Rangers recorded what in the end was a comfortable 3-0 victory over Aberdeen to cut the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 13 points.
The Gers still face an almighty challenge to catch runaway leaders Celtic but have taken full advantage of the Parkhead side’s dropped points in Dundee this week.
Hamza Igamane scored the opening goal of the game in the first half but a wasteful Rangers spurned a host of openings to make the result more comfortable long before Leon Balogun made it two.
The returning Nigerian defender eventually nodded in a second at the back post after Kevin Clancy stunned the Ibrox crowd by announcing seven minutes of injury time.
Cyriel Dessers has been linked with a move out of Rangers but showed excellent composure to send Aberdeen’s new centre-back Kristers Tobers for an ice cream and complete the rout.
Here’s five things we learned as Philippe Clement’s team made it two wins in a row in the Scottish Premiership.
Ibrox is home sweet home for Rangers
Rangers might’ve had their toils on the road in the Scottish Premiership this season but Ibrox has been a fortress for Philippe Clement and his team.
The 3-0 victory over Aberdeen makes it 11 wins out of 12 games at Ibrox Stadium this season with Rangers collecting 34 out of the club’s 47 points at home this season.
Philippe Clement insists he’s determined to turn the Ibrox side’s galling away form around – Rangers have won only three out of eleven on the road – but it’s once again home, sweet, home for this young Rangers team.
The Ibrox side are the division’s best performers on home soil this season.
Union Bears quote Walter Smith in latest protest
Heading into the clash with Aberdeen, all the talk was about the Union Bears and their polarising protest during the 3-1 victory over St Johnstone.
The Rangers fans group unfurled a series of banners and staged a 55th minute walk-out in protest at the regression at Ibrox since winning the Scottish Premiership in 2021.
Once again making a statement in the 55th minute, the Union Bears quoted the late, great Walter Smith to send a message to everyone at Rangers that 2nd best is never good enough.
The banner read:
”RANGERS FC – DO NOT ENTER UNLESS YOU’RE TO PUT YOURSELF SECOND AND THAT SHOULD BE THE ONE AND ONLY TIME SECOND IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU”
Clinton Nsiala the latest to arrive at Rangers
Clinton Nsiala took his time to arrive at Rangers but against Aberdeen the young French centre-back put in a composed and quality performance on and off the ball.
The former AC Milan youth, 20, sprayed passes around a resplendent Ibrox surface and was an effective player at both ends of the park in Nsiala’s most impressive performance yet.
The impressive Hamza Igamane scored the opening goal, Brazilian left-back Jefte had one of his most impressive games yet and Clinton Nsiala bossed the Rangers backline.
Maybe Nils Koppen knows what he’s talking about after all.
Ianis Hagi growing into Rangers leader
Ianis Hagi was once amongst European football’s brightest talents but as a youngster he struggled to find a home in football.
Rangers offered respite, but five years on from first moving to Ibrox it’s been a heck of a journey for the Romanian.
Having gone through injury hell, loan moves and contract debacles in the last three years, Hagi is an emerging as a leading player in this Rangers team.
Ianis Hagi has been the consummate professional as he worked his way back into the Rangers team and now everyone at Ibrox is reaping the rewards.
In a magnificent midfield display, Hagi pulled the strings for Rangers throughout, playing in his teammates with a number of creative passes and even hitting the bar in the second period.
Light at end of Rangers injury tunnel
As Rangers ambled through something of an injury crisis during the festive period, points were recklessly spilled and it’s left the club a mountain to climb in the Premiership.
But as Philippe Clement’s young team manage to find some consistency, the club’s most experienced campaigners are beginning to return.
Leon Balogun climbed off the bench to land a deathly blow to Aberdeen in injury time with captain James Tavernier also getting his first minutes since December.
Jack Butland was in the crowd and Rangers are still waiting on John Souttar and Tom Lawrence but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
