Aberdeen 2 - 0 Rangers

Willie Miller was in charge of the Dons for this Premier League fixture, the former Dons skipper now in his second full season in charge. The Dons had to recover from the bitter disappointment of finishing as runners up to Rangers in all three domestic competitions the previous season. Rangers were installed at title favourites, and with Old Firm rivals Celtic still in a time of transition, it was left to Aberdeen to take the challenge to the Ibrox club. Graeme Souness had gone, replaced by the more studious Walter Smith, and the Rangers boss was acutely aware of the potential pitfalls of the trip to Pittodrie. The Dons had lost to Hibernian the previous week in what was there only defeat to date. Ranger's early tactics surprised the Dons as they attacked from the kick off. So often in the past it was the Dons who would go for the jugular and make the entire early running, but it was the visitors who continued to press in the early exchanges. Ironically, the Ibrox side was hit by a classic sucker punch after 16 minutes. In what was the Dons first serious attack, Eoin Jess picked up a loose ball in midfield before firing in a low shot. Inexplicably, Rangers keeper Ally Maxwell failed to hold Jess' effort, and it was left to the predatory instinct of Duncan Shearer to put the Dons ahead against the run of play. The opening goal stunned the Ibrox side, and as the volume increased amongst the Dons support, housed in the new Richard Donald Stand, a classic looked more likely. Eoin Jess, as so often in the past was in majestic form in the middle of the park, thriving in the big match atmosphere. Indeed, it was Jess who set up the Dons second goal in 34 minutes. A cross from the left was turned in to his own net by a young Steve Pressley to put the Dons two goals ahead. Almost immediately, Rangers replaced the out of sorts Huistra with recent f4m signing Duncan Ferguson.1111 The big striker was given a merciless reception from the Aberdeen support, and despite an attempted overhead-kick, Ferguson had a quiet game for his new club. The second half continued to offer Dons fans hope that Rangers could be challenged for the title, as the Dons rarely looked in trouble, and it was left to Rangers keeper Maxwell to atone for his earlier lapse as he pulled off a series of outstanding saves in the closing minutes.

Source: Match Programme 28th July 2001