'Not there to spoil Rangers' party' - Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin solely motivated by own side's need for three points at Ibrox

Rangers are welcome to their balloons, commemorative white shirts and everything else they have in store at Ibrox this afternoon to mark 150 years since the club were founded.

Aberdeen will head for Ibrox motivated by an urge to make amends rather than a desire to spoil a party. Manager Jim Goodwin has branded the midweek defeat to Hearts as unacceptable – as is the club’s current position in the league.

Although it is exceptionally tight between 10th place and fourth, Aberdeen did not want to find themselves third bottom at this stage of the campaign. Neither did Goodwin wish to lead them there so soon into his reign.

Of course, this situation cannot be pinned on him. Indeed, as he noted, he was speaking just two weeks to the day since negotiations with St Mirren were hastily concluded to allow him to take charge of Aberdeen’s clash at Motherwell the following afternoon.

There has not been much time to work with the players in between three games. His side have taken just two points out of nine with the most disappointing of these displays being the most recent.

Aberdeen were not at the races in the 2-0 defeat to Hearts on Wednesday and travel to Ibrox, where they drew 2-2 earlier this season under Stephen Glass, in the mood to atone. There is a suspicion they raise their game when facing the Old Firm and Aberdeen are in fact unbeaten against Rangers this season.

Their fans will relish the opportunity to be the ultimate party poopers in Govan as the Ibrox club’s 150th anniversary celebrations begin in earnest. Goodwin stressed that Aberdeen must concentrate on themselves as they bid to make a late bid for a top six place – something he described as the absolute minimum for a club of their size.

It isn’t about beating