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Rangers climbed above Aberdeen into second place with their third win in eight weeks against the Pittodrie side.

Alfredo Morelos opened the scoring in the first half, converting James Tavernier's cross for his 13th goal of the season.

Rangers were awarded a penalty after the break when Anthony O'Connor and Joe Lewis combined to foul Josh Windass.

Lewis was stretchered off and replaced by Danny Rogers before Tavernier converted from the spot.

Rangers defender James Tavernier converts his side's second goal from the penalty spot

The victory, following two wins in four days across November and December, moved Rangers above Aberdeen on goal difference, and 11 points behind leaders Celtic.

Rangers manager Graeme Murty's new-look side showed Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes what he might have been working with, after rejecting the chance to replace Pedro Caixinha in December.

Against an Ibrox side containing debutants Sean Goss, Jamie Murphy and Russell Martin - with Jason Cummings appearing off the bench in the second half - Aberdeen found themselves out-gunned.

Rangers had limped into the winter break with a mounting injury list ,but the time off seemed to do them good and they started brightly, coming close 12 minutes in.

Hull City manager Nigel Adkins, left, was an interested spectator at Ibrox

Goss' corner was laid back by Martin for Windass, whose strike took a nick on its way through before hitting the post and bouncing into Lewis' grasp.

The Dons were fortunate again in the 20th minute, when Morelos somehow failed to head home from Daniel Candeias' back-post cross.

Aberdeen finally moved themselves into shooting territory moments later, as Kenny McLean drove through the Rangers midfield before slipping in Gary Mackay-Steven, but Ibrox goalkeeper Wes Foderingham raced from his line to cut the angle and produce a crucial block.

The importance of that save was underlined three minutes later as Rangers took the lead. Candeias and Tavernier were proving a handful for the Pittodrie men and combined again, with Tavernier's cross finding Morelos lurking and this time the Premiership's top scorer made no mistake as he nodded home.

Rangers defender Russell Martin was one of four players to make his debut for the Ibrox side

The lead was almost cancelled out immediately as switched off to allow McLean in but again Foderingham was well-placed to rescue his side.

Lewis had to be alert at the start of the second period as he denied Morelos a second goal after the striker managed to beat Anthony O'Connor before spinning to shoot.

But again Morelos was guilty of a bad miss on 58 minutes. Martin released Declan John with a superb ball in behind the Dons defence, Lewis could only flap at the full-back's cross and with the goal gaping, the striker sliced into the side-netting.

Cummings got his introduction on 70 minutes as he was treated to a deafening roar after replacing Morelos, and the home support were cheering again on 75 minutes as Rangers won a penalty.

South Africa-based Rangers chairman Dave King was in Glasgow to watch the team in action against Aberdeen

Tavernier slipped Windass in on goal but just as he looked to pull the trigger he was clattered into by Lewis. The keeper came off worse but referee Bobby Madden still pointed to the spot.

There was a five-minute delay as Lewis was stretchered off, but Tavernier kept his cool to fire past understudy stopper Danny Rogers.

Aberdeen poured forward hoping to salvage something but found themselves up against a keeper in unbeatable form, as Foderingham pulled off four great saves in the final 10 minutes to deny Adam Rooney twice, Dom Ball and then Graeme Shinnie.