Rangers beat Aberdeen to ease pressure on Clement

Rangers lifted the pressure on under-fire boss Philippe Clement with a 3-0 win against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday.

A section of disgruntled supporters led by the Union Bears walked out of Sunday's 3-1 home win over St Johnstone in protest at the board's backing of their Belgian manager.

There were more anti-board banners held up in the 55th minute – symbolising Rangers' 55th and last title win in 2021 – to remind everyone of ongoing disquiet in the stands.

But Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane fired Rangers ahead in the 13th minute with his 13th goal of the season.

Leon Balogun headed in their second goal in stoppage-time before fellow substitute Cyriel Dessers scored a third to move within 13 points of runaway leaders Celtic.

Despite beating Celtic 3-0 recently, Rangers have little chance of winning the title as they pay the price for a poor start to the season.

Aberdeen have now gone 12 league games without a win after 11 unbeaten at the start of the season.

Igamane should have scored in the eighth minute when he was put through by Vaclav Cerny but his left-footed dink escaped the far post after speeding past keeper Ross Doohan.

Moments later, after Sivert Nilsen allowed a throw-out from Doohan to go under his foot, Cerny pounced to cut the ball back to Mohamed Diomande and when his drive rebounded to Igamane, he calmly slotted home for his seventh goal in six games.

Doohan produced a wonderful save from Igamane's powerful long-distance drive late in the first half.

Nedim Bajrami replaced Danilo for the start of the second half and after the protest banners were held aloft, Ianis Hagi skimmed the bar with a 25-yard drive.

Bajrami's drive flashed just wide before Rangers centre-back Robin Propper limped off in the 75th minute to be replaced by Balogun.

Balogun glanced a Cerny corner against the post with five minutes remaining but he rose to nod in a Clinton Nsiala cross in the 93rd minute.

Dessers finished off the win with virtually the last kick as he rampaging through the Aberdeen defence and curled past Doohan.