Rangers have moved into second spot in the Premiership title race once again after beating Aberdeen at Ibrox. Danny Rohl's side were 4-1 winners over the Dons as they climbed above Celtic and remain three points adrift of leaders Hearts.
Tochi Chukwuani opened the scoring with ten minutes remaining of the first half. The ball broke to the midfielder at the end of the area and he finished well to give Rohl's side a lead that they deserved after controlling the play.
Mikey Moore made sure of the points early in the second period. An incisive break opened up the chance for the Englishman and he finished well into the far corner.
Dennis Geiger pulled one back out of nowhere for the Dons. The hope was short-lived before Nico Raskin restored the advantage and made sure of the points. After Bojan Miovski saw his strike ruled out for handball, James Tavernier added the shine to the scoreline with a free-kick in the last seconds.
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Rangers do what was needed
Just find a way. That is what Hearts did once again. That is what Celtic have done so often. That is what Rangers need to do again and again.
This was more comfortable and controlled than that. This was more like it from Rohl's side. Outside of the one moment that gifted Aberdeen their goal, Rangers never looked in trouble. Rohl would give anything for another handful of matches as straightforward as this. He won't find opposition as poor again, right enough.
The debate over performances and results, about style over substance, has been held in the aftermath of the 1-0 win at St Mirren. For some, it was held up as a reason why Rohl’s side won’t have enough quality to get over the line. For others, it was exactly the sort of occasion that showed they have the character to do just that.
Naturally, Rohl wants his side to play well. He wants to see them defend diligently, control the midfield and create chances and score goals in the final third. Most of all? He wants and needs them to win matches.
The deficit to Hearts increased to six points an hour before kick-off. Come full-time, it was reduced to three once again. If Celtic beat Dundee United on Sunday, they will reclaim second spot.
Seven cup finals remain. How many of them will Rangers need to win? First and foremost, Dundee United must be beaten after the international break and a trip to Falkirk comes before the split. After that, the stakes get even higher. Strap yourselves in.
Rohl's side deserved their win
As outlined by the Rangers Review this week, Rohl’s side have been underperforming in terms of their conversion from set-pieces over recent matches. Rangers have not scored from such a situation since the win at Pittodrie in January and the numbers suggest that their fortunes will turn and their prowess from such positions will naturally shape their successes or failures.
The first routine of the evening would have Scott Fry shaking his head as Tavernier worked a short corner and then ballooned a cross beyond the far post. His second attempt found the head of Youssef Chermiti. The Portuguese should have at least hit the target from six yards. Chermiti had the next opportunity from the left channel but an attempt towards the near post was never going to trouble Dimitar Mitov.
Soon, Mitov was beaten after another move down the left, where Tuur Rommens was the main danger for Rangers. His cross found Moore, who saw his shot blocked. The rebound fell to Chukwuani and he finished well from the edge of the area.
A second goal was needed. Tavernier came close with a whipped effort from distance before Mitov saved a low drive.
The clincher came three minutes after the restart. Ryan Naderi did brilliantly to win the ball in the middle of the park and create the chance for Moore. A finish into the far corner saw Moore score for the first time since the draw at Livingston.
The third arrived from Raskin. Tavernier’s free-kick wasn’t cleared and fell to the Belgian inside the area. Mitov was beaten. At that, so were Aberdeen. Tavernier's stunning strike was the last kick of the game. It made the margin of victory deservingly emphatic for Rangers.
Disparity between the left and right
There were two comments from Rohl on Friday morning that made even more sense on Saturday evening. The first regarded the fitness of Andreas Skov Olsen and why he needed players who were ‘100 per cent fit.’ Given that the Dane had been ill for the majority of the week, that all-but ruled him out of starting here. Indeed, he didn’t even make the squad.
