Summary

  • First meeting of sides this season

  • Third-placed Motherwell travel to Rangers who sit fourth

  • Well have not won at Ibrox since 2015

  1. Plenty more to come from BBC Scotlandpublished at 18:03 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Our blanket coverage of Scottish football is not yet over this week.

    Tomorrow, the BBC Scotland channel has live coverage of the Scottish Cup first round tie between Lowland League sides University of Stirling and Albion Rovers.

    The channel also has Scotland v Belgium live on Tuesday in the second game of the new Nations League.

    That same night, the first Viaplay Cup quarter-final between Kilmarnock and Hearts is the focus for Sportsound on BBC Radio Scotland, with the three other games featuring on Wednesday.

    Phew! Do we ever get a day off these days? See you then.

  2. Night time reading...published at 18:00 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    So there you go. As we expected, Michael Beale is as unhappy with Rangers' display as many of the home fans who left before full-time at Ibrox.

    You can read more of that later on the BBC website.

    Meanwhile, you can read Martin Dowden's take of the game here.

    And Sean McGill's report of Aberdeen's victory here.

  3. That performance concerned me - Bealepublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Rangers 1-0 Motherwell

    Rangers manager Michael Beale admits to BBC Sportsound "it was a really poor performance despite the win over Motherwell.

    "We started really poor with lots of individual errors," he says.

    "I thought we scored a good goal. After it, the injury to Rabbi [Matondo], but already we weren't playing well in the game. Our decision-making was really poor and I think we got away with one today."

    Beale pointed to the Europa League midweek outing.

    "The schedule is heavy," he adds. "You ask any player, they'll say they want that. Thursday took a lot out of us and you could see that today. There were lots of lazy decisions.

    "When we want to the back-three, it enabled us to take control. The positives are the clean sheet and the win.

    "They say it's a good sign when you win when you're not playing well. I'm not taking much comfort from that. That performance concerned me."

    bealeImage source, SNS
  4. We were well beaten - Mackaypublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Aberdeen 4-0 Ross County

    Ross County manager Malky Mackay tells BBC Sportsound: "I thought we started really well. The first 15-20 minutes we had two great chances. The substitutes seemed to stall us.

    "The second goal gives them momentum. The first 20 minutes of that second half, we concede two really poor goals and that kills the game.

    "We come out of here well beaten by Aberdeen with Wednesday night in mind, knowing we have to be better than that.

    "There will be nothing brushed under the carpet. We've not had too many days like that the last couple of years. We were playing against a good team. If you make basic errors a good players, you get punished."

    MackayImage source, SNS
  5. Watch weekend Premiership highlightspublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Michael Beale has still not emerged from the Rangers dressing room after that nerve wracked win over Motherwell.

    So we've got a bit more time to remind you of that Sportscene highlights show.

    Former Scotland midfielders Michael Stewart and Lee McCulloch join host Jonathan Sutherland from 19:15 on the BBC Scotland TV channel, with the programme being repeated on BBC One Scotland at 23:50.

    SportsceneImage source, BBC Sport
  6. Worthy win for Dons - Robsonpublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Aberdeen 4-0 Ross County

    Aberdeen manager Barry Robson tells BBC Sportsound: "After the performance the other night, we managed to go today and score a few goals. We brought a lot of speed and passed the ball really well. It was a worthy win for us.

    "You're never a good attacking team without being a good defensive one and I thought the back three were outstanding.

    "We don't get carried away. We won a game at home. We had a good performance, but we have a big game on Wednesday that we want to try to win."

    On balancing league and European football, Robson adds: "I think we're learning. We freshened the team up and the players who came in performed well."

    RobsonImage source, SNS
  7. Kettlewell bemoans no penalty awardspublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Rangers 1-0 Motherwell

    Stuart Kettlewell believes that Motherwell should have had a penalty when "Brodie Spencer was bearing down on goal" in the penalty box but was challenged by James Tavernier.

    And he also thinks there was a hand ball missed by the referee. Not sure when that was as he doesn't elaborate, but he certainly has a case in the first incident.

    Again, that will be interesting to watch back in tonight's Sportscene highlights.

  8. We deserved something from game - Well bosspublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Rangers 1-0 Motherwell

    Stuart Kettlewell is pleased with his side's performance despite the single-goal loss at Ibrox.

    "It's incredibly difficult to accept that, especially off the back of last week," the Motherwell manager tells BBC Scotland. "I don't want to become like a broken record by saying we've performed exceptionally well, we've carved out all kinds of chances, we've had real good possession of the ball in good areas of the park and we've got nothing to show for it.

