RANGERS wore down the stubborn resistance of Aberdeen and lifted the Viaplay-sponsored League Cup for the first time in 12 years at Hampden this afternoon thanks to a solitary goal from their captain James Tavernier.
The fiercely-contested encounter appeared to heading for extra-time – but Tavernier got on the end of a Borna Barisic cross with 14 minutes of the match remaining and rifled beyond Kelle Roos off the sodden turf.
The narrow victory extended Philippe Clement’s unbeaten start to his tenure as manager to 14 games and capped off an excellent week for the resurgent Ibrox club.
READ MORE: Rangers player ratings as Clement's side win the Viaplay League Cup
They beat Real Betis in Spain on Thursday night to top their Europa League group and go through to the last 16 and are now just five points behind Celtic, who lost 2-0 at home to Hearts yesterday, in the cinch Premiership with two games in hand.
ROOS TO THE RESCUE
Rangers dominated possession a first half which was low on quality football and high on endeavour. But their end product was very much lacking. Abdallah Sima forced a save from Roos on the half hour mark. At no other stage, though, did they look capable of breaking the deadlock.
Aberdeen started to offered more going forward in the second half. Ester Sokler was unable to get on the end of a low Nicky Devlin delivery which fizzed across the six yard box. Jonny Hayes managed got a downward header away after being supplied by the wing back. His effort, however, came back off the legs of Tavernier.
Those near things roused their rivals into action and the game came to life a little as Roos denied Ross McCausland, Cyriel Dessers, Tavernier and Barisic. Leon Balogun and Tavernier also fired over.
The latter finally found a way past the Dutch keeper to send one half of the stadium wild.
STERLING ROCK
With Jose Cifuentes unavailable due to suspension and Ryan Jack and Nicolas Raskin both out injured, Clement had to field Dujon Sterling in midfield alongside John Lundstram.
The defender had performed well in the centre of the park after coming on at half-time against both Dundee and Betis. Still, it was not his favoured position. It was, too, the first time he had started a match since the defeat to Celtic back at the start of September. Much hinged on how he fared.
READ MORE: Aberdeen player ratings as Robson's side suffer Hampden heartbreak
Clement stated in a pre-match interview that the Englishman was the “best solution” to the selection problem he had faced. In fact, he was the only solution. Kieran Dowell has not featured for the first team in six weeks.
The man who has been bedevilled by injury problems since joining from Chelsea on a free transfer this summer gave an excellent account of himself both defensively and in attack. He had his work cut out nullifying the threat posed by the vastly-experienced Graeme Shinnie. But he rose to the challenge admirably.
CANTWELL CREATIVITY
Rangers fans received a pre-cup final boost yesterday when Clement confirmed that Todd Cantwell, who had missed the Betis match on Thursday night for personal reasons, had returned to training. The blonde-haired playmaker was restored to the starting line-up in his preferred berth just behind lone striker Dessers.
Cantwell was the victim of a couple of industrial challenges from Shinnie in the first half and the Aberdeen captain could consider himself fortunate that he was not booked by match official Don Robertson as a result.
He did well to find McCausland with a cross in added on time at the end of the first half and the young winger, who was lurking just a few yards out, should perhaps have done better with his header.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
What more can you say about Rangers skipper Tavernier? The right back is often posted missing at the back and still has his detractors in the stands. But his track record speaks for itself. In big moments in important games, he always seems to deliver. He certainly did so this afternoon.
Lifting the third major trophy of his Ibrox career and completing a set of Scottish football’s major honours was a fitting reward for his all-round showing and sublime strike.
PYRO STUPIDITY
Rangers issued a statement at the start of this month stressing to their supporters that the use of pyrotechnics at matches was both dangerous and illegal and warning that a repeat of the flare display at Dens Park in November could result in disciplinary action from the SPFL.
READ MORE: How Clement is treading Souness' 'individual catalyst' Rangers path
Their words fell on deaf ears. Dozens of strobes were set off by followers of the Ibrox club at Hampden today after the teams had taken to the field and the stadium was soon filled with thick plumes of smoke.
Their Aberdeen counterparts set off several red flares at the other end of the park at exactly the same time.
Representatives of the SFA, SPFL, Football Safety Officers’ Association Scotland, Police Scotland and the Scottish government discussed how to tackle the increased use of fireworks at games last month and a coordinated action plan is currently being drawn up. The sooner they can address the issue the better.
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