Rangers got back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership to keep up the pressure on Hearts as they earned a convincing victory over Aberdeen that deepened the visitors’ relegation worries.
Goals from Tochi Chukwuani, Mikey Moore, Nicolas Raskin and James Tavernier meant Rangers stayed within three points of the league leaders.
Defeat for Aberdeen, on a day when Kilmarnock and St Mirren both won, leaves them just three points above the relegation play-off spot.
After an opening half hour where Rangers dominated possession but could not find a cutting edge to trouble organised Aberdeen, a moment of real quality allowed the hosts to open the scoring at Ibrox.
Raskin’s diagonal cross-field ball found Tuur Rommens and the left-back hit-the byline before delivering a dangerous cutback.
Moore’s shot was saved by Dimitar Mitov, with Chukwuani side-footing in from the edge of the box.
Rangers extended their lead just three minutes after the restart. Ryan Naderi took the ball in and opened up space in the Aberdeen half, then picked out Moore, who controlled, set himself and then put a low finish into the far corner of Mitov’s net.
Aberdeen responded immediately, pouncing on some slack play out from the back by the hosts. Afeez Aremu’s quick thinking allowed him to slide the ball into the path of Dennis Geiger and the midfielder tucked a shot past Jack Butland, denying him a clean sheet on his 150th appearance for Rangers.
Rangers restored their two-goal cushion just after the hour mark. Tavernier’s free-kick into the box was not properly cleared and Raskin conjured up a volley that flew past Mitov.
The hosts thought they had a fourth goal after substitute Bojan Miovski netted against his old club in injury time, but a video assistant referee (VAR) review led to the goal being ruled out for an earlier handball.
There was time for the hosts to add another strike to their goal difference, with Tavernier firing in a pinpoint free-kick in the dying moments.