Ross McCrorie can't speak highly enough of Scott Brown - even if he's clocking up more miles than ever under Aberdeen's new captain.
The 36-year-old midfielder rolled back the years on Wednesday night, bulleting a diving header into the Ibrox net and pulling a celebration to match from his old wind-up merchant's playbook.
It seems he's also learned a thing or two about playing centre-back down the years, given how seamlessly he's slotted into Stephen Glass' backline in the midst of an injury crisis the Pittodrie boss certainly did not need.
But Brown has always thrived in adversity and now it seems his new team are doing so as well, pulling their manager back from the brink with two much-needed results on the bounce.
McCrorie is certainly grateful for his presence, despite joking he's having to cover the hard yards for his veteran skipper.
He said: “Broony is good in there. He is also very good in the middle, in centre mid, as well. He dropped in halfway through the last game. I just need to do all the running for him so that’s alright!
"No, Broony has been magnificent since he came in. I can only say good things about him.”
And the diving header?
“I know!" McCrorie exclaimed. "I said to him ‘where did you pull that from?’ Brilliant!
"As I say, he has been magnificent since he came in. He is a true leader and all of the boys look up to him.”
Aberdeen could well have departed Glasgow with three points instead of one, had John Beaton not pointed to the spot for a foul on Fashion Sakala in the closing minutes.
Christian Ramirez headed the Dons in front before Brown made it two and set off for the corner flag in the style of Alfredo Morelos.
The Colombian himself reduced the deficit before Tavernier held his nerve from 12 yards to ensure a share of the spoils.
McCrorie suspects his old Rangers team-mate should never have been handed the opportunity.
He said: We’re disappointed, especially with the decision for the penalty.
‘I’ve not seen it back yet, but at the time I didn’t think it was.
‘So there is a wee bit of disappointment, but to come away with a point from an away game against Rangers is very good for us."
It's a point few would have envisaged Aberdeen taking when cries for Glass' sacking came raining down from the Dens Park stands not even two weeks ago.
But since losing to Dundee, the Dons have beaten Hibs and come within a whisker of toppling the champions.
McCrorie back tracks a little on calling it a comeback but there is increasing optimism that they may have weathered a considerable storm.
He continued: “Aye. Definitely. Well, I hope so.
"We changed the shape a bit and it seemed to suit us. We have strung a couple of results together.
"It is up to us to keep the performances up and keeping getting points on the table.
“I think if you look at our performances you could tell we were playing well.
"It is just a couple of wee small details. If we can tidy up the small details and string a few results together then hopefully we can accumulate as many points as we can.”
It's a measured assessment and one that seems prevalent in the dugout and on the pitch.
After all, you don't get through a run of 10 games without a win by losing the head altogether.
“That (criticism) is all outside noise," McCrorie added. "We haven’t really thought about that.
"We just focus on ourselves. We are in our own wee bubble at the training ground. All the boys stick together and the management stick together.
"We stick together all the time, including through the difficult times.
"Maybe results weren’t going our way, but the tide is starting to turn a wee bit.
