Philippe Clement delighted with Rangers unity in win over Aberdeen

Rangers boss Philippe Clement was full of praise for his team and the club’s fans after the 2-1 win over Aberdeen that saw the Ibrox side draw level with Celtic on points at the top of the table.

Rabbi Matondo gave the hosts an early lead but Aberdeen drew level just before half-time when Bojan Miovski found the net.

Todd Cantwell struck the winner in the second half but Rangers had to see out the last ten minutes with ten men after Dujon Sterling was sent off.

Clement was impressed with how his side dealt with setbacks and suggested Rangers would have failed to win the game several months ago.

“You get a knock there just before half-time and then it is important to stay calm and to continue what you are doing, not start to doubt,” he said.

“It is a big difference with a few months ago that the belief stays and everybody keeps on pushing to get the result. That was one circumstance and then the second is the red card 10 minutes before the end of the game.

“You need to struggle in those minutes, although it was not really a struggle. We even had chances to score a goal because we kept on going but it made it more difficult to finish the game.

“Maybe at the end it is good to show everybody how aligned everybody is in the club now, the fans and players, because it was amazing to feel this energy out of the stands in the last 10 minutes.”

Clement said he was yet to make a decision on whether to appeal Sterling’s red card. The sending off by referee Don Robertson was reviewed by VAR, who invited the official to take another look but he stuck by his original decision after watching replays of the challenge.

“Yes, that’s something we need to decide as a club,” Clement said. “I never make these decisions alone. It was a harsh decision for me. Dujon slipped and he hits the toes of the opponent.

“I didn’t see until now many red cards that you touch the opponent at his toes. If I look back, I cannot remember one moment.”