The other line from Rohl concerned Thelo Aasgaard. The German was asked about Naderi and his contribution and he spoke about his countryman before pivoting onto Aasgaard, highlighting the ‘great’ 20 minutes he produced off the bench at St Mirren last Sunday. It was the Norwegian who got the nod as a result, his inclusion ahead of Djeidi Gassama the only change made.
A couple of nice touches and a shot that was blocked – with penalty appeals rightly waved away – were all that Aasgaard could contribute in the first period. Early in the second, a chance to set Chermiti free was wasted after a heavy pass.
It was one of those evenings where Aasgaard got no rewards for his efforts. On the other side, Moore got what he deserved for his. Therein lies the issue for Rohl.
In Rommens and Moore, he has a left side that is extremely effective, in both a defensive sense and an attacking one. In Tavernier or Dujon Sterling and an option ahead of them, the right just isn’t as potent. Rommens has been the pick of the new recruits by some distance and has made an immediate impact. If only he had been signed in the summer.
Mikey Moore adds a second! 🔥
A composed finish from the teenager to double @RangersFC's lead at Ibrox 🔵
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 @sbk | 18+ | 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝐺𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑦 pic.twitter.com/d51Q9ypNqL— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) March 21, 2026
Moore, meanwhile, continues to be the main creative influence in this side, his class on the ball underpinned by his workrate off it. His announcement as Man of the Match came as the chant of 'Moore, Moore, Mikey, Mikey, Moore' reverberated around Ibrox as he was replaced late on. Both were well deserved.
Skov Olsen has flattered to deceive, Gassama hasn’t offered enough on that flank and Aasgaard wasn’t a difference maker on his chance to impress. The other alternative is Oliver Antman. He was given the last 18 minutes to try and catch the eye.
Ibrox can celebrate in the end
The final words of Rohl’s pre-match presser were directed towards the fans. ‘Make noises all together to win the next final’ was the message. He needed Ibrox to play its part.
The scars on Ibrox were no longer visible thankfully. The seats that were broken by Celtic fans in the Broomloan Stand were replaced and the vile graffiti, most sickeningly in reference to the Ibrox Disaster, had been removed.
The last two matches here have left scars on the psyche of the support. Time will tell how costly the dropped points to Celtic will be in the Premiership. The defeat in the Scottish Cup was even tougher to take and naturally fed into the atmosphere here.
The moans and groans were evident inside the first quarter. When the crowd perceived the ball was not being moved quickly enough, they let Rohl’s side know. The same was true when passes were made backwards or were misplaced. The goal from Chukwuani eased the nerves and raised the decibel level.
The Rangers Charity Foundation had their first Ibrox Takeover as the club celebrated the people behind a remarkable £7million fundraising drive. Participants from a handful of programmes were welcomed onto the park at half-time.
Dons gifted a goal but offer little
Rangers would have had an eye on events at Tynecastle as they prepared for kick-off here. Aberdeen, meanwhile, would have been keeping tabs on what was unfolding at Falkirk and Kilmarnock. The news was not good for Stephen Robinson.
His former club moved to within three points of his new one with a fine 2-1 victory over the Bairns. In Ayrshire, goals from Joe Hugill and Findlay Curtis earned Neil McCann’s side a win that all-but relegated Livingston. The battle at the bottom is as intriguing as the one at the top.
Matches like this will not define the Dons’ campaign. Robinson would have been hoping for more from it, though. The first 45 passed without Rangers being troubled as the visitors offered nothing in an attacking sense.
One rare chance to try and cause Rangers an issue saw Aberdeen load the box with a free-kick in a dangerous position. The ball was then looped high over everyone and out of play. It summed up the lack of quality from those in red.
Alexander Jensen and Toyosi Olusanya were introduced for Dylan Lobban and Kenan Bilalovic at the break. The visitors were 2-0 down before either got up to speed.
Out of nowhere, the Dons made it 2-1. Chukwuani lost possession, the Rangers defence was split by one pass and Geiger beat Butland. It was as glimmer of light that quickly faded and was never rekindled.
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