Relations between the clubs reached a new low in 1988 following Neil Simpson's brutal challenge on Ian Durrant (at the time regarded as one of Scotland's biggest emerging talents) which almost ended his career, caused him to miss almost three years of football and forced him to adjust his playing style to compensate for his damaged knee ligaments. That incident took place during a league match a few weeks before the second of three hard-fought Scottish League Cup finals between them. Some Aberdeen fans took to singing distasteful songs about Durrant's injury (as well as the 1971 Ibrox disaster) which in turn led to insulting comments from Rangers players in books and in the club's match programme, promoting an official apology. Aberdeen supporters also grew irritated with the increasing gulf in wealth between the clubs, with Rangers able to acquire their players (Davie Dodds and Robertson and later Wright and Snelders) seemingly at will. Away from football, the city of Glasgow also experienced an economic recovery while Aberdeen suffered the effects of an oil recession.