Shankland's penalty sees Rangers clinch much-needed away victory over Aberdeen

Rangers' Lawrence Shankland celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot. Pic: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.

Aberdeen 0 Rangers 1

Lawrence Shankland’s second-half penalty gave Derek McInnes and Rangers some much-needed respite in a 1-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

The tale of the Light Blues since the Gers boss arrived from Hearts in the summer has been one of constant change in formation and personnel amid exits from two European competitions and a poor start to the William Hill Premiership campaign.

The Ibrox side turned in a better performance than many of late and in the 69th minute skipper Shankland, a former Don, converted a spot-kick won by Djeidi Gassama.

Aberdeen skipper Kevin Nisbet had the ball in the Gers net in the 81st minute but was judged to have pushed Gers full-back Dujon Sterling and the goal was ruled out.

McInnes has brought in 12 new players including debutant Kim Min-su, the 20-year-old South Korean winger signed from Girona on a four-year deal for a reported fee of around £8.5million, and who performed well before he was replaced in the second half.

Progress is proving frustratingly slow for the Gers fans but three hard-fought points will bring some positivity to Ibrox.

On top of a shock defeat to Czech side Jablonec in the Europa Conference League play-off on Thursday night, the Gers squad travelled north already eight points behind leaders Celtic – now reduced back to five, after three fixtures.

McInnes gave a debut to Kim and he was one of four changes, with Shankland, Cammy Devlin and Findlay Curtis also coming in.

Unchanged Aberdeen, who had won six of their seven games this season, might have scored in the second minute if defender Dan Happe had connected better with a Connor Ronan free-kick, before Pittodrie attacker Mitchy Ntelo had a chance to go further through on goal only to shoot weakly at Gers keeper Ivor Pandur from distance.

In response, Kim had a couple of non-threatening efforts, one either side of Curtis curling a shot over the bar.

A driving run from deep in the 38th minute by Gassama ended with the Rangers winger playing in the supporting Kim.

The South Korean’s shot was blocked by Dons keeper Marius Muller and with Shankland ready to pounce, Afeez Aremu completed the clearance for a corner, from which Shankland’s glancing header was beaten away by Muller.

In the 55th minute Kim’s powerful free-kick from 30 yards was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Muller for a corner which came to nothing.

There was no let-up in a fiery contest but it took a turn towards Ibrox when Gassama was upended inside the Aberdeen penalty area by Happe with referee Matthew MacDermid pointing to the spot.

Shankland stepped up and sent Muller the wrong way with a confident spot-kick.

The home side fought furiously for the leveller and there was an Aberdeen penalty claim in the 81st minute when Sterling appeared to prevent Nisbet getting to a cross but no action was taken.

However, two minutes later Nesbit was on hand to head into the net from close range after Pandur saved attempts from the former Hibernian forward and Ayoub Mouloua but the goal was ruled offside for a push on Sterling.

Aberdeen had no other answer and a relieved former Dons boss McInnes and the travelling Gers fans enjoyed the final whistle and the first league win of the season.