Aberdeen legend Willie Miller has branded the Dons’ defeat at Rangers as ‘tragic’ and insists it has left manager Jim Goodwin with a lot to reflect on.

Miller was critical of Goodwin's decision to start the Ibrox clash with a three-man defence in the 4-1 loss as the hosts chalked up a staggering 36 attempts at goal.

Aberdeen took a shock lead through Connor Barron after 21 minutes but that was as good as it got in a one-sided contest.

And former Dons captain and manager Miller hopes Goodwin, whose team dropped to fourth in the Premiership, learns from getting his tactics wrong.

Miller said: “It was an embarrassing day for the club, Jim Goodwin will have to go away and reflect on the tactics, playing with a back three and it was just a back three, stretched throughout the game. 

“He changed it to a back four in the second half and it didn’t make any difference, it was just waves of attacks from Rangers, they created numerous chances outwith the four goals. 

“Aberdeen were fortunate to go away with 4-1, it was really embarrassing. Have a look at the game and realise the deficiencies, spot the deficiencies, this was not a performance for any club with ambitions to be third in the league.

“Talking about getting on the coattails of Rangers, they were nowhere near Rangers, hugely disappointing - a tragic performance to be perfectly honest.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Miller added: “A manager has every right to put out a team, shape, formation that he thinks is going to cause Rangers a problem or two, what it did is it actually made the game for Rangers because they were so stretched at the back. 

“I think Jim has a lot of reflection to do, I’m all for playing on the front foot but you have to give respect to Rangers and Celtic when you go to Glasgow. 

“There’s ways of getting points from the game and it’s certainly not to be as open as what Aberdeen were. It was four going on double figures.”