McLeish acclaims Ricksen as Rangers close gap on Celtic

Aberdeen 1 Rangers 2

Ricksen’s contract expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with a move to Everton.

However, it is likely he will remain at Ibrox until the end of the season and talks about a possible new deal to stay beyond that will take place in the next few days.

But McLeish admitted the player was “confused” by the uncertainty surrounding his future and praised him for not allowing it to affect his performance on the pitch.

He said: “He is an important player and has been all season. It shows that with the speculation surrounding him he was as committed as ever. Sometimes with players on Bosmans with the chance to go elsewhere you wonder what their commitment is, but he is an example to any young player.

“There are a lot of things for him to consider and it must be difficult for him at the moment. I am sure he is a bit confused but for him to play the way he did says a lot about him.”

Ricksen refused to comment on his future but admitted he would not be claiming the crucial second goal. With Dado Prso having marked his return to the starting line-up with a ninth-minute opener, Aberdeen goalkeeper Ryan Esson then made a hash of a corner from the Dutchman and diverted the ball towards his own net.

Kevin McNaughton, the man on the line, got a final touch but Esson admitted his error.

He said: “It may have come off Kevin but it was my mistake. I have got to take the responsibility for us not getting a draw.”

The Dons did pull a goal back soon afterwards, through Darren Mackie, but that turned out to be the end of the scoring as Rangers cut Celtic’s lead at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League back to three points.

With Celtic having won at Pittodrie last week, it was another fruitless 90 minutes for Jimmy Calderwood’s team. But the Dons boss insisted: “I would think the Aberdeen fans would go home happier than last week because of the players’ attitude, but we have still lost the game.

“We are still fourth in the league and in the next round of the cup. I don’t like losing but I feel a lot better than I did this time last week.”

One man who was not feeling so good was Rangers midfielder Bojan Djordjic, who was stretchered off early in the second half following a clash with Chris Clark. He suffered a knee injury but McLeish was confident it was not serious.

McLeish said: “I don’t think it is too bad. He got a kick on the knee. They tell me he won’t be out too long, if at all.”

Meanwhile, Calderwood has set Dunfermline defender Richie Byrne and his agent a Monday lunchtime deadline to accept a contract offer after the two clubs agreed a fee.

ABERDEEN: Esson, Hart, Anderson, Diamond, McNaughton, Foster (Stewart 80), Heikkinen, Winter (Muirhead 73), Clark, Mackie, Whelan (Kristjansson 69).

RANGERS: Klos, Ross, Andrews, Malcolm, Vignal, Novo, Alex Rae, Ricksen, Djordjic (Thompson 55), Prso (Namouchi 81), Buffel (Hughes 71).

Referee: D McDonald.