Aberdeen’s winning run came to a crashing halt with a chastening defeat to a dominant Rangers at Ibrox.
The Dons were blown away by Rangers and the sobering reality for the Reds is this could have been a far heavier defeat.
Aberdeen went into the clash against second placed Rangers with hopes high following a run of three straight wins.
In contrast Rangers were under pressure following an horrific Champions League group stage campaign with no points from five games.
Aberdeen’s hopes of a first league win in eight visits to Ibrox ramped up higher when Connor Barron netted the opener in the 21st minute.
Barron’s goal was completely against the run of play and gave an unrealistic reflection on the game.
Rangers then netted through Antonio Colak, John Lundstrum, James Tavernier and Alfredo Morelos to deliver a sobering defeat to Aberdeen.
It could have been a heavier defeat as Jim Goodwin’s Dons who were ripped apart defensively at Ibrox.
Tavernier hit the post with a penalty, keeper Kelle Roos pulled off some vital saves and ‘Gers had a goal chalked off for offside.
No change to Dons’ starting line-up
Aberdeen went with the same starting line-up that defeated Motherwell 2-1 away to rack up a third successive victory.
Hayden Coulson returned to the squad having been absent due to his wife giving birth to a baby boy on the day of the ‘Well game.
Jack MacKenzie retained the left wing-back role ahead of Coulon who was on the bench.
The 3-5-2 formation, with Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes and Bojan Miovski leading the line, was also retained.
Rangers created the first opportunity in the fifth minute when Ryan Kent burst past Ross McCrorie on the left flank.
Kent crossed from the byline to find Fashion Sakala in space but he headed over the bar from eight yards out.
It was a let off for Aberdeen.
Rangers again threatened in the 17th minute when Kent stepped beyond Jayden Richardson inside the box to open up space for a shot.
McCrorie stepped in to close the angle, forcing Kent to slam his shot into the side netting from 12 yards.
Aberdeen were struggling to retain any possession in the opening stages.
The normal build from the back via the defence had disappeared with keeper Kelle Roos hoisting long balls up-field.
More often than not it was a route one that gave the ball directly back to Rangers.
Connor Barron fires Aberdeen ahead
Completely against the run of play Aberdeen went ahead in the 21st minute.
Superb play from Duk saw the former Benfica striker break into the box.
Under intense pressure he twisted and turned, yet somehow still held onto possession.
Eventually a clumsy tackle felled the striker but Connor Barron raced onto the ball to lash home an unstoppable drive from six yards in the 21st minute.
It was Barron’s first senior goal for the Dons.
Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin had talked in the build up to the match about the aim to make Rangers supporters’ anxiety ‘creep onto the pitch’.
That anxiety materialized when Barron’s shot bulged the back of the net.
However there was little anxiety within the Rangers squad who quickly hit back.
Rangers quickly hit back to equalize
The Reds defence was left exposed down the right flank as Malik Tillman crossed into the box to find Antonio Colak.
Striker Colak side footed a shot beyond Roos from 12 yards.
Aberdeen keeper Roos came to the rescue in the 41st minute when Colak played Sakala through on goal with a superb through-ball.
Sakala broke into the box but Roos raced to close down the gap and made a vital save to block Sakala’s 15 yard shot.
Rangers went ahead in first half injury time when a drive by James Tavernier was blocked by Roos.
The loose ball fell to Ben Davies who kept it alive and then John Lundstrum smashed a right foot shot into goal from close range.
Rangers had racked up 19 shots, nine on target in the first half to Aberdeen’s three, one on target.
The Ibrox club had 67.2% of possession to Aberdeen’s 32.8%.
Rangers deserved to be ahead at the break.
Half-time: Rangers 2 Aberdeen 1
Rangers netted again when Kent kept the ball in play on the left byline before squaring a pass to Borna Barisic.
Substitute Barisic was given far too much time to deliver a cross which found James Tavernier who rose high above a static defence to head in from 10 yards.
Moments later a vicious 20 yard drive from Tavernier looked goal bound until a deflection sent it wide for a corner.
VAR decision awards ‘Gers a penalty
Aberdeen’s woes deepened when Rangers were awarded a penalty when a shot from Lundstrum bounced up and hit Jayden Richardson’s hand in the box.
The incident went to VAR before referee Nick Walsh awarded a penalty.
Tavernier, normally so lethal from the spot, hit Roos’ right side post and Aberdeen then cleared to safety.
Rangers continued to dominate and in the 75th minute Tavernier fired a 22 yard drive over the bar.
A miserable day for Aberdeen slumped to a further low when Alfredo Morelos netted with a right footed six yard shot from the centre of goal.
After a VAR check for offside the goal stood.
Full-time: Rangers 4 Aberdeen 1
ABERDEEN (3-5-2): Roos 7; Scales 4, Stewart 4, McCrorie 5; MacKenzie 5 (Besuijen 70), Clarkson 5, Ramadani 5, Barron 5 (Duncan 63), Richardson 4 (Coulson 63); Duk 6, Miovski 4 (Ramirez 76)
Subs not used: Lewis, Morris, Watkins,
Milne, Kennedy, Ramirez.
RANGERS (4-2-3-1): McGregor 6; Yilmaz 2 (Barisic 8), Davies 4 (Arfield 46), King 6, Tavernier 6; Sands 6, Lundstrum 7; Kent 6, Tillman 6, Sakala 6; Colak 6 (Morelos 80)
Subs not used: McLaughin, Davis, Matondo, Wright, McCann, Devine.
Referee: Nick Walsh
Man-of-the-match: John Lundstrum (Rangers)
Attendance: 49,365
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