BARRY FERGUSON thought his Rangers side deserved their draw with Aberdeen this afternoon, after an injury time strike from Ianis Hagi saw the game end 2-2 at Pittodrie.
It was a difficult first-half for the Light Blues, with Aberdeen taking a 2-0 lead and a red card for Ross McCausland, but a spirited second-half display pleased Ferguson.
Speaking to RangersTV at full-time he said: “We wanted to come here and get the three points, but we made it hard for ourselves conceding a sloppy goal and getting a man sent off.
“We never make it easy for ourselves if I am being honest, and I had to again make changes at half time. I thought in the second half they again showed character, desire, they fought for one another, and I thought in the end we deserved the point.
“It is all about winning at Rangers, are we happy? No not really, because we want the three points, but we will take it in terms of the circumstances in the game giving away goals and sending off.
“I spoke to Ross, he understands, once you get a booking you can't fly into tackles like that, so he’ll need to learn quickly.
"At the stage when he got booked, he had a couple of challenges and then got booked and I am thinking I should’ve maybe taken the responsibility and taken him off. I was thinking about it but I was too late with that, so I’ll take a bit of blame and responsibility in that one.
“In the first half we were a bit passive at times, but it is difficult when you are trying to shuffle the pack during the game but when you get them in the dressing room, and you explain what you are looking for I thought in the second half we were good.”
Ferguson praised 18-year-old Findlay Curtis who made his first competitive start for Rangers. The Academy graduate started the game at full-back, before moving into a more familiar advanced role later in the match.
The manager added: “It is a tough place to come and come into, he has played there with Scotland before but I wasn’t sure if I was going to go with him there, but the young man listens and he wants to learn - I love that, and he showed a real willingness.
“He will be proud, and hopefully his family is proud because I was proud as a manager. I’ve done it with Bailey, I’ll do it with Findlay, if I feel they’re ready.”
Rafa Fernandes was forced off early in the match with an injury, and with a number of players missing from the squad this afternoon, Ferguson will now assess his group ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Europa League quarter final against Athletic Club.
He continued: “It is a hamstring injury for Rafa, I don’t know how long he is going to be out, that is another one to add to the long list.
“I’ll see who I have got to go with on Thursday night and I’ll obviously make my decision after that.”