Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen: Michael Beale’s side return to winning ways thanks to Todd Cantwell’s volley

To have any chance of overhauling Celtic over the course of 38 games next season, Rangers will need to make small wins like this a routine.

To achieve that, the performance will of course have to be significantly better.

After a miserable few weeks that confirmed his side will end the campaign without any silverware, Michael Beale just needed a win here to stop the bleeding.

The Rangers manager got his wish with a victory that was almost deserved but lacked any real pizzazz.

Todd Cantwell’s luscious volley in the second half proved the difference and was one of the few moments of quality produced by either side.

Little Beale saw that he has changed his mind that a major rebuild is needed in Ibrox this summer.

The main positive came from Ross McCrorie’s performance in goal.

With no start since August 2021 against Celtic, Allan McGregor’s long-time understudy hasn’t put a foot or a glove wrong.

You’d be very surprised if he’s not lined up next Saturday to play in the final Old Firm game of the season.

However, too many of McCrorie’s teammates failed to take the opportunities presented to them.

Beale was scathing in his assessment of his attackers afterwards and it was no wonder.

While the displays of Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin continue to provide hope that his squad is up to the task next season, serious improvements will be needed in the final third.

Fashion Sakala and Rabbi Matondo started here as a front two for a diamond. Neither looked comfortable coming within sight of the target.

Alfredo Morelos’ cameo role was miles from the level required and didn’t pass without a caustic remark from Beale at the end. The Colombian’s time at Rangers is coming to an end in a regrettable fashion. Frankly, you wouldn’t be surprised if we’d already seen the last of him.

This was not a day for strikers. With 18 goals each so far, Aberdeen’s first two – Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes and Bojan Miovski – arrived at Ibrox with high expectations. They left with an injury in Miovski’s case and a lot of regret in Lopes’s.

Twice in the first half, Miovski gave his partner a bitch and both times he made a gross mistake. Barry Robson, a veteran of many a fierce battle at Ibrox, probably knew what was coming.

The considerable consolation for the Dons is that they are five points ahead of Hearts with just four games remaining.

A home win over Hibs this Saturday will take them closer to a third-place finish few thought possible at the turn of the year.

Beale’s unknown line-up was born partly out of necessity and partly out of a desire to give others a chance.

While injuries denied Malik Tillman, Ryan Kent, Borna Barisic and Antonio Colak any involvement, the exclusions of McGregor from the side and Morelos – from the base squad – were made with an eye to the future.

Sakala filled the Colombian’s shoes with McCrorie, Ridvan Yilmaz, Ianis Hagi and Matondo who were also brought into the team that lost the Scottish Cup semi-final to Celtic.

There was no second career clash by the McCrorie brothers due to an injury suffered by the Dons’ defenseman Ross.

Perhaps due to so many changes, Rangers were largely bereft of rhythm.

Cantwell drifted wide with Angus MacDonald for a couple of early chances and deflected John Lundram’s attack over the crossbar.

The Dons were indebted to their keeper Kelle Roos for keeping the door shut until the break.

He bravely threw himself at the feet of the fashionable Sakala and prevented the attacker from converting Hagi’s knockdown.

He similarly denied Sakala shortly after a clean exchange of passes with Matondo and again foiled the Zambian by moving down to block his shot at his near post.

He was less convincing when he fielded James Tavernier’s strike at the point of halftime, although the ball appeared to be moving in the air.

Nevertheless, Aberdeen could and probably should have finished the first period ahead.

Miovski spun Ben Davies and accelerated away from the Englishman. His cross to the far post looked certain to be converted by Lopes, only for McCrorie to reach out and block a leg.

Miovski played intelligently throughout before stumbling away. He fell deep and sent Lopes off with another ball over the top. His chip beat McCrorie but fell on the roof of the net.

As always, there was an edge to this fixture. The Dons were furious when Liam Scales was knocked off the ball by Cantwell. Believing the Rangers man had been guilty of no more than a shoving, umpire John Beaton produced a yellow card plus one for Leighton Clarkson’s protests.

The Dons were perplexed as to why Beaton saw nothing wrong when Connor Goldson appeared to wrestle Lopes to the ground in or around the box late in the first half.

The visitors needed a stroke of luck to tie the game early in the second half when captain Jonny Hayes fired a cross from Matondo into the underside of his own crossbar. McCrorie then did well to tip Scales’ dipping head over the top.

Tellingly, after 65 minutes, Beale’s men failed to find the breakthrough with their combination play, pulled it off with the simplest set piece you’ll ever see.

Tavernier simply hung a corner kick deep to the far post. Unmarked, Cantwell still had a lot to do. He caught the ball flat on the volley with his right foot. This time Rose could only see him flying into the far corner.

Scott Wright, one of four players then introduced by Beale, was only denied a stunning solo goal against his former club at the slightest deflection.

A second goal would have ended the game, but Hayes did just enough to push Wright’s cross away from the oncoming Tavernier.

McCrorie didn’t have much to do, but when necessary he did his business for a longer run-up on the side. Another clever stop with his legs to deny that Shay Morris got ahead of his side.

In a day that will not be long remembered, the Rangers goalkeeper’s contribution was striking for all the right reasons.