Much more than points at stake in Gers clash – Goodwin

Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin has hammered home to his players there is more at stake than just three points when playing Rangers.

Ahead of the Dons’ trip to Ibrox tomorrow, Goodwin emphasised to his squad how much beating Rangers means to the Red Army.

He explained the fans’ emotional connection to the fixture and how much they want a win for bragging rights.

Having rebuilt the squad with the majority of summer signings new to the Premiership, Goodwin felt he had to clarify the enormity of the fixture.

Goodwin said: “In our group meeting this morning we made our players aware of what the Rangers fixture means to the fans.

“We’ve got a lot of new players and a lot of boys from outwith Scotland that needed reminded of the importance of this fixture to the fans.

“There is a lot at stake, a lot on the line, not just three points.

“It’s a significant game for everybody.

“Historically, there is a lot of emotion involved in the fixture anyway, with the supporters.

“There’s a hell of a lot on the line, the bragging rights for the supporters.

“We emphasised the fact that it’s almost going to be like a derby game.”

The Dons welcome back on-loan Middlesbrough left-back Hayden Coulson for the clash.

Coulson was left out of the squad for the 2-1 defeat of Motherwell last Saturday as his wife gave birth on the day of the game.

Should Aberdeen win at Ibrox it would move Goodwin’s side to within four points of the secondplaced Gers.

Goodwin added: “From our own point of view, as players and staff, we want to see where we’re at.

“We want to see how far away we are from Rangers.

“Are we capable of going there, a really difficult venue, giving a good account of ourselves and coming away with a positive result?

“If we can go there and get all three points, happy days.

“But if we go and get a point it’s not the end of the world.”

There is stark contrast in recent form between the two teams ahead of tomorrow’s clash.

Aberdeen have racked up three straight wins having beaten Motherwell (2-1), Hearts (2-0) and Partick Thistle (4-1, Premiers Sports Cup).

Rangers, however, are reeling from a disastrous Champions League campaign that hit another low with a 3-0 loss at Napoli on Wednesday.

The Ibrox club have lost all five of their group games, conceding 19 goals and scoring only once.

With a goal difference of minus 18, and a game remaining against Ajax next week, Rangers are perilously close to registering the worst ever Champions League performance by any club.

Domestically Rangers were also booed off the Ibrox pitch last weekend after drawing 1-1 with 10man Livingston.

Goodwin prefers to focus on the positives within his own squad and not Rangers’ problems.

He said: “I try not to get too caught up about the opposition.

“We prepare the same every week but we know the qualities Rangers have.

“There is no doubt they have had a dip in form.

“Obviously the Champions League hasn’t gone the way they would have liked.

“They dropped points to Livingston in the last league game and they wouldn’t have expected that.

“We need to try to focus on the good things from Aberdeen’ perspective.

“We have been playing well, we have won our last three and are scoring a lot of goals.

“Only Celtic have scored more than us in all competitions and they have only conceded less than us as well.

“From our point of view we are in a good place and I won’t worry too much about Rangers and their predicament.

“Giovanni (van Bronckhorst) doesn’t need me chipping in with my ten pence worth.

“It is always a difficult venue but we are going there with confidence and belief.”

Aberdeen ended a poor run of away form with victory at Motherwell last week.

The Dons are now aiming to make it backto-back wins on the road and will be bolstered by the in-form strike partnership of Bojan Miovski and Duk.

Both were on the scoresheet against Motherwell.

Miovski has nine goals this season with Duk scoring seven.

Aberdeen, however, are without a win from their last seven league visits to Ibrox, drawing two and losing five.

They have failed to score in six of those games.

Goodwin said: “We want to be consistent at home and on the road.

“The away record hasn’t been good enough.

“To get a win at a difficult venue like Fir Park, a place where we haven’t done so well was very pleasing.”

Jim Goodwin wants the Dons to do better on the road.