Keith Jackson predicts result of Rangers v Aberdeen final in Daily Record
Keith Jackson has predicted Rangers will beat Aberdeen in the Viaplay Cup final because Philippe Clement and his players simply cannot afford to fail.
The Daily Record journalist suggested it would be a tight game, and that it might even go to extra time, but the difference in quality between the two sides should be enough to see Rangers victorious.
Jackson was also full of praise for Clement, insisting he would be able to make the correct calls when it matters in the big moments of the game to see his side win the trophy.
Writing in his column for the Daily Record [16 December, pg 55], Jackson shared: “Rangers will take the trophy home because failure to do so doesn’t bear thinking about for Philippe Clement or his players.
“But Aberdeen won’t come to Glasgow to roll over for them. It will be tight – perhaps going all the way to extra time – but the Ibrox outfit have the quality to prevail and a manager capable of making big decisions at the right moment.
“Rangers 3, Aberdeen 2. After extra time.”
Can’t afford to lose
To put it simply, Rangers and Clement cannot afford to lose this game. For their morale, their ambitions and the landscape of their season, a League Cup final victory should set them up to continue their resurgence in the second half of the season.
Should they fail to take the trophy back to Ibrox, it could be crushing for not only the players but the attitudes of the fans. Those who are currently hopeful of making progress and continuing their pressure this season could quickly be turned toxic.
Clement has often called for the fans to stick behind the team through the hard times, to lend their support and help give the players that extra boost they need, but failing to win silverware on Sunday could make that difficult.
It’s clear Rangers need to win, they expect to win, and they have the quality to win. Aberdeen will prove a dangerous test as they have proved twice already this season, but Clement will know what needs to be done to finally get the better of the Dons.
In other Rangers news, a pundit has named a Celtic player as one Rangers star should replicate.