Rangers secured a place in the Scottish League Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen at Hampden Park, thanks to a late goal from Ryan Naderi in the 83rd minute. The win extends the team's unbeaten run to 11 matches and puts manager Derek McInnes one match away from delivering his first major trophy at Ibrox.
McInnes Calls for Better Decision-Making
Despite the positive result, McInnes was critical of his side's finishing. Rangers dominated possession with 74% and registered 25 shots, but only five were on target before Naderi's winner. "The stats will show possession, 25 shots, but to only have five shots on target isn't good enough," McInnes told BBC Scotland. "Those stats are similar to what we see most weeks in terms of not enough shots on target and it's bad decision-making." He emphasized the need for improvement before the final in December, where Rangers will face either Hearts or Hibernian.
Naderi's Growing Influence
Ryan Naderi, who joined from the German third tier in February, has become a key player. His goal against Aberdeen adds to his tally of eight for the season, including the winner in a 1-0 league victory at Celtic Park. Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday described Naderi as "completely transformed this season," praising his work ethic and effectiveness. McInnes, however, believes the Czech Republic forward can offer more if the team provides better service. "He is a bit of a parasite in the sense that he thrives off service," McInnes said. "We just need to put more balls in the box for him but balls with a bit more quality."
Defensive Solidity and Context
The unbeaten run has been built on a strong defense, with seven clean sheets. Centre-back Olwethu Makhanya has been consistent, and the team has coped well without injured forwards Lawrence Shankland and Youssef Chermiti. Rangers have won only three major trophies since 2012, and McInnes stressed that reaching finals must become the norm. "This needs to be our norm year in year out, that we arrive at Hampden and we put ourselves in a position to lift silverware," he said.
