Igamane sweeps in opener after Nilsen mistake
Balogun heads in deep Nsiala cross late on & Dessers adds third
Rangers move within 13 points of Celtic; Aberdeen winless in 12
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
That'll do us for tonight. Sportscene is on the go just now before you head to bed.
You'll get more reaction, analysis and be able to give your views on our dedicated Rangers and Aberdeen pages.
G'night.
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
And here's more from Rangers manager Philippe Clement, who was also talking to tells BBC Scotland: "We had chances, a few good saves from the goalkeeper and we hit the crossbar and post.
"But we kept pushing, as I demand, to score more and kill the belief of the opponent.
"We played really well. We had domination with and without the ball, with everybody working hard for the team.
"You see more and more people start to understand things and we're collectively better.
"[Hamza Igamane] is doing really well and we need to go on with this. He needs to do this all season, it's hard to get to the top but harder to stay there.
"I'm happy with the way Cyriel [Dessers] came in with a lot of energy and scoring a really good goal. That's a plus and also the players coming back from injury."
On Clinton Nsiala, adds: "I'm really pleased about that, we had to be really creative in the last transfer window to find young talents. The recruitment team did a good job to get him on a free transfer.
"And also the staff worked really well, in the second team to give him experience and games. He's making the right steps. Credit to him he's focused, concentrated and willing to learn."
Clement says he does not know yet the extent of the injuries to Robin Propper and Danilo.
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
More from Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin, who tells BBC Scotland: "You don't want errors like that, but they happen. We have things to work on.
"Like how we play with the ball, we have to be more composed and find better rhythm in games. We had too many transitions against us, and they are good in transitions.
"The fans' expectations are higher. We are in a challenging time right now, a mix of everything, we are in a bad run, some injuries and new players.
"We have a cup game and one week to the next league game. We need to find the rhythm and stabilise as a team.
"Sometimes when you don't have the rhythm with the ball, the players run and fight for each other. They still tried with everything they had, but it costs a lot of energy when you give away the ball too many times.
"The performances have to be better to deserve the points."
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Andy Considine
Former Aberdeen defender on Sky Sports
I still think everyone is 100% behind Jimmy Thelin. They are backing him, spending some serious money to bolster the squad.
It's going to take the players time to bed in, but the longer tis run goes on...
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Kris Boyd
Former Rangers striker on Sky Sports
This is getting to the stage it's worrying for Aberdeen. It looks like a team that's two or three yards short.
They look so easy to play against. It's a lack of intensity for me.
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
You can watch the best of tonight's action on BBC One Scotland right now.
The Sportscene team will also provide highlights of last night's wild 3-3 draw at Dens Park between Dundee and Celtic.
That's certainly worth tuning in for.
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin tells Sky Sports: "We have some injures, new players arriving, some players who haven't been able to rest.
"It's a mix of everything. It's important to look forward to [the cup game at Elgin], train well.
"I can still see a team out there that us fighting and running for each other."
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Aberdeen attempted six shots in this game, their lowest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Hamza Igamane has now contributed to goals in his last four games in the Premiership (five goals and one assist).
A shining light in a dim season for Rangers.
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Rangers manager Philippe Clement tells Sky Sports: "The connection with the fans at the end [was the most pleasing thing].
"It was almost full domination of the game. That's what we've been working towards for months. We've done that in moments but not enough.
"I'm really proud of Clinton Nsiala because of all the work he's been doing in recent months with the B team and in training.
"We could have scored more, we had enough chances. We weren't efficient enough, we hit the bar and post as well.
"We knew we had to kill off the opponent, otherwise they can score with one chance. But we kept pushing."
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Aberdeen's 12-game winless run in the league equals an unwanted club record.
They've broken records on their good and bad runs this term. Such a weird, weird season for the Dons.
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Rangers defender Leon Balogun was also keen to heap praise on young centre-back Clinton Nsiala.
"Clinton has done tremendously well," he tells Sky Sports. "He was really, really good today. Hats off to the boy."
Image source, SNSRangers fans, have you also been impressed by Nsiala?
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Sky Sports
Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly: "Very pleasing. Delighted with the three points. We're always confident, our home record speaks for itself."
Rangers defender Leon Balogun: "Very pleased [I scored] today. I'm happy about the performance today, it was very solid and confident. We could've killed the game before. I was due a goal."
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Aberdeen have failed to score in their last three games in the Premiership, a run of 355 minutes without a goal.
Their last longer run of games without scoring a goal in the competition was a run of six games from January 2021 to February 2021.
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Andy Considine
Former Aberdeen defender on Sky Sports
Aberdeen were ive. As a team there was no energy. It's disappointing to watch. We lacked a lot of fight.
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Image source, BBC SportFT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox
The gap has been cut to 13 points between leaders Celtic and Rangers, but there's a long way to go on that front. Home form has been very reliable and will need to remain so.
The home side should have had this win done and dusted long before they did. They performed well, didn't take a number of glaring chances but got there in the end and deservedly so.
Aberdeen's winless run stretches to 12 matches. That needs to end quickly.
FT: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen
Aberdeen are now TWELVE league games without a win.
That's after winning 10 and drawing one for their first 11!
Absolutely wild.
Hamza Igamane and late goals from substitutes Leon Balogun and Cyriel Dessers earn a comfortable win for Rangers over a poor Aberdeen.
Image source, SNS
Cyriel Dessers
The cherry on top.
Comical defending from Alfie Dorrington, who lets the ball bounce over his head and slips.
