Shankland penalty earns Rangers first league win as VAR denies Aberdeen equaliser

Rangers left Pittodrie with their first Premiership win of the season on Sunday, a slender 1-0 victory secured by a Lawrence Shankland penalty and preserved by a late VAR intervention that disallowed what would have been Kevin Nisbet’s equaliser. The result, achieved under new manager Derek McInnes, offered a rare moment of relief after a bruising midweek European exit and a winless start to the league campaign.

A late penalty and a crucial denial

Shankland stepped up in the 67th minute after Djeidi Gassama was fouled by Daniel Happe inside the box. The Gers captain made no mistake, firing the spot-kick into the top corner to break a deadlock that had held since the 38th minute, when Afeez Aremu had cleared a Gassama effort off the line under heavy pressure. Aberdeen had begun brightly, with Ronan’s set piece almost yielding an early opener at the back post, but it was Rangers who struck first when it mattered.

Any hope of a late leveller for the home side was extinguished in the 87th minute. Nisbet rose to head in what would have been his 10th goal of the season, but the goal was disallowed after VAR ruled he had pushed Dujon Sterling and was also marginally offside. The decision sparked frustration in the Pittodrie dugout, but it confirmed a hard-earned three points for McInnes’ side.

McInnes’ first league win in charge

The victory marked McInnes’ first league win since taking charge, arriving after a midweek Champions League qualifier defeat to Jablonec on penalties that ended Rangers’ European ambitions for the season. With just one point from their opening two league games, the pressure on the new boss had been mounting. A response was required at his former club, and despite another testing afternoon, his players delivered.

The win also represented a morale boost for a Rangers side still searching for consistency. Shankland’s composure from the spot provided a clear focal point in attack, while the defensive resilience—evident in Aremu’s crucial intervention—offered reassurance at the back. For Aberdeen, the frustration was compounded by the VAR call, but the performance underlined their attacking threat, even if the final margin left them empty-handed.

Tactical takeaways

McInnes’ side showed discipline in transition, absorbing early pressure before exploiting width through Gassama’s direct running. Aberdeen, meanwhile, struggled to convert territorial dominance into clear chances, their best moments coming from set pieces and individual quality rather than sustained build-up play. The late VAR decision underlined the fine margins that now define top-flight football, where a single refereeing check can tilt a game’s outcome.

For Rangers, the challenge now is to build on this result. Shankland’s penalty and Aremu’s clearance were decisive, but the performance lacked the fluidity McInnes will demand. Aberdeen, despite the setback, showed enough to suggest they remain a side capable of competing at the top end of the table—if they can tighten up in front of goal.

The win keeps Rangers in the hunt, albeit still searching for their first league win of the season before Sunday. For McInnes, it’s a start—but the road ahead remains steep.