Pittodrie is one of those grounds where Rangers can play well and still get nothing. That’s not paranoia, it’s just how it tends to go up there. When you throw in the weather, the crowd right on top of you, and Aberdeen coming with an edge after losing to us days earlier, it becomes exactly the sort of fixture you need to grind through rather than admire.

Truth is, I’d take the ugliest 1-0 win going. No style points, no flowing moves for the highlight reel, just three points and straight back down the road. Because games like this are where you find out what you really are. Are we building something that can actually keep going week after week, or are we still the side that looks good in spells but drops points when it turns into a scrap?

Why it feels like a proper marker

After four good results, this is the next step. Win at a place like Pittodrie and you start believing it’s not just a run, it’s a habit. Lose, and suddenly the table starts stretching again and you’re staring at a gap that makes the whole “title challengers” chat feel like wishful thinking.

It’s not just about one match either. It’s about how Rangers cope when the pitch is heavy, the second balls are flying about, and the referee lets it become a contest. Can we match the aggression without losing our shape? Can we keep our heads when the noise gets up and the game goes a bit messy? That’s the real test.

Midfield battle: sleeves rolled up or drifting?

For selection, the midfield is where I’d make the call. I’d bring Cameron in for Barron, and I’d do it ahead of Aasgaard. Cameron, for me, is more likely to roll the sleeves up, enjoy the battle, and contribute at both ends. There’s a bit of goal threat there as well, which matters in a match where chances can be limited and you might only get one or two proper openings.

Aasgaard, on the other hand, can end up flitting around the edges. In a game like this you need players who want to take responsibility in the middle of the park, not just find pockets when it’s comfortable.

Up top: stick or twist?

I’d stick with Gassama and Moore, and I’d probably go with Chermiti through the middle. It feels like the kind of fixture where your front line needs to work first and foremost, press, chase, and make defenders hate you being there.

Miovski wouldn’t start in my team. For all that he’s shown he can score in this league, he’s been a major disappointment for me, and his first touch has been miles off what you expect from a Rangers striker. At Pittodrie you can’t afford attacks dying because the ball won’t stick.

So yes, make it ugly. Make it a battle. And if we come out the other side with a win, you can see why people start thinking bigger again.

Written by Jackboy55: 11 January 2026

Tags: spfl tactics