Aberdeen endured a miserable afternoon in Glasgow as Rangers cruised to a 5-0 win in the Premiership encounter at Ibrox.
The Dons were well beaten by ruthless Rangers side which raced into a 2-0 lead by half-time against a lethargic Aberdeen team.
Dons boss Derek McInnes made two changes from the team which exited the Betfred Cup at Hearts in midweek as illness ruled Andy Considine out of the game while James Wilson missed out due to a knee injury. Zak Vyner and Niall McGinn were the replacements.
There was some good news for the Aberdeen manager, however, as Connor McLennan recovered from the dead leg he suffered at Tynecastle to take his place in the starting line-up.
Former Don Greg Stewart made a rare start for Rangers against his old club and it quickly became clear how difficult a task it would be for a Dons side missing eight players.
A poor challenge from Dons defender Vyner gifted the home side the opener in the 20th minute as he tripped Alfredo Morelos to concede a penalty which was converted by Rangers captain James Tavernier.
The home side doubled their lead five minutes before the break.
Joe Lewis made a fantastic fingertip save to touch Scott Arfield’s header on to the post but the ball bounced into the path of Stewart who fired into the empty net.
The home side put paid to any hopes of an Aberdeen comeback at the start of the second half when Morelos got on the scoresheet, heading Borna Barisic’s cross past Lewis from close range.
The Dons conceded another penalty when Greg Leigh hauled Greg Stewart to the deck and Tavernier converted from the spot again to make it 4-0.
Jermain Defoe added a fifth nine minutes from time when he lobbed Lewis and Aberdeen’s miserably afternoon was complete.
