Rangers are just 90 minutes away from claiming their tenth Scottish League
championship in 11 seasons.
That domination of the domestic scene was broken last May when Celtic claimed
the title.
But after this victory tonight, Rangers will re-claim the crown should they
defeat their Old Firm rivals at Parkhead next Sunday.
The Ibrox club are seven points clear of Celtic with just four games remaining
after defeating the Dons.
Ironically they were given a helping hand tonight by former Celtic defender
Derek Whyte.
The Dons skipper gave away a penalty, converted by Gabriel Amato, after
felling Rod Wallace in the 27th minute.
Then Whyte saw a shot from Andrei Kanchelskis spin off his body and go beyond
keeper Tony Warner for the second goal in the 55th minute.
Wallace sewed things up on the hour with his 26th goal of the season after
being released by Amato, making his first start since January.
Rangers, however, tested the patience of their fans with a nervy start before
securing a comfortable and crucial victory.
The weight of the occasion seemed to unnerve Dick Advocaat's players in the
first half.
Aberdeen may be struggling at the wrong end of the table but have a habit of
raising their game against the Old Firm.
This match seemed to be no exception, especially in the early stages as the
capacity crowd witnessed.
Dons boss Paul Hegarty stood by on-loan keeper Tony Warner from Liverpool even
though he conceded four goals against Dundee United.
Rangers recalled Amato and Barry Nicholson with Jorg Albertz and Tony Vidmar
both sidelined with toe injuries.
It was Aberdeen who took the initiative from the start with Robbie Winters
delivering a 20-yard thunderbolt in the first minute that went inches wide of
the post.
Winters was working hard and fed Jim Hamilton with a cleaver pass, only for
keeper Stefan Klos to get down quickly and gather the ball safely.
Rangers squandered a glorious chance of taking the lead in the 16th minute
when Claudio Reyna released Andrei Kanchelskis.
Warner raced off his line and the Russian winger spooned his shot over the
top.
That near miss only helped spur Aberdeen into action and Eoin Jess rattled the
bar two minutes later with a 20-yard effort.
Jess then had a hand in the opening goal after 19 minutes when he set up
Hamilton.
He cleverly brought Mark Perry into play and the full back delivered an angled
shot beyond Klos for only his second goal of the season.
Rangers rallied and Amato headed over the top following a cross from Neil
McCann before the equaliser arrived in the 27th minute.
Aberdeen skipper Whyte brought down Rod Wallace as he broke into the area and
Amato smacked the spot kick down the middle.
Ibrox boss Advocaat brought on Derek McInnes for Nicholson at half time and
the visitors soon found themselves under pressure.
Amato flicked a header wide of the post following a cross from McCann in the
52nd minute.
Rangers took the lead three minutes later thanks to a huge slice of luck.
McInnes fed Kanchelskis, who cut inside. His shot was firmly struck and
deflected off Whyte and beyond Warner.
Rangers were now on a roll and five minutes later Wallace timed his run to
perfection to deliver the third goal.
Aberdeen were a spent force and the league leaders should have extended their
lead.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst rattled the bar with a superb shot then McCann headed
over in a good position following a fine cross from Sergio Porrini.
While Rangers are in sight of the title, the Dons are still haunted by the
spectre of first division football after being unable to defend their lead. end
Teams
Rangers: Klos, Porrini, Amoruso, Hendry, Nicholson (McInnes 46), Kanchelskis (Wilson 71), Van Bronckhorst, Amato (Johansson 78), Wallace, McCann, Reyna.
Subs Not Used: Guivarc'h, Brown.
Booked: Van Bronckhorst.
Goals: Amato 27 pen, Kanchelskis 55, Wallace 60.
Aberdeen: Warner, Perry, Whyte, Smith, Hamilton, Jess, Mayer, Dow, Bernard, Young, Winters.
Subs Not Used: Leighton, Anderson, Buchan, Wyness, Notman.
Booked: Young.
Goals: Perry 19.
Att: 49,145
Ref: M McCurrie (Glasgow).
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