COMPLETE CONTROL: Now we need to repeat this dominance away from home, says Clement as Rangers sweep hapless Dons aside at Ibrox
Philippe Clement has called on his Rangers players to repeat their Ibrox dominance away from home after beating Aberdeen 3-0.
His players were in control from the start against the Dons, with Hamza Igamane even pretending to play on an Xbox as he celebrated taking the lead against the home side in the 13th minute.
Substitutes Leon Balogun and Cyriel Dessers scored late goals in what ended up being an easy win, with Clement’s side now taking 34 points from a possible 36 at home this season.
In contrast, they have managed just three wins from 11 games during their travels and the Belgian says he won’t be happy until that record changes.
As groups of supporters held up more protest banners after 55 minutes, the win received an ovation from the home fans at full-time.
‘It’s about us showing the right things on the field. Then the fans will come behind us,” Clement said. ‘People go home with a good feeling and that is our ambition.
Igamane pretends to play his Xbox as he celebrates scoring the opener against Dons
Nsiala congratulates Igamane after his 13th minute goal at Ibrox
Clement was delighted with the performance and wants the team to replicate it away from home
“We’re working hard to continue to do that and this team is growing and getting better.
‘Now we have to do that in away games.
‘It would have been harsh if we had just won 1-0. It was important to kill the opponent with the second and third goals.
‘You know in football that you can dominate and then one ball falls in your penalty area and you lose points.
‘That happened to us in away games this season.
‘It was important to score the other goals and I am happy for Leon and Cyriel.
‘We must continue to work hard and be ready to achieve the desired results. You can see more and more that we are getting used to each other.
‘They have to get better and they are hungry for that. But we have to confirm these things in the away games. That is the very important point for the coming weeks and months.”
Leon Balogun heads in the second goal in the final phase of the match
Defender Balogun was delighted when he came off the bench to make it 2-0
Fellow substitute Cyriel Dessers scored the third goal for Rangers
Balogun and Dessers were clearly happy to get on the scoresheet in the 3-0 win
Rangers host Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup on Sunday before very different challenges against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Europa League and third-place Dundee United at Tannadice.
The win was somewhat marred by further injuries, with Brazilian striker Danilo limping at half-time while holding his shoulder before defender Robin Propper was replaced by Balogun after spraining an ankle.
“I don’t know anything about Danilo, but it has nothing to do with his old injury,” Clement said.
‘We’ll see in the coming days. Maybe it’s not too bad, maybe it’s for the longer term. We’ll see.
‘It’s good to have James (Tavernier) and Leon back. If we have the ambition to win every time, it is crucial to rotate the team.’
Clement refused to comment on reports of a departure for Rabbi Matondo, with Torino, Lecce, Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday linked with the Welsh winger.
‘Rabbi was not selected because of a sporting choice. I brought in two young boys because they are performing better at the moment.
“Oscar (Cortes) felt something on Tuesday night, so we’ll have to assess him.”
Aberdeen’s winless streak extended to 12 games, the Dons undone after 13 minutes when a defensive error from Sivert Heltne gave Nilsen Igamane the opener.
The defeat extended Aberdeen’s dismal winless streak to 12 games
Manager Thelin says his team needs to start winning again soon
Ibrox still witnessed some protests, but it was overall a happier evening for Rangers
Boss Jimmy Thelin handed newcomers Jeppe Okkels, Kristers Tobers, Alexander Jensen and Alfie Dorrington an Ibrox baptism of fire on a night when his side struggled to keep the ball.
‘We weren’t calm and collected enough. We were too stressed with the ball,” said the Swede.
“We gave it away and played to their strengths. We have to find a rhythm and find a way to get results quickly so we can come out the other side.
‘Rangers had more shots, but we stayed in the game until the end.
“The players tried and ran for each other until the last minute. We have challenges right now and need to get better.”
Aberdeen are away to League Two Elgin City this weekend in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup, with Thelin urging his players to stop the rot.
“Every game is important and we have to win on Saturday,” he said. ‘We must persevere and live up to our reputation.’