Defender Lorenzo Amoruso was red-carded as Rangers' title hopes were shattered
by Stephen Glass' winner for Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Needing victory to keep pace with leaders Celtic, Rangers lost a goal before
the interval - and their heads after the break in a stormy encounter.
Glass' deft 28th minute header was deserved reward for the Dons' fluent
display, but both sides showed their more physical side after half-time.
Italian centre-half Amoruso was given his marching orders for apparently
raising an arm in a melee of players in the home team's penalty area after 59
minutes.
The award of a free-kick for John Inglis' innocuous trip on Gordon Durie
initially sparked a booking for Scotland keeper Jim Leighton for kicking the
ball away.
Stuart McCall, substituted minutes earlier, ran back on to retrieve the ball -
against the rules - and having already been booked he could earn further
disciplinary points.
His cause was not helped by an angry exchange with fourth official John
Rowbotham on the touchline and he was fortunate not to be sent off.
Amoruso's red card bemused supporters on both sides, but television pictures
indicated the raising of an arm to an unspecified member of the grouped Aberdeen
backline.
It was only Amoruso's second start for Rangers since his £3.9million move from
Fiorentina after injury sidelined him for 10 months. That bizarre sequence of
events on the hour almost overshadowed the significance of a scoreline which
lifts struggling Aberdeen to sixth.
More significantly, with only three games remaining Rangers are three points
adrift of Celtic and suddenly the aim of a 10th successive title looks in real
peril.
Mike Newell impressed in his first start since February 7, back after a foot
problem to displace Dean Windass, and ensured the Dons looked much sharper up
front.
Marco Negri remained on the bench until the 72nd minute for Rangers despite
his 36-goal haul this term with Scotland duo Ally McCoist and Gordon Durie
preferred in attack.
Andy Goram was the first keeper to be tested in a manner which set the tone of
an opening half in which Aberdeen's movement impressed. The Scotland keeper
turned away a low angled strike from Billy Dodds after three minutes and in the
next Dons' attack the same forward was denied by an alert Amoruso block.
Rangers' first goal attempt proved comfortable for another Scotland man
Leighton at the other end, McCall's low drive from distance lacking real pace.
Neat interplay between Newell and Dodds supplied Eoin Jess with a 16th minute
chance he fired over wastefully, but the home side were not to be denied.
After 28 minutes, Ricky Gillies' precise cross was met by Glass whose glancing
header crept in off the post beyond the reach of Goram.
Amoruso's performance was mixed, in that much of the time he spent covering
his own errors, but he was alert to deny Jess a shooting chance seven minutes
before the interval.
The forward was in a remarkable amount of space after being played in by Gary
Smith, but hesitated long enough for his Italian marker to recover the ground.
The first half was competitive, but did not hint at the ill-tempered 45
minutes which followed it with Durie and McCall setting the tone. Each were
booked within a minute of the other for fouls on Smith and Jamie Buchan
respectively five minutes after the restart, but the real drama was on the hour
mark.
Amoruso's red card was as confusing as it was sensational at once changing the
mood of the contest beyond repair.
After 66 minutes, Aberdeen missed a clear chance to double their tally when
Newell flicked on to Dodds who rifled the ball wide. Five minutes later, Newell
himself sent a header straight at Goram from point-blank range with the keeper
doing well to avoid his momentum taking him into the net with the ball.
Rangers almost rescued a point when Jonas Thern's drilled shot from distance
went narrowly wide with Leighton beaten.
Substitute Russell Anderson should have made the game secure with two minutes
remaining dragging his shot wide of the mark, but the Dons had done enough.
Teams:
Aberdeen: Leighton, Buchan, Whyte, Rowson, Inglis, Smith,
Gillies, Jess (Anderson 79), Newell (O'Neil 88),
Dodds (Miller 90), Glass.
Booked: Leighton, Buchan, Smith.
Goals: Glass 28.
Rangers: Goram, Cleland (Moore 79), Albertz, Gough, Amoruso,
Bjorklund, Thern, McCoist (Negri 73), Durie, McCall (Gattuso 58),
Laudrup.
Sent Off: Amoruso (60).
Booked: Cleland, Thern, McCall, Durie.
Att: 17,981
Ref: W Young (Clarkston).
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