Rangers

Scott Arfield's astonishing stoppage-time brace snatches Rangers a dramatic Scottish Premiership victory over Aberdeen and prevents their fragile title ...

Scott Arfield (Rangers) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Scott Arfield (Rangers) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the high centre of the goal. - Home8 - Shots - 23Wright - 17Matondo But, away from home, three points is all that matters at the moment and, with time and confidence together, we will surely improve." Then again, Goodwin cannot compensate for two individual errors at the death. As for Aberdeen, their season could be defined by how they respond to this devastating defeat. He kept going and got his rewards. But Arfield was the one who made the difference. Beale spoke of a big 'mentality week' for Rangers, and his team ultimately responded.

Scott Arfield struck twice deep into stoppage time as Rangers came from the brink of defeat to earn an astonishing victory over Aberdeen and preserve ...

And in the last of those came the most extraordinary finale. But in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Kent dropped a shoulder and let fly. When Arfield could only find the arms of Roos with the goal gaping, you sensed they might get there. They were the better team in the first period, their sharp passing and movement repeatedly asking questions. The power and swerve he got on the ball were just extraordinary. At any stage of his long career, he would have been expected to have prevented Clarkson's shot beating him. Handed a second chance, Sakala stabbed the ball between the legs of Kelle Roos. There were no excuses for his failure to hit the target from 14 yards. A half-hearted attempt at a clearance presented a gift to Clarkson. Beale's only criticism would have been a lack of cutting edge. Never in his wildest imaginings, though, could the Rangers manager possibly have contemplated how that remained the case against Aberdeen. The Zambian's initial strike was feebly dealt with by Anthony Stewart.

The camera was out from an Aberdeen punter whose video is now doing the rounds on social media after late Pittdorie woe.

Screams of "into them" and "handball" come before and after the strike from the Ibrox veteran and there is also some industrial language added with the F-bomb dropped. And some will likely be asking one punter to put the camera down next time as a video showing Arfield's winner and the subsequent scenes from the away end has emanated on social media. Football bloggers capturing live reactions from pie and bovril to the ball hitting the net is in fashion but it's not for every generation of football fan.

The result would have been a first victory over Rangers for Aberdeen at home since 2016, but two late, late goals dealt a crushing defeat for Jim Goodwin's ...

There was a worried look around the Red Army, but the striker soon return to his feet. But in the end the victory slipped from their grasps, as Ryan Kent's strike was spilled by Roos, and Arfield tucked the ball home to salvage a draw for the visitors. Goodwin was furious on the touchline, but the players focused quickly on seeing out the game, as Hayes came close to a third with a thundering hit from distance only to just glide wide of the mark. Leighton Clarkson then produced yet another wonderstrike to add to the collection, as a loose ball on the edge of the box fell perfectly for the half-volley, as the Liverpool loanee fired Aberdeen into the lead. It was then that the moment of magic came as Duk scored a beauty of a free-kick to level the game. Sakala's chance of a second went astray as he fired over the bar, but then all attention turned to the other end of the pitch after Sands was booked for bringing down Miovski.

Jim Goodwin was adamant he had never seen anything like the Rangers comeback which condemned his Aberdeen team to defeat despite holding a lead in the ...

I don’t have the words right now to explain why that situation happened the way that it did. You’ve got to expect the goalkeeper to not hold on to it, and we didn’t. “We didn’t anticipate as well as he did and that’s what you’ve got to do in those key moments in the game.

When Rangers' players returned for pre-season in June 2020 — after a three-month hiatus due to the UK's first lockdown — there was a part of the training ...

They then scored twice in extra time of the final to beat [Ross County](https://theathletic.com/football/team/ross-county-fc/), Rangers’ two longest journeys in the league, back-to-back within four days, as a “mentality week”. That win meant Celtic have now claimed 20 points in the final quarter of an hour in games since Postecoglou took over at the start of last season. Neither is it one that Van Bronckhorst could not inspire, as the Dutchman oversaw other memorable late goals in non-Premiership matches. This season they have won five and lost two so far, the latter of which came from [Motherwell](https://theathletic.com/football/team/motherwell-fc/) in the 72nd minute and questions were being asked about whether they could handle adversity. Beale said that he reminded his players during a stoppage in the second half to stay calm on the ball and something would happen for them. Of the 55 Premiership games Rangers have played since they won the league in May last year, they have been behind in 22. [John Lundstram](https://theathletic.com/football/player/john-lundstram-tB3vCoGltdWFdAwU/) scoring in the 81st minute to seal a place in the Europe League final and [Malik Tillman](https://theathletic.com/football/player/malik-tillman-9MtrN2gY99U0MrgV/) scoring in the 79th minute to complete a 3-0 second-leg comeback against Royal Union Saint-Gilloise and deliver a place in the [Champions League](https://theathletic.com/football/champions-league/). They rescued another two points against the same opposition the following month when trailing after 71 minutes and all but sealed their crown in the March when [Alfredo Morelos](https://theathletic.com/football/player/alfredo-morelos-IXzrzgMxmwjwcCUu/) scored in the 87th minute to seal a 1-0 win at [Livingston](https://theathletic.com/football/team/livingston-fc/). They have won 11 of those, drawn six and lost five. [Kemar Roofe](https://theathletic.com/football/player/kemar-roofe-Z14CjTJayaDUWpvA/) then equalised in the 73rd minute and [Cedric Itten](https://theathletic.com/football/player/cedric-itten-52GfUTmKhOx2AsJm/) scored in the 82nd and 94th to complete a dramatic comeback that was a major step towards winning the title.

