Reaction to Aberdeen's dramatic late win over Hearts

Summary

Cosgrove capitalises on Berra error to give Aberdeen lead
Naismith heads in leveller from close range
Walker breaks into box and jabs Hearts ahead
Hearts' Hickey dismissed after second booking
Cosgrove converts penalty after Dikamona fouls McGinn
Hedges crashes Leigh cross past Zlamal
Goldson header gives Rangers dramatic win at Kilmarnock
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Live Reporting

Stefan Bienkowski

Levein has his eye on Europepublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Aberdeen v Hearts (15:00)
Hearts manager Craig Levein tells BBC Sportsound his team "should be round about the European spots" at the business end of the season.
"We have the fourth or fifth biggest budget in the league, so that's where we should be," he says.
"The last couple of seasons have been difficult but we have a lot of our main players on extended contracts now and that gives us some stability for the next few years and we have some of the young lads pushing on.
"Once we get another couple of players in, we'll be nearer where we were at this time last year
"Steven Naismith is a very good player, it's a big boost for everyone to get him back and it's good for everyone to get him involved today. He'll be on the field at some point."
Image source, SNS
Arfield and Ojo swap wingspublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Neil McCann
Former Scotland and Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound
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A slight tactical tweak from Rangers. Arfield has just switched with Ojo. Arfield to the right and Ojo to the left. Just to change it up a little bit.
'Scrappy & humdrum'published at 14:32 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer
Plenty of edge between Stuart Findlay and Alfredo Morelos here. Scrappy match so far. No real chance apart from the goal for Scott Arfield. Rangers deserve their lead, but it’s all a bit humdrum.
SECOND HALF KICK-OFFpublished at 46 min
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
And we're back underway at Rugby Park.
No changes from either side during the break.
Kilmarnock encouraged by keeping it tightpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Cammy Bell
Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper
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Kilmarnock will be relatively happy getting in at half time 1-0 down where they can re-assess the game. Rangers haven't really created too many opportunities but Kilmarnock haven't really done much at all in the game, only really Brophy's pot shot at nothing to be honest.
'Changes bring freshness for Dons'published at 14:26 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Aberdeen v Hearts (15:00)
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Sportsound: "We need to have that energy and enthusiasm for the league opener and it's important to get off to a winning start.
"We've tried to freshen things up to keep the energy in the team. I've got to utilise the squad, It's not putting Europe ahead of this game, not at all.
"Defensively, we don't have many options to change things up and it's difficult to leave out Ojo and Ferguson from the midfield.
"The last two home performances have been very encouraging and hopefully that's a sign of things to come."
Aims for the season?
The Europa League group stages and "winning both cups"... Healthy ambition from Mr McInnes.
Image source, SNS
Dons looking ahead to Europe?published at 14:23 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Aberdeen v Hearts (15:00)
No Craig Bryson for Aberdeen, while Niall McGinn and Ryan Hedges are among the substitutes. Is manager Derek McInnes resting players before Thursday's Europa League trip to Rijeka?
It looks like three central defender for Hearts, with summer signing Craig Halkett joining captain Christophe Berra and John Souttar. Or maybe Craig Levein will be tempted to use Halkett further up the park? The former Livingston skipper does have three goals in three League Cup appearances for his new club after all.
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Hearts manager Craig Levein at Pittodrie
Naismith a welcome sight for Jambospublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Aberdeen v Hearts (15:00)
Stephen Couse
BBC Sport Scotland at Pittodrie
Hearts will hope to replicate their form at the start of last season when they were unbeaten until October - and one of the key players during that period, Steven Naismith, could make all the difference to a strong start.
Craig Levein says he will likely play a part today, but starts on the bench after signing earlier this week.
The Tynecastle side’s shaky, but ultimately successful, Betfred Cup group stage campaign may have left them hoping for an easier opening fixture than Aberdeen at Pittodrie - with the Dons in lethal form on Thursday here against Chikhura Sachkhere.
Sam Cosgrove is the man Craig Levein will be most wary of, coming off the back of a hat-trick and six goals in five games for the season.
