Rangers 2 - 2 Aberdeen

Following the 1-0 win over Hibernian at the weekend, Stephen Glass made three changes to the Aberdeen side, Jonny Hayes, Dylan McGeouch and Dean Campbell all starting. Declan Gallagher and Calvin Ramsay were absent with injury, while Marley Watkins began the night on the bench, where Jack Gurr rejoined the matchday 18. The injury hit Dons had Scott Brown at centre-half in a back three, Campbell and Funso Ojo the wing-backs.

League leaders Rangers were 2-1 winners at St. Mirren on Sunday and they made two changes to that side. Calvin Bassey and Glen Kamara replaced Steven Davis, who dropped to the bench, and Borna Barisic in the starting XI.

Rangers started quickly but the Dons then enjoyed some nice possession to settle into the game. It was worthwhile possession too, for Aberdeen were in front on eight minutes. With Rangers trying to play too many passes inside their own box, Hayes closed down quickly and won possession. He found Campbell on the edge of the area, and he slid a lovely pass to Ryan Hedges. He turned and manufactured a clever lobbed ball into the six yard box, where Christian Ramirez was waiting to nod into the empty net.

Rangers responded immediately, Goldson heading down from a corner, the ball finding Morelos, Joe Lewis doing well to push the ball away at the near post. The blue tide kept coming, Bassey crossing into Roofe on 12 minutes, his shot deflected wide by Brown.

Good combination play by Hayes and Hedges down the right on the quarter hour won the visitors a corner. McGeouch drilled in the flag kick, whereupon Brown got away from Tavernier and hurled himself full length at the ball to bullet a diving header back across goal and into the bottom corner. The captain appeared to enjoy celebrating in front of the fans at Ibrox.

It wasn't far from three on 18 minutes, Rangers giving the ball away again, Campbell feeding Lewis Ferguson, but he didn't get enough on his shot from 20 yards and McLaughlin saved easily. The home crowd were not amused.

A fine tackle by Ferguson was penalised on 20 minutes and Rangers had a goal back as a result. Tavernier lofted the ball in from the right hand side and up went Morelos, unchallenged at the back post, to head in. Poor defending perhaps - but a poor decision also, for the free-kick should never have been awarded.

Bassey was on the run down their left on 22, Ojo hauling him down and getting booked for his trouble. Hagi's free-kick found Goldson at the back post and his ferocious drive was well blocked to safety.

Kamara hauled Hayes down when he was chasing into good space on 31 minutes but no yellow card followed. Rangers were enjoying the territorial advantage but whenever Aberdeen looked to break, the home side looked very vulnerable. The manager had got his tactics spot on.

Lundstram was next to try his luck for Rangers, pouncing on a loose ball from a corner, Hedges throwing himself at the shot and blocking the ball behind. There was the same fierce determination from the Dons that we'd seen last Saturday.

None were more determined than Lewis, who produced a magnificent save to his left on 43 minutes after Goldson got free at a corner and pounded in a goalbound header.

HALF-TIME: RANGERS 1 ABERDEEN 2

No changes from either side at the break, and no change in Aberdeen's resolution as the home side tried to start the half quickly but to no real effect in the opening stages. What Aberdeen were struggling to find was an outlet in those opening 15 minutes as Rangers kept coming forward.

The home side replaced Lundstram with Arfield on 61 minutes, then Ramirez limped off for the Dons to make way for Watkins a minute later.

Lovely possession from Aberdeen ate up a minute or more in the Rangers half before Aribo lost his patience and clobbered Hedges 25 yards out, the referee giving a free-kick to the Dons, on the right of the D. It came to nothing, Ferguson?s shot buried into the wall.

It was all hands to the pump defending from Aberdeen now as Rangers desperately tried to carve out a clear chance. A foul on Roofe gave Rangers a free-kick on the left, Lewis up well to punch clear. The home side had plenty of the ball but still the Dons were holding firm, playing with real hunger and no little bravery. Wright and Sakala joined the fray on 77 minutes as Rangers went for it, Roofe and Aribo replaced as the rain teemed down.

Ten minutes from time, Sakala took a tumble in a tangle with Bates when seemingly offside, and won a penalty. Tavernier buried the ball into the side netting and the sides were level, desperately harsh on the Dons.

Rangers had the momentum now and a Wright cross was headed behind by Bates who went down injured - the referee refused him treatment and booked Lewis in the aftermath. The home side forced corer after corner thereafter but Aberdeen continued to battle for every ball and kept Rangers at bay.

Into the final minute and Hayes bought a free-kick down the left, Goldson obligingly shoving him to the ground. Campbell's near post ball was headed wide by Watkins as five minutes of added time were signalled despite neither physio having been on the pitch in the second half.

In the third of them, Morelos was booked for simulation.

Hayes was hacked down a moment later, requiring treatment, Hedges onto the loose ball and firing well wide. Austin Samuels came on to replace Hayes as the game ebbed to its conclusion, a terrific performance from the Dons thoroughly deserving the point they got - and more.