    "But again, when you are coming to a place like this and the team performed in the way that they did, I would love to think that 50-odd thousand in here acknowledged that the team were excellent today.

    "The players were outstanding. I don't think you will find anyone who thinks we didn't deserve something from the game."

  9. Relief for Robsonpublished at 17:27 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Aberdeen 4-0 Ross County

    Tyrone Smith
    BBC Scotland at Pittodrie

    Make no mistake, this was a big, big win for Aberdeen.

    Without one in the league until today’s game, a victory was needed – to get that monkey of their back and ease some of the pressure that comes with a run like that.

    It didn’t matter how they got it – they just had to get it - and they did. And in the end in some style too.

    Manager Barry Robson will be hoping it can be a real platform upon which his side can now build.

    As for County, a disappointing afternoon, but the positive is that they have a quickfire chance to exact some revenge when the sides meet in Dingwall on Viaplay Cup business on Wednesday night.

  10. Reaction to comepublished at 17:23 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    We are still waiting to hear from the four managers from Ibrox and Pittodrie. Stay with us for those...

  11. Watch out for County defendingpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Aberdeen 4-0 Ross County

    Willie Miller is saying you have to watch the terrible defending by Ross County for Aberdeen's second goal.

    You can see that and much more on the Sportscene highlights show on BBC Scotland TV channel at 19:15.

    Sportscene
  12. 'Rangers don't look like a team'published at 17:17 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Rangers 1-0 Motherwell

    Willie Miller
    Former Aberdeen captain on BBC Sportsound

    The thing about Rangers just now is that, just about every time you get a match report, listen to commentary or see them on TV, they don't look like a team at all or one that's gelling. Today sounds a bit scrappy and fortunate.

  13. 'Rangers must win Viaplay Cup'published at 17:13 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Rangers 1-0 Motherwell

    Kenny Miller
    Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound

    If Rangers don't win the Viaplay Cup with Celtic losing to Kilmarnock in the last round, I don't see where you go after that. They have not won the League Cup since 2011 and you have Livingston at home in the quarter-finals in midweek. Rangers must win this cup.

  14. Robson relief, County day to forgetpublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Aberdeen 4-0 Ross County

    Aberdeen stay second bottom, but the manner of their victory, which takes them clear of St Johnstone and one behind three other sides, will bring relief to manager Barry Robson.

    A first league win of the season is a monkey off his back and follows a heartening performance despite defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt.

    For seventh-placed County, it is simply a day to forget.

  15. Rangers secure 'must-win'published at 17:08 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Rangers 1-0 Motherwell

    Rangers' victory means they leapfrog visitors Motherwell into third place, two points behind St Mirren and two more adrift of reigning champions Celtic.

    It was a gap Michael Beale couldn't afford to grow - and they were so close to another disappointing result.

  16. Lady luck shines on Rangerspublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Rangers 1-0 Motherwell

    Martin Dowden
    BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox

    Rangers got away with one here. A deflection proved decisive in a match in which Motherwell really gave them a game.

    They will feel so frustrated at the outcome. Rangers will feel relief to have taken the points and move on. Home fans were far from convinced.

  17. FULL-TIME Rangers 1-0 Motherwellpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Rangers secure their third win in a row - but they can count themselves very lucky.

    Not just because Cyriel Dessers knew little of the first-half winning goal that took a deflection off his foot.

    Motherwell had plenty of chances to make it an even more uncomfortable afternoon for the hosts, who were greeted with a chorus of boos from those left in the Ibrox stands.

    Rangers' Cyriel Dessers celebrates his goalImage source, SNS
  18. FULL-TIME Aberdeen 4-0 Ross Countypublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    What a way to get your first three points of the season.

    A double from Bojan Miovski, a Jamie McGrath finish and a first goal of the campaign for Duk seals victory for Barry Robson's side and eases the panic at Pittodrie.

    County, meanwhile, will need to improve markedly before the sides meet again in the Viaplay Cup on Wednesday.

    Miovski celebratesImage source, sns
  19. Postpublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Rangers 1-0 Motherwell

    There's lots of empty seats appearing around Ibrox - and that tells its own story.

  20. Unfortunate Wellpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Rangers 1-0 Motherwell

    Stephen Craigan
    Former Motherwell captain on Sportsound

    If Motherwell got the goal, it would be fully deserved. They just need something to fall their way.