Gers blast away Dons

Rangers have cut Celtic's lead at the top of the table to four points after a 5-0 rout of Aberdeen at Ibrox.

Two goals from Nacho Novo (pictured) - one a penalty - along with single strikes from substitute Steven Thompson, Peter Lovenkrands and Fernando Ricksen were enough to complete a satisfying week in The SPL for the Old Firm club.

The Dons arrived at Ibrox buoyed by their last-gasp win at Celtic in midweek and Jimmy Calderwood's side were just as committed against The Gers, as Aberdeen's Scott Severin clashed heads with Dado Prso in his own box.

The clash left both players worse for wear and Prso needed to be substituted after leaving the match on a stretcher with a cut around his eye, with Thompson coming on in his place.

The substitute soon made an impact, as the home side took a one-goal lead six minutes before the break when Novo played a loose ball in Aberdeen's box back into the danger area for Thompson to knock in off the post for 1-0 lead at the break.

Aberdeen kept the pressure on Rangers but were unable to pull level with their chances before Alex McLeish's side doubled their lead midway through the second half.

Hamed Namouchi found Ricksen with a header before the Dutchman released the Dane with a through ball, though Lovenkrands was seemingly in an offside position.

The flag stayed down and Lovenkrands ran through to beat Dons keeper Ryan Esson for 2-0.

Novo then made it three with a quarter-hour remaining when the Spaniard latched onto a through ball before rounding Esson to score.

Ricksen then got on the scoresheet with two minutes remaining, as he fired home from outside the box for 4-0.

In the dying stages, Novo got his second of the day from the penalty spot after Phil McGuire brought him down in the Aberdeen box for 5-0.

The result keeps Rangers within touching distance of arch-rival Celtic, while Aberdeen stay third in the table following the heavy defeat.

Click below for a match summary:

Scottish Premier League
Rangers 5-0 Aberdeen

Click here for an updated SPL table.