In-form Aberdeen can do a number on Rangers this time round, insists Celtic loanee Liam Scales.

The Irishman joined the Dons for the season in the summer of 2022 and began his tenure in the Granite City with five clean sheets in seven games.

Former Hoops cult hero Barry Robson is in interim charge of the Reds following Jim Goodwin's January sacking and he has marched them up the table and into third with seven wins from nine games.

That kind of irresistible form, Scales reckons, makes it more likely Aberdeen can beat Rangers when the sides meet at Pittodrie in the final pre-split fixture on Sunday April 23.

“I think we can get a result this time," Scales said. "When we played them in the semi-final we were very close and at Pittodrie in the last league game, it was tight. We were 2-1 up with two minutes to go and lost.

“We have shown we can do well against them. They are obviously a top side and are clear in second. It is a big ask but the run we are on gives us confidence that we can get points off them.

Celtic Way:

“I think we always had it in us. It is hard when you are down and you are losing games. To turn it around as we have, we just needed a kick to get us going.

“The confidence is just sky-high and that is the difference at the moment. We started so well and then had a big drop-off after the World Cup break. We had a few tough fixtures in a row, plus we were unlucky and also poor at times.

“It has completely turned around again and this is now the best run of form that we’ve had all season and we are where we want to be.”

The Dons could be without the influential Graeme Shinnie for the match against Rangers after he was sent off in the 1-0 win over Ross County.

“It wasn’t a red card for me," Robson said afterwards while suggesting the club might appeal the ban. "I have seen it back. I want my players to tackle. I want my players to be aggressive.

“He slid in, won the ball and it bounced off him and his leg actually started to pull back after it. Graeme is really disappointed and we are all really disappointed.

“I don’t know if the referee has made a quick decision on it.”

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