Leon Balogun no stranger to Rangers school of hard knocks but defender won't use 'revenge' to fuel Aberdeen mission

Leon Balogun was introduced to the rough and tumble of Scottish football when his head was smashed off a post at Pittodrie.

But even that didn’t sting quite as much as the blow Barry Robson’s Aberdeen side dished out the last time they took a swing at Rangers. The Dons’ 3-1 win at Ibrox in September proved to be a knock-out for Michael Beale as the Londoner was counted out after 10 months in charge of Gers. It was a result that did more than just daze the Ibrox squad.

Balogun described it as a boot to the jaw that left egos bruised and confidence levels on the floor. But since Philippe Clement entered the fray, Gers have been almost punch perfect, landing six wins and a draw from the Belgian’s seven games in charge. They’ve climbed off the canvas and fought their way back into the title reckoning as well as the chase for Europa League progression. But the granite chin under the new gaffer will now be tested in tomorrow’s Granite City rematch.

And Balogun. shrugging off former Ger Kris Boyd’s claims the Reds try harder against their Ibrox rivals, is confident that this time his side will be up for the fight. He said: “I think every team tries harder against us, always. So with all due respect that’s nothing new really.

“We all know that, especially from the Aberdeen side, there’s a great value to that game because of the rivalry. You always know up there that it’s not going to be pretty. They’re going to make it hard for you.

“First time I played there I ended up being slammed against a goalpost. That was my first game in Scotland so it was a proper welcome. There’s always games when everyone is fighting hard and we know it’s going to be physical.

“But for us it’s about focusing on our game. First of all we deal with that