THIS was more like it from Rangers. It wasn’t a giant leap in the right direction, but it was certainly a merited and much-needed stride forward when it was needed most.
The wounds inflicted in the Champions League have cut deep this season, but it is Premiership ones that should concern Giovanni van Bronckhorst most. Those will ultimately prove fatal to his position if there are many more of them and stumbling at home to Aberdeen would have been a significant setback.
That nightmare scenario was avoided, though. The victory wasn’t without its minor issues but the search for positives was far easier this time around as goals from Antonio Colak, John Lundstram, James Tavernier and Alfredo Morelos secured the points that temporarily reduced the deficit at the top of the table.
The opening goal from Connor Barron could have derailed Rangers, both in terms of this fixture and in the bigger picture. There was a character to match the quality in response, however, and this will rank as one of the most satisfying afternoons that Van Bronckhorst has had for some time.
It is all about the Premiership now for Rangers. In truth, it always has been and the Champions League distraction will come to a welcome end on Tuesday night with the visit of Ajax as the Light Blues bid farewell to European competition this term.
Three more domestic hurdles – at home to Hearts and away to St Johnstone and St Mirren - must be overcome before the World Cup break. If a hat-trick of wins can follow this one, the mood around Ibrox will change for the better and the outlook in the title race will not be as bleak as many feared, or expected, it to be.
The points were always the main prerogative for Rangers but they can take heart from the manner of performance and the result. This was a win that was well earned.
The first blow of the afternoon arrived after just six minutes for Rangers. It would get worse before it got better for Van Bronckhorst but the ramifications of the injury to Ridvan Yilmaz will be longer lasting than this one fixture.
An attempt to thwart Jayden Richardson ended with the Turk pulling his hamstring. As soon as he hit the deck, the signal to the bench was confirmation that his game was over and the groans of disbelief around Ibrox told their own story as Van Bronckhorst offered a word and embrace of consolation on the touchline.
The home crowd ebbed and flowed throughout the remainder of the half. The equaliser from Colak brought a roar of encouragement and defiance but every mistake or missed opportunity was pounced upon as Aberdeen took the lead.
It was another poor goal for Van Bronckhorst’s side to concede. Leon King was turned time and again by Duk after he found space down the left and Tavernier held up his hands as the striker was bundled over.
The ball broke into the middle of the area and it was Barron who reacted to it. His finish was emphatic and Ibrox was furious as the inquest began on the park.
A couple of chances had been spurned before the opening goal as Fashion Sakala fired over from close range and Ryan Kent could only find the side netting after driving into the box. Tame strikes from Lundstram and Tavernier caused few problems but Kelle Roos had to be alert from a Colak effort.
That moment came just seconds before Aberdeen broke the deadlock. The lead wouldn’t last long, however, and the equaliser had been coming after Lundstram headed wide and Kent was foiled at the last second as Ross McCrorie cleared off the line.
The move that brought Rangers level was a fine one. Lundstram’s pass split the Aberdeen defence and Malik Tillman had time and space to pick out his man from the right.
Colak was in the right place at the right time once again. The finish was typically cool and clinical and the comeback that was started there and then was completed just break.
It should have come through Sakala. He only had Roos to beat when he burst clear of the Dons defence but he took one touch too many and the chance was gone by the time he poked a shot at the Dutchman.
Jim Goodwin must have thought his side had weathered the storm but Rangers were not done yet. The ball broke to Tavernier at the edge of the area and Roos could only block a shot low to his left.
Ben Davies turned it back into the danger area and Lundstram put his foot through it to get the fans off their seats. Rangers had done the hard work but the job was still not done.
Failing to convert this promising position into a victory would have been unforgiveable from Rangers. Within seven minutes of the restart, they had the third goal that secured the three points as Tavernier rose to the occasion.
Barisic picked out the captain from the left and Tavernier towered above Jack MacKenzie. His header found the gap between Roos and the near post and the margin would have been increased minutes later if Roos hadn’t blocked drive from the right-back.
Tavernier didn’t have to wait long for his next chance. It took a VAR check for referee Nick Walsh to reach the right decision first, however, as Richardson was penalised for handball.
Roos chose the wrong way to dive as Tavernier went low and to the keeper’s right but his penalty came back off the woodwork. It was a reprieve Aberdeen never looked like making the most of.
The offside flag and a VAR check denied Morelos the fourth goal of the afternoon. With five minutes remaining, the linesman and the technology went in favour of the Colombian as Rangers had the goal to round off their showing.
It was no more than they deserved on the day. Now there must be another three just like it if the tide is to turn and the narrative is to change in the long run at Ibrox.
