ABERDEEN and Rangers will meet in the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Ibrox a week tomorrow after a turgid last eight encounter at Pittodrie yesterday finished level at the end of 90 minutes.

Sam Cosgrove had given Derek McInnes’s side the lead from the penalty spot early in the first-half, but Joe Worrall levelled from close range just four minutes into the second with his first goal for Steven Gerrard’s team.

So what did we learn from events in the north-east? And what can we expect when these two fierce adversaries do it all again in eight days’ time?

A DRAW WAS A FAIR RESULT

Aberdeen looked by far the hungrier of the two teams from kick-off. They won individual battles all over the park, not least in midfield, and deserved to take the lead. That said, Rangers centre half Connor Goldson gifted them a penalty needlessly.

He kicked Gary Mackay-Steven’s standing leg after the winger had received the ball from Max Lowe inside his area and referee Kevin Clancy was correct to award a spot kick. But it was a point-less challenge. His opponent was heading away from goal and in no danger.

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After a lengthy delay for Mackay-Steven to receive medical treatment – he limped off shortly afterwards due to the calf injury he suffered and was replaced by Niall McGinn - Cosgrove converted.

The visitors certainly had their chances. Joe Lewis saved well from Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent shot over. However, their hosts had by far the better of the opening 45 minutes.

Aberdeen, though, conceded a criminally soft goal at a Ryan Kent corner at the start of the second-half to level. Worrall was allowed to ghost in at the far post unchallenged and side-foot beyond Lewis.

McInnes’s men looked the likelier of the two teams to score after that. Scott McKenna, Cosgrove and Andrew Considine all had attempts either saved or blocked on the goal line after that. Gerrard’s charges sought to grab a winner on the counter attack. But nobody could really complain about the final outcome.

IT’S ADVANTAGE RANGERS

Aberdeen may have beaten Rangers twice in Glasgow this season – in the Betfred Cup semi-final at Hampden back in October and in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Ibrox in December – but they will be doing well to make it a hat-trick.

Gerrard’s team are unbeaten in the seven games they have played at home since that latter match. They were far from their best yesterday, in the first 45 minutes especially, but still ground out a draw. If they can find their form in the replay then they will fancy their chances of progressing.

“Our record is history,” said Gerrard. “The next game is our opportunity to make amends. I’m more interested in the game plan and playing the next game. I’m not interested in who has beaten me as a manager.”

COSGROVE WILL BE MISSED

The man who had netted one goal in senior football – for Carlisle in a League Two game against Crewe last year – is now one of the most prolific strikers in British football.

His first-half-penalty, which went in despite Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor getting a hand to it, took his tally for the 2018/19 campaign to 18. He has now scored 16 times in his last 17 matches.

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However, he picked up a yellow card for an elbow on Borna Barisic in the second-half. Having been booked in the previous round against Queen of the South, he will miss the replay.

James Wilson, who came on for Connor McLennnan with five minutes remaining, will probably take his team mate’s place up front in the replay. But Cosgrove will be a huge loss.

THE REFEREE PLAYED A BLINDER

Big matches this season, especially those between these two sides, have been marred by controversies over disallowed goals, offside decisions, penalties and orderings off. But Clancy allowed the game to flow and got all the big calls right. It was a much-needed reminder, amid calls for overseas match officials, that our leading referees are nowhere near as bad as many maintain.

Both managers were certainly impressed. “It’s nice to be talking about the game and chances rather than who is getting cited or suspended,” said Gerrard afterwards. “I’m getting sick and tired with that.”

THE TICKET ALLOCATION WAS A JOKE

Rangers fans received fewer briefs than they should have under cup rules because Aberdeen were unable to get their stadium safety certificate altered in time. Only 2,000 followers of the Ibrox club were in attendance at Pittodrie – not the 4,000 they were entitled to – as a result.

But couldn’t something have been done accommodate more followers of the Ibrox club? There were a large number of seats lying empty around the ground. The 15,395 crowd was far from a sell-out. It was unfortunate that such a big game wasn’t watched by a capacity crowd.

Limiting the number of away supporters certainly increased the home team’s chances of success. But not having full houses for showpiece matches such as this is to the detriment of Scottish football as a whole.