LINE-UPS from Pittodriepublished at 14:17 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Aberdeen v Hearts (15:00)
Image source, BBC Sport
Aberdeen: Logan, Considine, McKennna, Leigh, Ojo, Ferguson, Gallagher, Wright, Wilson, Cosgrove.
Substitutes: Cerny, Ramsay, Campbell, McGinn, Hedges, Anderson, May.
Hearts: Zlamal, Smith, Souttar, Halkett, Berra, Hickey, Irving, Clare, Walker, Mulraney, Ikpeazu.
Substitutes: Doyle, White, Bozanic, Washington, Naismith, Cochrane, Dikamona.
Image source, BBC Sport
HALF-TIMEpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Image source, SNS
Rangers go in to the break with a one-goal lead that just about sums up how things have gone at Rugby Park so far. Steven Gerrard's side haven't exactly littered the Kilmarnock goal with huge chances, but they've certainly shown far more intent to score.
Postpublished at 42 min
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
We're just a few minutes from half time and there's another collective groan from the home crowd as Alfredo Morelos is brought down by Mohamed El Makrini in the middle of the park.
The Rangers forward seems to have been everywhere in the opening half and has been a real thorn in Kilmarnock's side.
Alessio should be fairly happypublished at 14:11 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Neil McCann
Former Scotland and Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound
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It's not been too uncomfortable for Kilmarnock. How many times has Branescu been asked to make big saves? Not too many. Rangers have enjoyed possession but we saw on a number of occasions last season with Clarke - that's no trouble, as long as there's not cutting you open with shots at goal and they're not peppering your area with crosses and attempts.
Rate the playerspublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Remember, you can rate the players from both Kilmarnock and Rangers.
Just jab your thumb or finger at this sentence to do so...
Findlay at his best for Killiepublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Cammy Bell
Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper
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He's got incredible pace for a defender, and he's playing on the edge which he always does. That's when he's at his best for me. He just needs to control his temper and if he can do that, he's a phenomenal player.
Findlay's pace saving Killie from further damagepublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Neil McCann
Former Scotland and Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound
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Couple of times now Alfredo Morelos has rolled down the side and Stuart Findlay's pace has been evident because he's been done with the initial movement of the striker, but his pace has got him back there. Had it not been for that I think Morelos would have darted across him and had a better angle at goal. Couple of times now Kilmarnock have been caught with touches they didn't have to take.
Postpublished at 32 min
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
It's all Rangers at the moment. Kilmarnock are struggling to find Eamonn Brophy up front and any clearance or interception quickly finds itself back in Rangers possession.
CLOSE!published at 28 min
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Alfredo Morelos once again marches in to the Kilmarnock box and swings a ball across the Killie goalmouth. Laurentiu Branescu lets it go but there's no Rangers player to knock it in to the empty net either.
Morelos being tested by defenderpublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Cammy Bell
Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper
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This will test him. There was a bit of wrestling, Morelos had a hold of Broadfoot but then Broadfoot absolutely rag-dolled him to the floor. It was Broadfoot and Morelos involved in an incident at half time last year, so there's history there and you find with players they put that in the old notebook. This is a wee bit of a test for him today to see how he handles it and if there's any afters. It'll be intriguing to see how this goes
YELLOW CARDpublished at 24 min
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
James Tavernier's name goes in to the book after thwarting a counter attack by Rory McKenzie. Kilmarnock seem to be doing their best to get through balls in behind the Rangers defender.
Bright play from Arfieldpublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 4 August 2019
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Neil McCann
Former Scotland and Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound
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It was a simple header but the worrying thing was Katic was absolutely free as a bird. He's standing with two yards of space in the penalty area which just should not happen. It was a really good save from Branescu, but all he did was parry it down and Arfield was there bright as ever with the presence of mind to stroke it home with the right instep of his foot. That's a great start for Rangers.