Objectives in every half from Thelo Aasgaard and a James Tavernier penalty eased Rangers to a 2-0 win at Aberdeen as Danny Röhl’s in-form facet closed the hole on Scottish Premiership leaders Coronary heart of Midlothian to a few factors with a fifth straight victory.
The stress was very a lot on the guests after Hearts held on to declare a slim 1-0 victory at Dundee earlier within the day to increase their benefit to 6 factors with their recreation in hand on their opponents.
Nonetheless, regardless of travelling to Pittodrie, the place they’ve struggled through the years, Rangers produced an achieved efficiency to initially quieten the house trustworthy, earlier than their better high quality shone by way of within the driving rain.
The important thing opening aim got here halfway by way of the primary half following a cleverly labored short-corner routine because the unmarked Aasgaard swept residence Jayden Meghoma’s ball in from the precise.
And the guests would have gone in two up at half-time had Video Assistant Referee (VAR) John Beaton not requested referee David Dickinson to go over to the pitch-side monitor after Emmanuel Fernandez had appeared to outjump Dons ‘keeper Dimitar Mitov to move residence a excessive free kick into the world.
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Emmanuel Fernandez’s disallowed aim for Rangers was dominated out after a VAR evaluate in opposition to Aberdeen.
Nonetheless, the officers determined Fernandez had used his elbow to foul Mitov, though that controversial name didn’t have an effect on the outcome, with Rangers sealing a deserved win after Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie was judged to have caught Djeidi Gassama within the field with 16 minutes to go.
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Thelo Aasgaard scores to offer Rangers the lead at Aberdeen.
The referee instantly pointed to the spot, with Tavernier preserving his cool – regardless of Mitov diving the precise manner – to plant the spot kick into the underside lefthand nook for his 99th aim for the membership to maintain his facet very a lot on this intriguing three-way title battle.
And that win, their eleventh of their final 14 video games, noticed Rangers leapfrog third-in-the-table Celtic on aim distinction, albeit having performed a recreation greater than their archrivals.
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Nicolas Raskin squirted water at an Aberdeen fan after Rangers’ 2-0 win at Pittodrie on Sunday.
Nonetheless, the hard-earned win was spoiled barely when Nicolas Raskin sprayed a house fan with water earlier than taking place the tunnel at full time, with the membership having been contacted for a remark.
‘Huge, massive win for Rangers’
Sky Sports activities Chris Sutton:
“Rangers blew Aberdeen to the side today, it was so so comfortable.
“Danny Röhl’s achieved a tremendous job however they may want additions in January. It is a massive, massive three factors for Rangers.”
Thelo Aasgaard celebrates after giving Rangers a first-half lead at Aberdeen
On Fernandez’s disallowed aim:
“If I’m Fernandez, I’m absolutely furious that goal has been ruled out.
“Mitov was weak. Fernandez’s eyes have been on the ball and you employ your arm for leverage.
“Mitov’s timing is on him. I think the goal should have been given.”
What the managers stated…
Rangers boss Danny Röhl:
“Big, big pride in my group, to come to a really tough place. We showed again different faces, which is what we need.
“We performed good males’s soccer, we have been prepared within the duels, second balls.
“We understood when to play in behind, then we understand also to keep the ball in the right areas.
“The outcome was satisfying, after all, it is nice to see.
“Fully deserved from my point, we scored in the right moment. Then in the second half we missed some good opportunities to make it 2-0 or 3-0, and then finally [won] 2-0.
“We have been actually targeted till the top and it’s excellent what now we have achieved, 5 wins in a row.
“Now we take a short break, make a serious Scottish Cup game [against Annan] and then we have to go again.”
Aberdeen first-team coach Peter Leven:
“Yeah, it’s not good enough, especially for a club this size and what we want to achieve this season.
“There’s some good issues I can select, however once more total it is simply not adequate.
“But again, I can only do so much, they’ve got to step up as well.”
Tavernier: ‘A extremely mature efficiency’
Rangers captain James Tavernier on Sky Sports activities:
“A very good win. We made no excuses before the game, we knew the conditions were going to be bad, but I felt it was a really mature performance from the boys.
James Tavernier doubles Rangers’ lead at Aberdeen from the penalty spot
“We’ve just got to continue and show many ways to score goals.
“We’re delivering performances and we simply need to hold going.”
Sutton: There’ll need to be some sort of punishment, otherwise players will just carry on
Nico Raskin had words with an Aberdeen fan as he headed for the tunnel at full-time, with Raskin spraying water towards the supporter.
Here was the take from the Sky Sports pundits.
Kris Boyd:
“He’ll most likely be in there regretting it now, however for those who’re a soccer participant, you are going to get away followers taunting you.
“You just need to go home, you’ve won the game, you’ve got three points, difficult venue and get back down the road.”
Chris Sutton:
“Vaclav Cerny did it, didn’t he, the other year. I don’t think that there was any punishment for that but Rangers players can’t be treated differently to other players.
“It is a powder keg of a fixture anyway, that is the very last thing it wants.
“You can’t keep going around spraying water on fans, that’s an absolute no-no.
“There’ll should be some type of punishment, in any other case gamers will simply keep on.”
