Rangers hammer Dons to reduce gap on Celtic

Danish forward Peter Lovenkrands, seen here June 2004.

Rangers reduced the gap at the top of the Scottish Premier League with an emphatic 5-0 win at home to Aberdeen.

Goals from Steven Thompson, Peter Lovenkrands, Fernando Rickson and a Nacho Novo double gave Alex McLeish's side the win which puts them four points behind Celtic.

McLeish was understandably happy with the victory: "The win was the most important thing for us but it was a bonus to get a few goals. We caught Aberdeen on a good day and our tempo was high right from the start.

"We got a break for the first goal and Novo did well to chase a lost cause and that is a lesson for any player.

"When we went two up, Aberdeen pushed forward to try and get back in the game and you have to give Jimmy Calderwood credit for that. He would rather try and salvage the game than settle for damage limitation but it created space for us which we were able to exploit."

Jimmy Calderwood's side had arrived in Glasgow in a confident mood following their midweek win against Celtic and another victory in Glasgow would have put them into second place in the SPL.

But Rangers were determined to maintain the pressure on their Old Firm rivals and they pressed Aberdeen from the kick-off.

Despite dominating possession, Rangers struggled to break down Aberdeen's defence and in 38 minutes the visitors almost stole the lead.

Darren Mackie was put through on goal and with only Klos to beat but sent his effort was straight at the Rangers' captain.

Only a minute later Rangers took the lead after some crazy defending by Severin. With the ball about to drift over the touchline for an Aberdeen bykick, the defender decided to keep the ball in play but only succeeded in gifting it to Novo. The little Spanish striker rolled the ball across goal for Thompson to smash home from two yards out.

In the second half Stewart had a great opportunity for the visitors on 65 minutes when Mackie chipped the ball across goal but his first-time effort sailed well over.

Three minutes later Lovenkrands doubled his side's lead. Rickson played a great ball beyond the Aberdeen defence for the Danish forward to run on to and he coolly slotted past Esson.

Aberdeen were clearly rocked by the goal and on 75 minutes they were three behind. Novo latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and rounded Esson before rolling the ball into the empty net.

With the visitors' defence disintegrating Rangers continued to press for more goals and in the final minutes scored twice in quick succession.

First Rickson powered in a shot from 25-yards which flew past Esson into the net on 87 minutes. And then in the final minute of normal time Novo was hauled down in the box by Philip McGuire and he picked himself up to convert from the spot kick.

Calderwood was understandably disappointed by the defeat which he felt was not a true reflection on the game.

"We possibly made a rod for our own back by beating Celtic. Rangers were really up for the game but I don't think there was five goals between the sides.

"People will look at the result and say the gap between the Old Firm and the other teams is getting wider but I don't think there was that much between us and to lose by five goals is a little bit unkind.

"My philosophy when my team is losing is to try and push forward to get back in the game and so we that's what we were trying to do. We went to a 2-2-4 formation but it backfired and I have had to apologise to the players for that."