Aberdeen: Langfield, MacFarlane (Diamond 76), Anderson, McNaughton, Snoyl (Foster 66), Nicholson, Griffin, Severin, Clark, Lovell (Mackie 73), Smith.
Subs Not Used: Esson, Dempsey, Stewart, Macauley.

Booked: Foster.

Goals: Smith 34, Lovell 43.

Rangers: Waterreus, Ricksen, Andrews, Kyrgiakos (Buffel 45), Murray, Burke, Ferguson, Malcolm, Lovenkrands, Kris Boyd (Smith 47), Prso.
Subs Not Used: Klos, Carcary, Hutton, Novo, Hemdani.

Booked: Prso, Burke.

Att: 17,087

Ref: J Underhill

Goals from Aberdeen's Jamie Smith and Steve Lovell effectively ended any lingering hopes Rangers had of retaining the SPL title.
Jamie Langfield saved bravely at the feet of Rangers' Dado Prso before Smith volleyed home a cross from new Dons signing Ferne Snoyl.

Lovell fired in the second following a Russell Anderson header.

Rangers responded after the break, but Barry Ferguson and Peter Lovenkrands squandered great chances to score.

Croatia striker Prso had returned to the Rangers starting line-up, with Thomas Buffel dropping to the bench.

But there was little early improvement from Saturday's cup defeat by Hibernian, whose 7-0 win over Livingston took them above Rangers into third place in the table.

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood made three changes after their cup exit.

Stevie Crawford missed out through injury, with Zander Diamond and Richard Foster dropping to the bench and Lovell, Snoyl and Neil MacFarlane coming in.

New signing Snoyl made a bright start, forcing a block from Rangers goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus after the Dutchman rifled in a powerful shot following a Steve Lovell cross.

Smith nodded over the crossbar from a Chris Clark cross.

And Snoyl then set up Nicholson, who squandered the chance by attempting a pass instead of going for goal.

Rangers came close when a Bob Malcolm shot was deflected and goalkeeper Jamie Langfield blocked Prso's effort clear with his legs.

Marvin Andrews almost opened the scoring for Rangers when he rose unmarked above everyone else to meet Chris Burke's corner only to nod over.

But it was Aberdeen who took the lead when Snoyl whipped the ball into the path of Smith and he sent a low volley past Waterreus.

Lovenkrands blasted a shot well over before the Dons doubled their lead when Lovell diverted Anderson's header home from close range.

Rangers boss Alex McLeish hauled off Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Kris Boyd at half-time, with Buffel and Steven Smith coming on, and the changes almost turned the game.

Captain Ferguson squandered a couple of chances, firing wide from six yards and sending a diving header past the post from slightly further from goal.

Buffel then squared it across goal for Lovenkrands, but the Dane fired wide from six yards with the goal gaping.

And Aberdeen held on for a victory despite all Rangers' late pressure.