Kris Boyd marked his return to the Rangers team with a hat-trick inside 31 minutes to put his side seven points ahead of Aberdeen in the race for a Champions League place.

The Scotland striker headed an eight-minute opener and finished off the Bank of Scotland Premier League clash as a contest with two more goals in six minutes.

The Dons tightened up but failed to threaten in an uneventful second half which saw Rangers substitute Chris Burke limp off, days after being recalled to the Scotland squad.

Boyd was one of four Rangers changes with Sasa Papac handed his first start since December 30 in place of Ugo Ehiogu, who had a calf strain.

Barry Ferguson returned after missing the UEFA Cup defeat at Osasuna through suspension, while Dado Prso won a recall as Sebo and Gavin Rae dropped out and Kevin Thomson missed out with a heel injury.

Aberdeen brought in Gary Dempsey and Lee Miller for Craig Brewster and the injured Karim Touzani.

Both sides switched to 4-4-2 formations and Rangers adapted much better to the change.

Russell Anderson twice made crucial challenges on Prso and Scott Severin's sliding tackle stopped Ferguson breaking clear.

Charlie Adam blasted just wide after a long throw into the box before Boyd headed an eighth-minute opener.

Rangers worked the ball out to Alan Hutton on the right side of the box and Boyd outjumped Anderson to guide the right-back's cross into the bottom corner.

Aberdeen settled down after the attacking blitz and Miller, who gave Papac a torrid time in the opening quarter, shot straight at Allan McGregor from long range.

But Rangers looked dangerous whenever they attacked and Adam saw a 25-yard strike headed over by Andrew Considine.

Adam was instrumental in Boyd's second in the 25th minute when his cross came off Severin and looped into the six-yard box for the Scotland striker to hook home.

And Boyd soon grabbed his 25th Rangers goal of the season after a sweeping move.

Ferguson sent Hutton racing down the right and the full-back slid in to take the ball away from a hesitant Considine before cutting the ball back for Boyd to fire high into the net.

McGregor clawed Chris Clark's cross away from Miller as the shellshocked Dons tried to hit back.

Considine compounded his error at the third goal by losing possession to Ferguson and hauling down the Gers skipper to earn a yellow card.

The Dons reverted to the 3-5-2 system that saw them win at Motherwell in midweek when Zander Diamond replaced Clark at the break.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood may have been aiming to stem rather than turn the tide and they looked less vulnerable.

Severin and Boyd shot just wide from 20 yards at either end and the impressive Hutton twice sent in low crosses that just evaded Prso and then Boyd.

Calderwood brought on Brewster for Steve Lovell while Chris Burke replaced Nacho Novo, who had put in a productive shift in right midfield. Adam forced Jamie Langfield to dive to save his 25-yard strike and Brewster saw a header comfortably saved, but the game had died as a contest.

Burke lasted just 13 minutes before being replaced by Rae, and Smith soon took the opportunity of bringing on Andrew Shinnie, the day after he had scored twice in an Under-19 win over St Mirren. Considine escaped a red card when referee Mike McCurry decided against booking him for a reckless tackle on Hutton.

Rangers continued to dominate possession before Rae and Diamond headed wide at either end in the closing stages.

Teams:

Rangers McGregor, Hutton, Weir, Papac, Murray,Novo (Burke 63), Hemdani, Ferguson, Adam, Prso (Shinnie 82),Boyd, Burke (Rae 76).

Subs Not Used: Klos, Svensson, Sebo, Furman.

Goals: Boyd 8, 25, 31.

Aberdeen Langfield, Hart, Anderson, Considine, Foster,Jamie Smith, Severin, Clark (Diamond 46), Dempsey,Miller (Maguire 76), Lovell (Brewster 63).

Subs Not Used: Soutar, Mackie, Daniel Smith, Winter.

Booked: Considine, Maguire.

Att: 50,354

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).