Philippe Clement expressed satisfaction with Rangers' continued improvement after their hard-fought 1-0 victory over St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership. This win was especially significant as it marked Rangers' first away victory in the league since September, a crucial result after their recent Europa League success against Nice. The match was decided by an own goal from former Rangers player Jason Holt, which ensured all three points for the visiting team.
Clement praised the team's defensive strength, noting that Rangers allowed just one shot on target for the second consecutive match. He emphasised the importance of not conceding opportunities to the opposition, stating, "At the end, it's also crucial to not concede chances." The manager underlined that a solid defense is the result of a collective team effort and lauded the overall improvement in this area.
While pleased with the defensive performance, Clement also acknowledged that there is still work to be done in the attack. He highlighted the need for better decision-making and positioning in the final third. Despite these ongoing challenges, he pointed out that mistakes are becoming less frequent, and he remains positive about the team's development. "It's still a work in progress," Clement admitted, but his optimism about their trajectory was clear.
Rangers' victory also helped them narrow the gap to league leaders Celtic to 11 points, with the club now sitting seven points behind Aberdeen. However, Aberdeen was held to a 1-1 draw by Hearts, extending their winless streak to three matches. In that game, Leighton Clarkson gave Aberdeen the lead, but an own goal from Nicky Devlin leveled the score.
Aberdeen's manager, Jimmy Thelin, remained hopeful despite the recent setbacks. He acknowledged his team's commitment, saying, "You can see the players have the fight for each other." Thelin praised the effort shown by his players but stressed the need for the team to regain their rhythm and improve their dynamics to avoid further slip-ups. He also highlighted the need to improve possession management, as losing the ball too easily had allowed opponents to capitalise on mistakes. Despite these challenges, Thelin expressed confidence in his team’s ability to recover and get back to winning ways.
In the wider context, both Rangers and Aberdeen are determined to continue their progress, with Rangers closing the gap to Celtic, while Aberdeen looks to bounce back from their recent dip in form.