Flashpoints aplenty in the Granite City but is there a shift in the VAR threshold on handballs after the winter break?

The other big takeaway from punters in the wake of the Pittodrie clash is the lack of angles on display. VAR – as it did in England and other countries when first introduced – settled and became less of a focal point. We'll lean on IFAB's much discussed rules on what is handball and they state: "It is an offence if a player: deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball." However, the angle shown to viewers again offered no definitive verdict and those making the call remotely felt comfortable Goldson didn't handle it and tee up his team-mate. The call was crucial as it minutes after Clarkson's stunning strike at the other end. An early shout in the Granite City as Tavernier's contact from a teasing Aberdeen cross ended up crashing off the post and out for a corner.

Scott Arfield hailed a very important Rangers victory after producing a game-changing cameo appearance from the bench to earn Michael Beales side a dramatic ...

"You look at the ability, particularly in the midfield area where I am trying to get into… "It can change in the blink of an eye and we have had that done to us so many times over this season in games when we should've come away with the three points, so it was very important we did that." "When you are not in the starting team it is so important that you come on and you try and impact games.

The left-back played 120 minutes in the last-16 showdown with Japan that went to penalties.

Honestly, the tournament was very stressful Japan was the worst for me because I played and of course, it went to penalties too. We are overjoyed that we could bring a medal to Osijek." I hope and live for the dream that one day I will return to Osijek with a gold medal from the World Cup and not just a bronze one. Barisic is back in his homeland as Croatia celebrated their third-placed spot and he was one of three squad players, along with vice-captain Domagoj Vida and back-up keeper Ivica Ivusic, who are all from Osijek and were given another medal by their home city. He said: "I wore myself out to the maximum - both physically and mentally. [featured in one game](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/borna-barisic-bank-rangers-350k-28711762) during the tournament, but it was an important one as he played for 120 minutes as Croatia beat Japan in the Round of 16 after a penalty shootout.

Sports Mole previews Friday's Scottish Premiership clash between Ross County and Rangers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

[Ridvan Yilmaz](/people/ridvan-yilmaz/) remains out with a hamstring injury, while [Kemar Roofe](/people/kemar-roofe/) will not be included in the matchday squad owing to recurring difficulty with his calf. [Click here](https://sporita.com/?utm_source=sportsmole&utm_campaign=158051)to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Away Win:data [Antonio Colak](/people/antonio-colak/) and [Tom Lawrence](/people/tom-lawrence/) will not be available for selection due to respective injuries. [Filip Helander](/people/filip-helander/) is still out with a foot problem, while [Ianis Hagi](/people/ianis-hagi/) is still struggling with a long-term knee issue. [Jack Baldwin](/people/jack-baldwin/) on Friday due to his straight red card in the defeat against St Johnstone last weekend. [Alex Samuel](/people/alex-samuel/) is the only other notable absentee, while [Jordan Tillson](/people/jordan-tillson/) is at risk of suspension if he picks up a booking during proceedings.

Ross County and Rangers will do battle for the second time this season as the pair clash in a festive showdown at the Global Energy Stadium. TEAM NEWS

Up stepped Western Isles hero Matthew Wright who hammered home from close range to gain a big point for The Staggies. Earlier in this campaign County lost out 4-0 at Ibrox, where a contentious decision to not send of Sands for the home side after dragging down Jordy Hiwula would lead to a frustrating afternoon for Malky Mackay and his side. Ross County and Rangers will do battle for the second time this season as the pair clash in a festive showdown at the Global Energy Stadium.

Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd is adamant his old club need to improve significantly in the final third of the pitch - despite scoring three goals for the ...

There is still some work to be done for Rangers but we know they have the mentality.” They started well and were hit with a sucker-punch before half-time. [ Sky Sports last night](https://www.skysports.com/), Boyd admitted: “He’s not daft Michael Beale, he knows there’s a lot of work to do.