Jim Goodwin’s pre-match comments gave Rangers fuel before Aberdeen fell flat at Ibrox.
The Dons boss said in the build-up to the Premiership clash that other clubs went to Ibrox and Celtic Park with a “defeatist” mentality and vowed his side would be different when they travelled to Govan on Saturday. He looked like being proved right after 20 minutes when Connor Barron gave them a first half lead. But the hosts came roaring back and scored four without reply to record a convincing win, and probably should have won by more.
Antonio Colak, John Lundstram, James Tavernier and Alfredo Morelos were all on target, with Tavernier missing a pot kick and Morelos seeing another goal ruled offside. The final result meant Goodwin’s pre-match prediction was way off and Sportscene pundit Ricky Foster reckons it gave the Light Blues all the motivation they needed to get a win for their under-fire manager.
Asked whether it gave Gio van Bronckhorst ’s men fuel, he replied: “I think so. Years ago, comments were made about the likeness of Brewster and Kris Boyd. We went down there and after half-an-hour, we were 3-0 down after 29 minutes to a Kris Boyd hat-trick!
“It just gives them fuel. Be confident, tell your players that you're confident and the players will feel it themselves, but keep it in the dressing room.
“Rangers at Ibrox, when they’re on form, are formidable opponents. So just go there saying that’s what you’re expecting. Then afterwards, say that we went into the game quite confident.
“But when you go there with confidence and out in that performance…they never got near. You see the VT, we could have put more on there showing they never got within five yards of any Rangers player.
“Rangers cut them open time after time and the second half was an exhibition. If you’re going to say that, you need to back it up.”
James McFadden agreed to an extent but could understand Goodwin’s thinking. He said: “Rangers were already motivated but you need to look at it from Jim’s point of view.
“ Aberdeen were in good form. Is it a good time to play Rangers? Before the game, Jim’s probably thinking they have a great chance of getting something.
“You need to give confidence to your players but you also need to give the fans something to shout about before you go. Some hope and expectation.
“If he says ‘nah I’m not sure, we’ll see how it goes’ then the fans are thinking this is the ideal time. You need to try and keep it level and do all your shouting in the dressing room.
“I like it. Go with a bit of confidence. But you need to back it up with a performance and that’s something they didn’t do.”
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