Ferguson ‘must drop Diomande’ at half-time v Aberdeen after what Rangers ace did
Mohamed Diomande did not cover himself in glory as Rangers went into the break at 0-0 against Aberdeen.
Barry Ferguson stuck with the same starting line-up that secured a point against Celtic last time out (4 May) in a tense Old Firm clash that finished 1-1.
The Ivorian midfielder has been a shining light for the Govan outfit in an abysmal campaign, notching four goals and seven assists in the Scottish Premiership this season and attracting interest from south of the border.
However, he was poor on this occasion and could not give the Gers the inspiration that they needed to take the lead at Ibrox.
Diomande must be axed at the break
The 23-year-old was a passenger against the Dons after impressing under both Philippe Clement and Ferguson this season.
Diomande struggled to influence the contest going forward and was equally as ineffective when it came to his defending.
The four-cap international had just 35 touches in the first half and created two chances while committing two fouls and winning one of the three ground duels that he contested. [Fotmob]
Rangers cannot afford to carry Diomande
The clash meant very little to the Gers in terms of the league table, Celtic have already been crowned as champions.
However, the Light Blues were looking to end a run of seven home matches without a win, which is a club record low, with their last win at Ibrox coming in a 4-0 rout against Ross County on 2 February.
| Stats | Diomande v Aberdeen |
| Touches | 35 |
| Chances created | 2 |
| Fouls committed | 2 |
| Ground duels won | 1/3 (33%) |
Their chances of beating Jimmy Thelin’s side and succeeding in that task will be vastly reduced if Diomande comes out for the second 45 minutes, as he has been dismal and offered little threat in front of goal and no defensive security.
The Bears are set for a complete overhaul in the summer, with the 49ers Enterprises group set to take the reins in the boardroom and make changes.
The future of Ferguson in the dugout is the most pressing issue but the squad is also in need of major surgery if the Govan outfit are going to bridge the gap to the Hoops anytime soon and Diomande’s future is uncertain.