Rangers' concerning familiar failing that caused Aberdeen defeat

“It was a difficult game, it was a clash of styles. For a long while we imposed ours on Aberdeen but when you are the away team and you’re on top you have to take your chances,” he said, reflecting on a demoralising defeat heading into next week’s mammoth Old Firm Scottish Cup Semi-Final.

In nine league games away from home before yesterday Rangers had lost just once under Beale, a 3-2 Old Firm defeat, and averaged 2.7 goals per game.

This squad have saved their best domestic performances for away days, with a narrow attacking shape primed to exploit space left by opponents.

Yesterday, two things were different. Aberdeen pressed with more numbers and made the visitors earn any control of the ball they enjoyed and when Beale’s frontline were handed chances, all were spurned. 

The numbers, which require some mitigation given Aberdeen were 2-0 up after 56 minutes, show Beale's side created a quality of chance which merited a better result.

257 pressures made by the home side is indicative of how aggressive Barry Robson's men were off the ball, over double their 126 average.

Nothing can be read into a comparison of the two side's pressing numbers given the visitors enjoyed so much of the ball.

Early on it became apparent that Aberdeen were going to disrupt Rangers' build-up as frequently as possible.

Here, as John Souttar plays the ball into Nico Raskin, notice two things.

Firstly, Aberdeen’s left wing-back Jonny Hayes jumps up to press James Tavernier and secondly, their attacking midfielder Ryan Duncan follows John Lundstram into the defence.

Why does this matter? It means that the visitors did not have a man advantage in the backline. Lundstram drops into these positions to create a three-vs-two, stretch the opposition attack and offer numerical control. When the hosts’ went man for man at points, Rangers’ options playing out from the back were limited.

Here's a rough example. Given the fluidity of Rangers' attackers, there wasn't a set man-for-man template higher up the pitch. However, the important point to note is the numbers Aberdeen committed to press.

The trick for Rangers? Try and use this aggression against Aberdeen. They played through pressure multiple times in the first half but always did so without a finishing touch.

That's what will frustrate Beale. As he himself commented, Rangers didn't capitalise on the game when they imposed their style, while Aberdeen did.

This example after 12 minutes, ending in Fashion Sakala’s one-on-one chance, demonstrates how either side’s approach played out.

With Lundstram on the ball, the home side press Rangers’ back three with equal numbers. They're actually outnumbering Beale's side in their own half.

Rangers don't have the numbers to progress the ball through the thirds and although Raskin isn’t being man-marked, there are numerous players ready to press. Notice, Hayes and Duncan have both pushed up aggressively.

Therefore, the visitors are forced backwards to Allan McGregor who, not confident inviting pressure to create the extra man in possession, goes long looking for Malik Tillman.

This ploy, to play over pressure, was a tactic used against Celtic in the January and League Cup Final Old Firm. If able to effectively play over a press, as Rangers did for Ryan Kent’s goal in the 2-2 draw, you can create a transitional attack into space.

That's exactly what they achieve here. It looks like a counterattack but Rangers have created this situation in possession. 

Tillman, having plucked the ball out of the sky, finds Sakala in his stride. He slides past Pollock before hitting Kelle Roos instead of the back of the net.

Although Roos was quick off his line, that grants Sakala even more of the goal to aim at. StatsBomb gives the chance a 0.51xG rating.

All throughout the half, the home side committed plenty of numbers forward to make sure Rangers did not have a free man in the build-up.

Even in situations like below, with the Ibrox side in control at the halfway line, all it takes is one backward pass for Ramadani to leave his position in midfield and press the ball.

Too often, Beale's men lacked the composure to exploit this aggression.

In this example, as Tillman receives the ball two opponents press, which creates space for the youngster to slip in Sakala. 

The Zambian blazes over when a pass into Alfredo Morelos would've been wiser.

More of these moments occurred as Rangers started to find holes in the Aberdeen press.

In this scenario, Lundstram drops to the right of the centre-backs instead of the middle while Tavernier’s run inside the pitch pulls Scales out of position.

Sakala can run down the side of the defence to lay off Raskin, who perhaps could’ve played in Tillman instead of shooting.

Alongside Morelos’ shot cleared off the line, Barisic also had a good chance which clipped the post.

Towards the end of the first half, however, the home side's approach became more productive. Here, Ben Davies doesn’t have many options and his under-hit pass is intercepted, leading to a dangerous chance.

And, although Scales’ opener was a freak strike it’s no coincidence that the shot originated from an aggressive action by the defender, getting ahead of Morelos to win the ball.

Ultimately, did we learn anything new? Rangers lack a clinical consistent edge at the top end of the park and defended poorly for Bojan Miovski's strike.

But make no mistake, they had more than enough moments to make this a battling away win, not a humbling defeat.

"When you come away from home to Pittodrie and you have four chances like we had first half you have to score," Beale added post-match.

"You talk before the game about how ruthless we have to be and it’s something that’s been dragging around with us a little bit. Anyone who watches us play regularly and our fans will tell you that, we miss a lot of chances that we create. Going forward if we’re going to win things and we’re going to compete over the course of the season we have to be more decisive in the box."

Undoubtedly, like in the 3-2 Old Firm defeat, Beale will rue his side's inability to dominate both boxes. He has to change that at Hampden this week.