Aberdeen 0 - 1 Rangers

On a positive note, Michael Hart, in his first appearance for four months, came through the opening sixty minutes unscathed, although the Pittodrie management team will be concerned that Scott Muirhead and Phil McGuire picked up knocks that forced them to go off.

The visitors created the opening chance when Barjam Fetai blasted the ball into the side netting after being put through by Stephen Hughes in the 8th minute. In eleven minutes Muirhead crossed from the left but John Stewart failed to connect properly and the ball was cleared by the Rangers rearguard. Ryan Esson was the busier of the two keepers, touching over a fierce drive from the visitors trialist before producing fine stops from Brian McLean and Fetai.

Muirhead needed treatment on several occasions and in the final minute of the opening period he finally admitted defeat limping off to be replaced by 15-year-old Andy Bagshaw. Phil McGuire, who had taken a blow to his head just before the break, failed to appear for the second half, and was replaced by Duncan Jones. The visitors opened the scoring in the 52nd minute when a good move involving Hughes and Fetai ended with Trialist flicking the ball into the path of WALKER who fired a crisp shot past Esson.

Rangers were doing most of the attacking and Richard Buckley did well to head a wicked Fetai cutback over his own crossbar. Esson then produced an excellent save from Gers substitute Bob Davidson tipping the ball away for a corner. In the final minute a Craig Higgins slip left Ross McCormack clear from fifteen yards but the substitute skied the ball high over when it seemed easier to score.