Rangers delivered an emphatic comeback win over Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership to alleviate the pressure on manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Connor Barron’s first Aberdeen goal stunned Rangers, who had been booed off in their previous two home games.
But Antonio Colak and John Lundstram had the dominant hosts – who racked up 36 shots – ahead by the break.
James Tavernier added a third, then hit a post with a penalty, and Alfredo Morelos wrapped up the rout late on.
Van Bronckhorst’s side are now within a point of leaders Celtic, who face Livingston on Sunday, while Aberdeen drop a place to fourth after their three-game winning run ended with a whimper.
Aberdeen were the form side coming into this, with manager Jim Goodwin talking up his side and noting Rangers were “not in a good place” amid underwhelming domestic displays and a nightmarish Champions League campaign.
Van Bronckhorst needed a big performance from his team, especially when their fragile confidence was tested early as Barron lashed into the net after Luis Lopes bamboozled the home defence with a weaving run.
The response was thunderous. Rangers were level within six minutes as Lundstram’s pass sliced the visitors open and Malik Tillman rolled the ball across for Colak to tuck in his 14th of the season. Ibrox erupted and the hosts never looked back.
Lundstram fired them ahead on the stroke of half-time when Ben Davies squared for the midfielder after Kelle Roos couldn’t hold a Tavernier effort.
Rangers’ incessant pressure told again when Borna Barisic – on for the injured Ridvan Yilmaz – swung in a cross and Tavernier planted a header into the bottom corner.
The captain failed to add to his tally from the spot, bouncing his strike off a post after Jayden Richardson’s handball led to a penalty awarded following VAR intervention.
Rangers could have had a handful more goals, such was their glut of chances, but had to settle for substitute Morelos tapping in at the back post from the impressive Fashion Sakala’s low cross.
Player of the match – Malik Tillman
Rangers roll over meek visitors – analysis
This was Rangers at their aggressive, attacking best as the players heeded Van Bronckhorst’s call for a positive start.
It will please the Dutchman that they didn’t relent, delivering a complete performance that should have come with a bigger winning margin.
Sakala lacked a finishing touch, missing two glaring chances, but offered plenty on just his second league start. The only sour note for Rangers was injuries to Yilmaz and Davies in an already depleted defence.
While Rangers impressed, Aberdeen were dismal. Their back three formation was exposed time and again as Rangers ran amok on the wings. Liam Scales in particular endured a torrid afternoon.
The Pittodrie side offered precious little in attack, too, with Barron’s strike their only effort on target.
What did they say?
Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst: “I’m really pleased with the performance. The crowd was with us the whole game. I expect that level of performance every game we play.
“It gives us confidence. Aberdeen were in good form but we didn’t give them any chance.”
Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin: “Whatever criticism comes my way for setting the team up in the fashion I did, I’ll take it.
“With the group of players I put together in the summer, I don’t want us going anywhere and being negative. We need to take this one on the chin. It’s a very sore one.”
What’s next?
Rangers are back at Ibrox on Tuesday for their final Champions League outing against Ajax (20:00 GMT) then head to Perth to face St Johnstone in the Premiership next Sunday (12:00).
Aberdeen experiment with Friday night football when Hibs come to Pittodrie (19:30).
Line-ups
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1McGregor
- 2Tavernier
- 38King
- 26DaviesSubstituted forArfieldat 45′minutes
- 3YilmazSubstituted forBarisicat 8′minutes
- 4Lundstram
- 19Sands
- 30Sakala
- 71Tillman
- 14Kent
- 9ColakSubstituted forMorelosat 80′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Davis
- 17Matondo
- 20Morelos
- 23Wright
- 29McCann
- 31Barisic
- 33McLaughlin
- 37Arfield
- 44Devine
Aberdeen
Formation 3-1-4-2
- 24Roos
- 2McCrorie
- 5Stewart
- 4Scales
- 16RamadaniBooked at 36mins
- 25RichardsonSubstituted forCoulsonat 63′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8BarronSubstituted forDuncanat 63′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 20Clarkson
- 3MacKenzieSubstituted forBesuijenat 70′minutes
- 9MiovskiSubstituted forRamírezat 77′minutes
- 11de Barros Lopes
Substitutes
- 1Lewis
- 7Morris
- 10Besuijen
- 15Watkins
- 22Coulson
- 23Duncan
- 28Milne
- 33Kennedy
- 99Ramírez
- Referee:
- Nick Walsh
- Attendance:
- 49,365
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Rangers 4, Aberdeen 1.
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Second Half ends, Rangers 4, Aberdeen 1.
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Attempt missed. Malik Tillman (Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alfredo Morelos with a cross following a fast break.
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Attempt blocked. Vicente Besuijen (Aberdeen) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Duncan.
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Foul by Fashion Sakala (Rangers).
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Hayden Coulson (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Hayden Coulson (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Fashion Sakala (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Hayden Coulson (Aberdeen).
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Ryan Duncan (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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John Lundstram (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Ryan Duncan (Aberdeen).
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James Tavernier (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Vicente Besuijen (Aberdeen).
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Goal! Rangers 4, Aberdeen 1. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal.
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Offside, Rangers. Fashion Sakala tries a through ball, but Alfredo Morelos is caught offside.
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Substitution, Rangers. Alfredo Morelos replaces Antonio-Mirko Colak.
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Attempt blocked. Ryan Kent (Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Fashion Sakala.
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Substitution, Aberdeen. Christian Ramírez replaces Bojan Miovski.
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Foul by Malik Tillman (Rangers).
Player of the match
McCrorieRoss McCrorie
Rangers
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Squad number20Player nameMorelos
Average rating7.13
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Squad number37Player nameArfield
Average rating6.60
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Squad number30Player nameSakala
Average rating5.83
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Squad number38Player nameKing
Average rating5.58
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Squad number71Player nameTillman
Average rating5.53
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Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Average rating5.51
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Squad number9Player nameColak
Average rating5.38
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Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Average rating5.35
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Squad number1Player nameMcGregor
Average rating5.33
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Squad number19Player nameSands
Average rating5.33
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Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Average rating5.28
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Squad number26Player nameDavies
Average rating5.25
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Squad number14Player nameKent
Average rating5.17
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Squad number3Player nameYilmaz
Average rating4.82
Aberdeen
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Squad number2Player nameMcCrorie
Average rating7.59
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Squad number24Player nameRoos
Average rating5.91
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Squad number11Player nameDuk
Average rating5.91
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Squad number8Player nameBarron
Average rating5.84
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Squad number16Player nameRamadani
Average rating5.63
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Squad number4Player nameScales
Average rating5.60
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Squad number20Player nameClarkson
Average rating5.56
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Squad number9Player nameMiovski
Average rating5.46
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Squad number3Player nameMacKenzie
Average rating5.45
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Squad number25Player nameRichardson
Average rating5.30
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Squad number5Player nameStewart
Average rating5.14
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Squad number23Player nameDuncan
Average rating4.05
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Squad number22Player nameCoulson
Average rating3.83
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Squad number10Player nameBesuijen
Average rating3.70
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Squad number99Player nameRamírez
Average rating3.42