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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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