Craig Cheered Ahead Of Cup Semi

DONS boss Craig Brown was proud of his players` performance against Rangers, despite seeing them lose for the fourth time in a row.

Croatian Nikica Jelavic scored the only goal of a feisty encounter with an acrobatic overhead kick to narrow Celtic's lead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to two points.

Brown said: "Despite the results we have played very well in the last three or four games. We could have been a couple up early in the game but if you don't score you live to regret it.

"The lads have been getting a bit of stick because they haven't been winning but there was a lot of effort in their performance."

The Aberdeen boss felt Jelavic's goal should have been chalked off for a foul on Zander Diamond.

He added: "I'm biased but I thought it was infringement. The referee had given a free-kick against (Chris) Maguire just a minute before for backing in and I thought Jelavic did the same. However it was a wonderful execution and similar to the goals we have seen this season from Wayne Rooney and David Goodwillie."

Source: PA

Source: PA