BBC Sport journalist spots what Neil Warnock did in second half of Rangers v Aberdeen
New Aberdeen manager Neil Warnock “kicked just about every ball” during the second half of his club’s clash with Rangers.
That is according to BBC Sport journalist Kheredine Idessane, with Warnock in the Dons dugout for the first time on Tuesday (6 February).
His side narrowly lost 2-1 to Rangers at Ibrox, with Todd Cantwell scoring the winner with just under 20 minutes to go.
“Warnock kicked just about every ball in the second half, as he urged his side firstly to stay in the game, then encouraged them to try to find a leveller,” Idessane wrote for BBC Sport (6 February).
“There wasn’t a moment to be missed, and his team came within inches of a spectacular equaliser towards the end. The Aberdeen fans applauded the side’s efforts, and Warnock went across to acknowledge their support.”
Aberdeen narrowly lose to Rangers
There were plenty of eyebrows raised when Warnock was named as Aberdeen manager for the remainder of the season, with the experienced boss coming in for the sacked Barry Robson.
And the former was handed a very challenging start to life in Scotland, with a tricky test away to Rangers representing his first match in charge of the Dons.
It started very poorly for him and his players thanks to Rabbi Matondo’s early opener, but Bojan Miovski soon brought them back level.
The visitors certainly put up a very good fight at Ibrox, particularly given their struggles lately and indeed the form of Philippe Clement’s men.
But it wasn’t meant to be in the end, with Cantwell firing home a winner for the Gers, much to the delight of the Ibrox faithful, who really were behind their team from the first whistle.
Warnock can take great confidence from the performance, if not the result, with more displays like that needed to help Aberdeen climb the league table.
In other Rangers news, Warnock has reacted instantly to a Gers controversy during the clash with his new club at Ibrox.
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