After he was initially supposed to take on Rangers last weekend, the Gers will finally face Stephen Robinson against Aberdeen this weekend.
Robinson should have been in charge of St Mirren last weekend, but he joined Aberdeen on March 12.
He oversaw his first game in charge of the Dons against Falkirk on Saturday, drawing 1-1.
The point at home might not seem like a lot, but the tactical shift is too hard not to ignore as they face the Gers this weekend.
The Dons had lost four of their previous five games before Falkirk, and Robinson had already implemented a few ideas.
Robinson has had his way a few times in recent occasions against Rangers, so Danny Rohl’s men need to be ready.
With eight cup finals remaining, here’s how Robinson’s move could affect Rangers this weekend.
Robinson’s immediate defensive impact
The new boss has implemented a 5-3-2 formation at Pittodrie, shifting from 4-5-1 under the previous regime.
The shift has made Aberdeen look significantly more solid, prioritizing steel over style.
Robinson dropped playmaker Lyall Cameron for more defensive industriousness.
The new style limited Falkirk to limited half-chances, only conceding to a late header.
For Rangers, this suggests the soft centre at Pittodrie has been replaced by a rigid, disciplined structure that will prioritise a clean sheet-first mentality.
Robinson has mastered giant-killing during his time with St Mirren.
He’s specialised in setting up a low block to frustrate better opponents.
He relishes games against Rangers and Celtic and will use all his defensive know-how to limit the Gers to a few chances.
Starting Marko Lazetic
During his time at St Mirren, Dons striker Marko Lazetic haunted Robinson, netting three goals against Robinson’s former side.
Against Falkirk, the new Pittodrie boss recalled Lazetic to the starting 11 alongside Kevin Nisbet in the fresh 5-3-2 system.
At 6ft 4, Lazetic is a handful for defenders and offers Robinson the threat of going long and direct.
By pairing him with Nisbet, Robinson is signalling a shift toward a more direct, high-energy front two designed to harass Premiership defences.
He’s scored four goals in nine Premiership starts, showing he has the ability to cause problems and score goals.
Against Rangers, Robinson needs to make it difficult and ugly, so Lazetic could be the perfect piece to cause difficulties this weekend.
Liam Morrison’s performance
Liam Morrison’s performance in the 1-1 draw against Falkirk was arguably his best in an Aberdeen shirt.
Moving into a 5-3-2 wing-back system, Morrison looked far more comfortable with the extra protection.
He was credited with a vital goal-line clearance early in the match, denying Falkirk an opener and keeping Aberdeen in the game.
He looked physically dominant in the air and much more composed.
Morrison is a former Celtic youth prospect with a point to prove.
If Robinson has already unlocked his composure, Rangers’ attackers won’t find the same easy gaps in the Aberdeen backline that existed just a few weeks ago.
Read Rangers analysis
Stephen Robinson’s move to Aberdeen makes the Dons a much stronger defensive unit compared to recent weeks.
This weekend, Robinson will likely make the game ugly and often try to make the Rangers play into their hands.
Aberdeen will be strong, direct, and try to take the Gers out of their rhythm.
