Aberdeen Stuns Rangers to Keep Pressure on Celtic at the Top of the Premiership
Aberdeen continued their incredible start to the Scottish Premiership season with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Rangers on Wednesday, staying level on points with Celtic at the summit. The Dons, under the stewardship of Swedish manager Jimmy Thelin, have seen a remarkable transformation, winning 15 out of 16 matches this season. Their sole draw came against Celtic, marking Thelin's influence as nothing short of extraordinary.
While Celtic maintained their position at the top of the league with a 2-0 win over Dundee, the gap between the two clubs remains razor-thin, with Celtic leading only by goal difference. However, Aberdeen's consistent form has them nine points clear of Rangers, who now sit third. This latest defeat, Rangers' third in 10 league matches, has heaped pressure on manager Philippe Clement as questions swirl around the club's future direction.
Aberdeen dominated Rangers at a packed Pittodrie Stadium and were deserving of their victory. Nicky Devlin put the hosts ahead in the 31st minute, setting the tone for a strong first half. Although Jamie McGrath missed a penalty, which could have doubled Aberdeen's advantage, the Dons didn’t falter. Rangers managed to level the score early in the second half when Nedim Bajrami made a brilliant solo run, finishing with finesse to make it 1-1.
However, Aberdeen’s relentless pressure paid off when substitute Shayden Morris struck the decisive goal with just 16 minutes left, sealing a memorable win for Thelin’s side. "It was a really nice evening," said Thelin post-match, reflecting on the electric atmosphere and the hard-fought win.
Meanwhile, Celtic had to rely on late substitutions to break down a resilient Dundee side. Alistair Johnston came off the bench to score, with Arne Engels adding a penalty in the 67th minute, clinching all three points for Celtic. Manager Brendan Rodgers praised his team’s resilience and reiterated his focus on maintaining performance, downplaying any potential title rivalry with Aberdeen for now.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, Hearts fell to the bottom after a 2-1 loss to Kilmarnock, Motherwell climbed to fourth with a 2-1 victory over Dundee United, and St. Mirren defeated St. Johnstone 3-1. Hibs, meanwhile, remain second from the bottom following a 0-0 stalemate with Ross County.
As Aberdeen and Celtic continue to pull away from the pack, the race for the title is intensifying, setting up an exciting season ahead for Scottish football fans.
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