Broadfoot targets revenge mission

Defender insists Rangers want to make amends at Pittodrie after pain of last season's final-day defeat to Dons

KIRK Broadfoot insists Rangers will have revenge on their minds when they face Aberdeen in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Saturday.

Pittodrie was the scene of the Ibrox side's failed bid to clinch the SPL title on the final day of last season, with Celtic pipping them to the trophy with a win at Dundee United.

A gruelling eight-day spell had seen Rangers face Zenit St Petersburg in the Uefa Cup final and Motherwell and St Mirren in the league before making the trip north.

And the clash in the Granite City proved a step too far for Walter Smith's exhausted players as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat, while their bitter rivals celebrated in Tayside.

This time around, Rangers are determined to maintain their 100per cent start to the new campaign, with wins over Falkirk and Hearts under their belts already.

"There is no doubt we will go up there this weekend with the result on the final day of last season still fresh in the memory," Broadfoot said.

"We need to get a bit of revenge for that as it was a painful night for all of us and we will be desperate to come back down the road with three points this time around.

"When we lost up there in May, I don't think the circumstances helped us.

"We looked jaded and you can't forget the run of games we had in the lead up to that one.

"There is never any excuse at Rangers for losing games but that was an incredible run of very important matches we had and that night at Pittodrie was still painful even though our defeat was irrelevant with Celtic winning."

A visit to Celtic Park rounds off a tough opening month of the season but Broadfoot believes that Rangers can gain confidence from a winning start to the league campaign so soon after the disappointment of their European exit at the hands of Kaunas.

He added: "It will be a difficult game for us this weekend, it always is up there.

"Aberdeen are a very good side that are always very well organised under Jimmy Calderwood.

"It's a match we are looking forward to and we will have a bit of confidence on our side after the start we have made.

"We know that this is probably the hardest start to an SPL season in a long time, with three away games out of four to very good teams.

"It doesn't come much tougher than that but we have done well so far to beat Falkirk and Hearts and must keep that form going.

"A few new players have joined us now and that gives everyone a lift and also means there is even more competition for places."

Those new arrivals at Ibrox means that Broadfoot's own place in the first team is by no means guaranteed but he hopes his versatility means he will remain a part of Smith's plans for now.

"The key for me now is to keep improving," he told Rangers News.

"I know it will be difficult this season to keep my place in the team as there is so much competition for places.

"But I will just keep my head down and if the gaffer picks me he knows that I will give every bit of energy I have for the team, wherever he wants me to play.

"I enjoyed being back at centre-half recently but I am happy to play anywhere if it means I am in the starting eleven."