Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen: Full-time whistle report

Rangers will contest the Premier Sports Cup final in December after beating Aberdeen with a solitary goal.

It was another underwhelming performance overall, and that will draw scrutiny, but cup games are all about winning and that was the priority for Derek McInnes.

In that regard, it’s mission accomplished, but Rangers will need to show much more in the coming weeks.

Rangers prevail at Hampden

It’s now 11 games unbeaten for Rangers, and that is to be lauded.

A couple of draws in recent weeks have led to questions of this team, but they eventually found an answer tonight.

The first half was a slow, cagey affair, but eventually chances came – and went – with Minsu Kim and Ryan Naderi passing up chances to score.

After the break, Rangers took a while to get going, inviting Aberdeen into the game.

It was a closer contest than many expected, but Rangers piled on the pressure mid-way through the second half.

Man of the match Badredine Bouanani was involved in the best of the play, cutting in from the right and going very close on two occasions.

Kevin Kelsy missed a gilt-edged chance just after the hour mark, from a Bouanani cross, when the Venezuelan could only head wide.

The breakthrough arrived in the 83rd minute after another wave of attack.

The first attempt broke down, then the ball was squared to James Penrice. His drive across the box was converted by Ryan Naderi, who timed his movement very well to capitalise.

That was the winner, in the key moment of the game.

It was coming, given how Rangers were putting serious pressure on the Aberdeen box in the second half, even if the control wasn’t there.

Full time at Hampden. Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen.