedive in form that dropped the club into the bottom six.

They appointed Peter Leven in the hope he could orchestrate a revival in fortunes similar to when he turned around the form when in dugout in 2024.

However, that turnaround has not occurred as the Reds, who showed more fight and directness, crashed to a second loss to Rangers in five days.

Struggling Aberdeen have taken only one point from the last six Premiership matches.

Rangers Thelo Aasgaard netted a volleyed goal in the 23rd minute.

Rangers made it 2-0 in the 74th minute via a penalty awarded for a foul by Graeme Shinnie on Djeidi Gassama.

There was minimal contact. James Tavernier converted the spot-kick.

This is the first time Rangers have won three league matches in a row against Aberdeen without conceding since August 2011.

We look at three talking points from the Pittodrie encounter.

Vulnerability at set-pieces exploited… again

Aberdeen’s vulnerability at set-pieces was yet again exploited by Rangers when going 1-0 up at Pittodrie.

A corner was worked short between James Tavernier and Jayden Meghoma, whose cross was p0unced on by Aasgaard.

Racing to meet the delivery Aasgaard was unmarked and fired in a superb right-footed volley beyond Mitov.

It was the fourth goal in three games Aberdeen had conceded directly from a set-piece delivery.

The warning signs were there prior to the opening goal but not heeded.

Earlier in the match a corner had found Emmanuel Fernandez unmarked in the box, but he wasted a chance by heading wide.

Aberdeen interim coach Peter Leven said recently they are working hard on fixing the weakness at set-pieces defensively.

However, the Dons were far too static at the set-piece delivery and it was punished.

Concerningly it continued throughout the game as in the 52nd minute Nicolas Raskin was allowed a free header inside the box from a free-kick.

Terrible defending went unpunished when Raskin headed wide.

The struggle to defend set-pieces is damaging any attempt to ignite momentum with the Dons and haul them out of the winless slump and back up the table.

Both of the goals Aberdeen conceded in the 2-0 loss at Ibrox came directly from corner kick deliveries.

Rangers appointed set-piece coach Scott Fry earlier this season and he has made a major impact.

It underlines how the ability to successfully execute set-pieces can have such a positive impact.

And how the failure to defend them, in Aberdeen’s case, can deliver such catastrophic damage.

Fortunate break for keeper Mitov

In the build-up to the game interim, boss Peter Leven admitted he had a decision to make on keeper Dimitar Mitov, whether to back him or not.

Bulgaria international Mitov had made a number of costly errors recently.

The latest mistake came in the build-up to Rangers’ opener in the 2-0 loss at Ibrox.

There is no doubting Mitov’s superb shot-stopping quality but a vulnerability has crept into his game when collecting crossed balls and set-pieces.

Leven opted to retain faith with Scottish Cup final hero Mitov ahead of pitching in No.2 Nick Suman who has yet to feature for the first team since signing last summer.

Mitov made an error when racing out to try to claim a James Tavernier free-kick from wide right deep into the penalty-area.

The keeper was left stranded at the edge of his box and Emmanuel Fernandez jumped above his outstretched arms to head a looping header home.

It was a misjudgement from Mitov and initially appeared to be a costly one.

However, he was saved by a VAR intervention.

Referee David Dickinson was called over to the monitor by VAR John Beaton and the goal was disallowed for a foul by Fernandez with his arm on Mitov.

It was a let-off for Mitov and the Dons.

But it was symptomatic of a problem that continues to dog Mitov.

Nicolas Milanovic in from the cold

Australian winger Nicolas Milanovic was pitched in for his first start since a 2-0 loss to Dundee United at Tannadice on September 23.

Signed from A League club Western Sydney Wanderers for £400,000, the winger has endured a frustrating debut season so far at Pittodrie.

The 24-year-old arrived with a strong pedigree having secured the prestigious A League player of the year award.

Since arriving at Aberdeen the winger has broken into the Australian international squad, making his debut in September.

He has targeted earning a spot in Australian squad at the World Cup in the summer, but needs regular starts, and impressive performances.

Milanovic was not helped by former boss Jimmy Thelin switching from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 3-4-2-1 which negated the use of wingers.

Interim boss Peter Leven opted to go with a 4-3-3 formation against Rangers at Pittodrie, with Milanovic operating on the right of the attacking three.

In the eighth minute Milanovic displayed his attacking potency when bursting down the right flank, skipping past two challenges.

The winger broke into the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a shot, but it was blocked by John Souttar.

Milanovic mustered one shot and two final third entries before being substituted off in 68 minutes.

The winger had 25 passes with 18 finding a team-mate, for a 72% success rate.

Milanovic had 13 duels, winning four.

The return of Milanovic to the starting line-up was one of four changes made by Leven from Tuesday’s loss to Rangers at Ibrox.

Also coming in were Jesper Karlsson, Marko Lazetic and Leighton Clarkson with Kevin Nisbet, Kenan Bilalovic and Stuart Armstrong dropping to the bench.

In an attempt to find an attacking edge Leven also handed Leighton Clarkson a first league start since late August.

Clarkson’s absence from the starting line-up under former boss Jimmy Thelin opened up the potential of the midfielder exiting in January.

Against Rangers, Clarkson brought a spark in creativity that had been lacking.

ABERDEEN (4-3-3): Mitov 5; Devlin 6, Milne 6, Knoester 6, Gyamfi 6; Clarkson 6 (Bilalovic 68), Polvara 6, Shinnie 6 (Aouchiche 79); Milanovic 6 (Armstrong 68), Lazetic 4 (Nisbet 46), Karlsson 5 (Keskinen 57).

Subs not used: Suman, Heltne Nilsen, Jensen, Lobban,

RANGERS (4-3-3): Butland 6; Tavernier 7 (Aarons 93), Fernandez 7, Souttar 6, Meghoma 6; Diomande 6, Raskin 7, Aasgaard 7; Gassama 6 (Matondo 93), Chermiti 6 (Miovski 90), Moore 6 (Djiga 88).

Subs not used: Kelly, Nsiala, Dowell, Antman, Danilo.

Attendance: 18,151

Referee: David Dickinson

Man of the match: Thelo Aasgaard (Rangers).

[Source: Press and Journal]