Cyriel Dessers charges to the Aberdeen box and sends a low finish past the keeper.
Watch best of action as Rangers beat Aberdeen
Rangers showed "domination with and without the ball", says manager Phillipe Clement, to reduce Celtic's lead in the Scottish Premiership to 13 points and extend Aberdeen's wretched winless run to 12 matches.
Hamza Igamane, an increasingly talismanic figure, delivered the vital moment once again with a composed finish for the opener and his 13th Rangers goal after a fast start by the hosts.
The striker, who earlier dinked inches past when clean through on goal, made no mistake after Sivert Heltne Nilsen needlessly gave the ball away in his own box.
Substitute Leon Balogun headed in a late back-post second from Clinton Nsiala's deep cross, having earlier hit an upright, and fellow replacement Cyriel Dessers guided in an even later third to seal the win.
"We played really well, with everybody working hard for the team," Clement said.
"You see more people start to understand things and we're collectively better. We kept pushing, as I demand, to score more and kill the belief of the opponent."
There was, again, some disquiet at Ibrox during the 55th minute as a minority of fans displayed banners, the general theme of which was 'Time for Change'.
However, there was no walkout protest, as occurred during the win over St Johnstone on Sunday.
There were missed chances, though. Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan denied Danilo and Igamane with fine saves, while Nedim Bajrami, Robin Propper and Vaclav Cerny all spurned opportunities.
Ragged Aberdeen struggled to get a grip of the game.
That said, from nowhere, Leighton Clarkson came within inches of beating Liam Kelly from the halfway line and Kevin Nisbet failed to connect from Graeme Shinnie's teasing delivery.
The Pittodrie side, who earlier in the campaign enjoyed a nine-point lead over the Ibrox club, are now 12 adrift of Philippe Clement's men. An astonishing turnaround.
It was imperative to narrow that gap to Celtic after they dropped points on Tuesday. Anything else would have been intolerable to the Rangers fans.
Their side started fast and got the reward, but that vital second, then third goal, just wouldn't arrive until very late on.
Rangers' home record continues to impress, though. As does Igamane, whose goal return over the past few months as been an almighty positive.
Home form is not the issue, although they must continue to retain that focus and deliver maximum points at Ibrox. Then address the glaring problem or inconsistency on their travels.
There were small, muted displays of protest in the stands again at the position they are in and the general running of the club and that might remain with some convinced change is required.
Fans also await any news on recruitment but, as chief executive Patrick Stewart outlined, that will be limited to just one or two recruits.
The return of James Tavernier and Balogun will help, with the potential for further injury issues given Propper and Danilo had to be replaced.
Jimmy Thelin has enough credit in the bank for this winless run to not be put his Aberdeen position at risk.
That is an unusual scenario given they have now gone a club-record equalling 12 matches without a victory.
And it's also incredible that there has been a 21-point swing between these sides after Aberdeen's superb opening to this season.
The opening goal was completely avoidable. The nature of it suggested a lack of confidence but the visitors were too open at times and risked going further behind.
They did have moments, but didn't muster enough to put serious doubt in the minds of a Rangers side who are undoubtedly under pressure.
New gs will presumably assist in turning round their fortunes. But they remain in something of a rut and sides below them are closing in.
Saturday's Scottish Cup tie against Elgin City is a must-win, as they look to regroup and get back to something resembling the Aberdeen of the start of the campaign.
Clement satisfied with 'domination'
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "[Hamza Igamane] is doing really well and we need to go on with this. He needs to do this all season, it's hard to get to the top but harder to stay there.
"I'm happy with the way Cyriel [Dessers] came in with a lot of energy and scoring a really good goal. That's a plus and also the players coming back from injury."
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "We have things to work on. We have to be more composed and find better rhythm. We had too many transitions against us.
"The fans' expectations are higher. We are in a challenging time right now, a mix of everything, we are in a bad run, some injuries and new players.
"We have a cup game and one week to the next league game. We need to find the rhythm and stabilise as a team."
'Players are fighting but we need to be better' - Thelin
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 11 | 53 | 60 |
| |
| 23 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 44 | 18 | 26 | 47 |
| |
| 23 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 24 | 7 | 37 |
| |
| 23 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 32 | 33 | -1 | 35 |
| |
| 23 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 28 | 37 | -9 | 31 |
| |
| 23 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 34 | 36 | -2 | 29 |
| |
| 23 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 37 | 41 | -4 | 27 |
| |
| 23 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 27 | 38 | -11 | 27 |
| |
| 23 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 37 | -12 | 25 |
| |
| 23 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 42 | -19 | 25 |
| |
| 23 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 25 | 31 | -6 | 24 |
| |
| 23 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 25 | 47 | -22 | 15 |
|
Manager: Philippe Clement
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Jimmy Thelin
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Philippe Clement
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Jimmy Thelin
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Scottish Premiership
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Rangers have lost just one of their last 12 home games against Aberdeen in all competitions (W9 D2), a 1-3 reverse in September 2023 under Michael Beale.
After their 2-1 win in October, Aberdeen could earn back-to-back league victories over Rangers for the first time since September 1993, and first time within a single season since November 1987.
Rangers have won 16 of their last 18 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) home league games (D2) since a 0-1 defeat to Hamilton Academical in March 2020.
Aberdeen have lost each of their last three away league outings, this after only losing one of their previous 11 on the road prior (W5 D5).
Having won 2-1 in October, Jimmy Thelin could become the first ever Aberdeen manager to win both of his first two league games against Rangers in charge of the club.
