Thelin relishing 'important' Rangers test

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin believes Sunday's Scottish Premiership match at Rangers will be a good marker of his side's progress.

Aberdeen have won one, drawn one and lost one against Rangers this season, but the Dons trail the Ibrox side by 15 points with three matches of the league season remaining.

"For us it's important we also get better," Thelin said. "Rangers are doing well.

"They are ahead of us in the table and in the future, we want to be better and better every season, and the best way to do that is to play against the good teams and try to be better all of the time.

"It's a good game right now, so we can push ourselves and perform really well and try to get the result."

Despite a torrid run of home form, Rangers are guaranteed to finish second in the league.

Barry Ferguson's side have not won at Ibrox for over three months, but Thelin says his players will have to be at their best to deepen Rangers' woes.

"The games between Rangers and Aberdeen are always big and important for both teams," he said.

"I don't think they're going to feel anything like they are not connected with the game or whatever. I think it is still a really exciting game to play.

"It's still our aim to reach Europe and nothing has really changed in our mentality, what we want to achieve.

"We have to go there and try to be the best we can be, and put on a good performance."