A brace of goals lifted the gloom that has been surrounding Michael Mols in recent weeks but, far more importantly for his side, gave Rangers a six-point lead in the championship race.

That may go back down to three when Celtic leave Partick but the value of this hard-fought victory, over an Aberdeen side that appears to be well on the road to rejuvenation under its new management, cannot be under-estimated.

Mols had struck late in the first half to give his side a lead their lack-lustre play had hardly deserved and Aberdeen's attacking second half policy looked to have paid off when Steve Tosh conjured up an equaliser with a quarter of an hour remaining.

But Mols' reply was not slow in following and was to prove the most significant moment of the afternoon.

Until his 37th-minute strike, the first half had looked like becoming another chapter in the decline and fall of the Dutchman.

The striker had been labouring under the weight of the knowledge that a combination the club's financial problems and his own lack of confidence in front of goal might well see his contract expire without being renewed in the summer.

In the 13th minute when he was put clean through by midfielder Mikel Arteta, whose instant return to a winning side since being injured on the first day of December was proof of how much manager Alex McLeish rates him.

The pass was also evidence of that and, as the flag remained down, Mols had the time to compose himself and slot past goalkeeper David Preece.

But the Englishman came off best with a fine parry and when Arthur Numan pinged an inviting cross into the box seconds later Mols, who had got goalside of his marker, was tantalisingly inches away from making contact.

It could be argued that the old Mols - the one that existed before cruciate ligaments were ruptured in a Champions League match in Munich in 1999 - might have stuck it away but the Dutchman's trademark smile was back seven minutes before the break.

Fellow countryman Fernando Ricksen sent in a cross from the left and Mols was perfectly placed at the far post to send a header that went in off the man on the line, Paul Sheerin.

The goal put a spring back in his step and it took a good tip round by Preece to deny him a second before the whistle had gone for half time.

Rangers could already have been further in front had not a goal of the season contender from Ronald de Boer not bounced off an upright instead of hitting the back of the net in the 20th minute.

The playmaker, who has at last changed from expensive luxury to first pick, had taken the ball deep into where the red shirts were massed and set up the shooting chance with a sublime turn.

But Steve Paterson, who was making his first visit to Ibrox, had not sent out his side merely to defend, which was an accusation often levelled at Ebbe Skovdahl whenever the Dons were in Glasgow.

And twice fortune favoured the home side when they had been vulnerable, with Darren Mackie, a scorer in the 2-2 draw at Pittodrie earlier in the season, involved both times.

Rangers goalkeeper Stefan Klos could only parry a drive from Tosh and the German was more than relieved to see the ball bounce wide after it had hit the on-rushing Mackie right in front of goal.

The striker had been given no time to react but when Klos could only punch a Sheerin cross away weakly just two minutes later he moved swiftly in for the kill only for strike partner Leon Mike to get there first and blaze the ball over the bar on the turn.

The second half took a long time to get going but Preece was as vigilant as before when he turned a de Boer shot round a post after the Dutchman had produced another excellent turn to set up the shot.

The gulf in quality between the ex-Barcelona man and Mike, the former Manchester City reserve, was evident when the Dons striker cut inside to attempt a curler but was way off target.

But class was short of quality in this scrappy encounter and it was an under-hit backpass from Craig Moore that gave both Klos and Mike headaches when they clashed heads after the German had hoofed it clear.

Both were able to return and Mike looked dazed when he fired in a shot at little more than backpass pace.

But his next contribution was a clever flick that allowed Chris Clark to fire just wide as the Dons threw on new signing Leigh Hinds, Friday's £30,000 capture from Clyde, in place of Mackie and attacked their hosts.

That endeavour paid off in the 75th minute when Tosh raced into the box, cut inside and planted a perfectly-struck shot past Klos and into the far corner.

It had been no more than the Dons had deserved but parity lasted only three minutes before Mols reminded them that it was to be his day.

The home fans were furious but their anger abated when de Boer sent substitute Claudio Caniggia, who had come on for Arteta, into space on the left side of the box.

The veteran had found the net at Hibernian in midweek and clearly fancied doing so again despite the tightness of the angle. Preece was able to deny him with a parry but the loose ball went straight to Mols and he made no mistake with the goal at his mercy.

Only yesterday Mols had avoided a journalist from the club's in-house magazine because he was too depressed to do an interview. Now, thanks to his seventh and eighth strikes of the season, his future might lie at Ibrox after all.

Preece had been one of his side's best performers and underlined that with a fine save from a Maurice Ross volley that was made all the more difficult by the presence of Barry Ferguson almost directly in front of him.

New signing Jerome Bonnissel came on for the final 12 minutes and Mols was given an ovation a minute from time when Steven McLean came on for him.

Deadline day signing Dan Eggen had not been included in the 16.

Teams

Rangers Klos, Ross, Moore, Malcolm, Numan, Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta (Caniggia 68), de Boer, Mols (McLean 89), McCann (Bonnissel 78).

Subs Not Used: McGregor, Konterman.

Goals: Mols 37, 77.

Aberdeen Preece, Rutkiewicz, Anderson, McGuire, McNaughton (Derek Young 88), Tosh, Sheerin, Clark, McAllister, Mike, Mackie (Hinds 70).

Subs Not Used: Kjaer, O'Donoghue, D'Jaffo.

Goals: Tosh 75.

Att: 49,667

Ref: W Young (Scotland).