Aberdeen took their scalp last time out but Barry Robson is expecting an Ibrox reaction from wounded Rangers.
That 2-0 loss at Pittodrie a fortnight ago was followed by Scottish Cup heartache as the Light Blues crashed out in the semi-finals to Celtic. Michael Beale’s side have copped plenty of flak for those damaging defeats, although Dons boss Robson reckons they will be a different animal at home come Sunday.
The rampant Reds have won seven on the spin but Robson said: “It’s going to be a really difficult game. They performed really well against Celtic last week. It was a terrific game and they played well so we know we will have to be eight, nine or 10 to get a result. We have to be at our best because Michael will have them rotating, playing with speed. They will be wounded, it will be difficult. But they know the expectation of playing at Rangers or Celtic."
Robson was with Rangers as a youth player before starring for the green half of Glasgow as a seasoned pro. And he said: “They have to win games at home – they have to win away from home too. That’s the pressure you’re under and I know that because I’ve been there.”
That 2-0 triumph was Aberdeen’s first home win over Gers since 2016. They had to work hard and ride their luck at times, with Robson admitting they will need another team effort to get a result at Ibrox.
He said: “The win the other week, the fans were important to us. If you’re going to beat Rangers, Celtic, Hearts or any team, you have to ride your luck and we got that because they missed a few chances. But we missed a few of our own in the second half, so
we earned the result.
“We know we have to be at our best all over the pitch, you can’t be a man down going there. So everyone has to be at it, staff included.”
This will be Robson’s first visit to Ibrox as a manager and he’d love to add to some of Aberdeen’s famous victories in Govan down the years. He said: “We’re in a different day and age now compared to the past but that doesn’t stop us knowing we have to go down there and perform.
“It will be hard to put fires out but we’ll have to stay in the fight and find a way of getting a good level of performance. We managed to get a result at Pittodrie the last time and it’s not easy to get results in Glasgow.
“It’s easy to say you can but it’s about going there and doing it.”
Aberdeen are five points clear of Hearts in third place but Robson knows every game is tough after the split. The Pittodrie boss said: “We all have to play each other, as simple as that.
“Everyone will be cutting each other off, there will be a lot of toing and froing because you can get unexpected results after the split. It will be exciting for the fans and everyone watching but we just have to concentrate on each game. I’m getting so bored of saying it myself but it’s one game at a time!”
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