Rangers dominate Aberdeen to maintain pursuit of Premiership title

Rangers romped into second place behind William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts with a comfortable 4-1 win over Aberdeen at Ibrox.

The Jambos beat Dundee 1-0 at Tynecastle earlier in the day to go six points clear of Rangers but Danny Rohl’s side responded to the challenge with midfielder Tochi Chukwuani opening the scoring in the 35th minute before 18-year-old Tottenham loan attacker Mikey Moore added a second three minutes after the break.

Dennis Geiger pulled a goal back for the Dons in the 52nd minute but Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin restored their two-goal lead with a fine finish 10 minutes later.

Captain James Tavernier struck with a stunning free-kick in the last kick of the game to move Rangers back to within three points of Hearts, leapfrogging Celtic into second place, albeit the Hoops can go back behind the Edinburgh club with a win at Dundee United on Sunday lunchtime.

Stephen Robinson’s first away game as Pittodrie boss revealed the extent of the work ahead of him as the Dons ended the day just three points ahead of St Mirren and Kilmarnock, with bottom side Livingston 12 points adrift and seemingly doomed.

Rohl claimed Rangers would be “tough to stop” if they married performances with results and, with midfielder Thelo Aasgaard in for winger Djeidi Gassama, the start was positive, if less than threatening to Dons goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov.

In the 10th minute striker Youssef Chermiti headed a corner from Tavernier over the bar when he should have hit the target then struck the side netting with his unconvincing shot.

Aberdeen’s defence looked solid enough but was unlocked when Moore’s drive from a Tuur Rommens cutback was blocked by a red shirt with the ball falling to Chukwuani and he steered the ball past Mitov for his first league goal for the Govan side.

Tavernier’s speculative 30-yard drive moments later sped over the bar before a second effort from the full-back, a powerful drive, was blocked by Mitov but the second goal arrived early in the second half.

Raskin’s through ball to Aasgaard was helped on to attacker Ryan Naderi who slipped in Moore on the left and he turned inside and fired a shot from 16 yards in off the far post.

The Dons had barely threatened and had no option but to push forward but they were handed an opportunity when Chukwuani lost possession outside his own box and Afeez Aremu quickly played in Geiger who, from inside the penalty area, fired low past Rangers keeper Jack Butland into the far corner of the net, changing the mood inside the ground.

However, it was all cheers among the home fans again when a Tavernier free-kick into the packed Aberdeen box fell to Raskin and he despatched the ball into the net from 14 yards out.

Dons substitute Marko Lazetic failed to hit the target in the 76th minute but Rangers substitute Bojan Miovski made no mistake from 12 yards in the final minute.

However, VAR called up a handball in the build-up andm after checking his pitchside monitor, referee Matthew MacDermid ruled it out but a Tavernier free-kick from 25 yards in the sixth minute of stoppage time was legitimate and with seven fixtures remaining after the international break, the three-way title race is bubbling away nicely.