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Rangers are now 22 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership after Alfredo Morelos’ double was enough to beat 10-man Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Steven Gerrard’s side made it 15 league wins in a row as they bid to win a first top-flight title since 2011 and deny Celtic 10 championships in a row.
James Tavernier missed a penalty after Ryan Hedges was sent off, then Morelos scored either side of half-time.
Kennedy did pull one back for Aberdeen as they improved late on.
But Derek McInnes’ side’s six-game unbeaten run came to an end as they failed to narrow the gap on second-place Celtic.
Rangers, without a league loss all season and fresh from an Old Firm victory over Celtic, knew taking three points on Sunday would take them another step closer to the title.
And while Gerrard had suffered three defeats against Aberdeen, he had yet to lose at Pittodrie.
Between them, Rangers’ Morelos and Aberdeen’s Sam Cosgrove netted 52 times last season.
This term, their clinical edge has often deserted them, and in the early minutes the pair passed up golden opportunities – getting ahead of their markers to long balls but failing to test the goalkeeper.
While Rangers were not getting everything their own way, they were still making the better chances. Ianis Hagi whistled over, Ryan Kent’s free shot inside the box was cleared off the line by Jonny Hayes, and Joe Lewis denied Tavernier.
Aberdeen were repelling what was being thrown at them, but then they were down to 10 men before the half hour.
Hedges nicked the legs of Morelos in the box, sending him hurtling to the ground as he bore down on goal and referee John Beaton awarded the penalty and issued a red card. Tavernier, who had previously scored 10 times against Aberdeen, this time sent his spot-kick wide.
However, it was just a momentary let-off for the home side before Morelos collected a short ball, took a neat first touch, turned and fired low into the net.
Curtis Main was fortunate to escape a red card shortly afterwards when he took out Rangers’ Borna Barisic with his studs up. He received just a yellow, but his afternoon was over moments later when manager McInnes hauled him off.
It already looked like damage limitation for Aberdeen, and shortly after half-time it was 2-0. Another well-worked move allowed Morelos to latch on to a Kent backheel and smash the ball low into the net.
Kent and Hayes forced saves at both ends but, as the game looked to be comfortable for the visitors, Aberdeen pulled one back when Hayes raced at the defence and cut across to Kennedy, who finished low past Allan McGregor.
As time ticked on, Rangers looked tired – despite the extra man – and Aberdeen were getting more of the ball but could not hurt the visitors. And the best chance of the final stages fell to Rangers when Glen Kamara broke into the box and Lewis had to block his near-post shot.
Man of the match – Alfredo Morelos
What did we learn?
McInnes had demanded more of a performance from Aberdeen than the previous two limp showings against Rangers this season, and for 20 minutes they certainly showed more aggression.
But after the red card it looked like game over and the hosts struggled to find any sort of shape as they were moved all over the place. But they rallied late on and made it a nervy ending for Gerrard’s side.
Kent and Morelos have struggled for form in recent weeks, but both stepped up as Rangers took full advantage of the extra man.
What’s next?
Aberdeen travel to Livingston on Wednesday for their rearranged Scottish Premiership match (19:45 GMT kick-off). Rangers are not in action until Sunday, when they travel to Motherwell (12:00).
Line-ups
Aberdeen
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Lewis
- 3Hoban
- 14TaylorSubstituted forEdmondsonat 89′minutes
- 4Considine
- 11HedgesBooked at 26mins
- 24Campbell
- 19FergusonBooked at 81mins
- 17Hayes
- 25WrightSubstituted forKennedyat 58′minutes
- 9MainBooked at 41minsSubstituted forLoganat 44′minutes
- 16Cosgrove
Substitutes
- 2Logan
- 8Ojo
- 10McGinn
- 21Anderson
- 26Virtanen
- 32Edmondson
- 33Kennedy
- 37Ngwenya
- 43Woods
Rangers
Formation 4-3-3
- 1McGregor
- 2TavernierBooked at 40mins
- 6Goldson
- 26Balogun
- 31Barisic
- 17Aribo
- 10Davis
- 18Kamara
- 7HagiSubstituted forZunguat 82′minutes
- 20Morelos
- 14Kent
Substitutes
- 3Bassey
- 5Helander
- 9Defoe
- 11Itten
- 15Zungu
- 16Patterson
- 21Barker
- 24Stewart
- 33McLaughlin
Live Text
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Match ends, Aberdeen 1, Rangers 2.
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Second Half ends, Aberdeen 1, Rangers 2.
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Foul by Alfredo Morelos (Rangers).
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Shay Logan (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Connor Goldson (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Sam Cosgrove (Aberdeen).
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Substitution, Aberdeen. Ryan Edmondson replaces Ash Taylor.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Ash Taylor.
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Attempt saved. Glen Kamara (Rangers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alfredo Morelos.
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Hand ball by James Tavernier (Rangers).
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Substitution, Rangers. Bongani Zungu replaces Ianis Hagi.
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Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Ryan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen).
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Glen Kamara (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen).
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Leon Balogun (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Sam Cosgrove (Aberdeen).
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Goal! Aberdeen 1, Rangers 2. Matthew Kennedy (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jonny Hayes.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Ash Taylor.
Player of the match
MorelosAlfredo Morelos
Aberdeen
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Squad number25Player nameWright
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Squad number33Player nameKennedy
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Squad number1Player nameLewis
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Squad number4Player nameConsidine
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Squad number17Player nameHayes
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Squad number14Player nameTaylor
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Squad number3Player nameHoban
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Squad number19Player nameFerguson
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Squad number24Player nameCampbell
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Squad number16Player nameCosgrove
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Squad number2Player nameLogan
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Squad number11Player nameHedges
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Squad number9Player nameMain
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Squad number32Player nameEdmondson
Rangers
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Squad number20Player nameMorelos
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Squad number14Player nameKent
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Squad number10Player nameDavis
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Squad number1Player nameMcGregor
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Squad number7Player nameHagi
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Squad number18Player nameKamara
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Squad number31Player nameBarisic
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Squad number26Player nameBalogun
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Squad number17Player nameAribo
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Squad number6Player nameGoldson
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Squad number2Player nameTavernier
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Squad number15Player nameZungu
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