Steven Davis netted the opener for Rangers with a blistering strike

By Martin Conaghan

Rangers edged closer to securing the Scottish Premier League title with a battling win against Aberdeen.

Steven Davis netted the opener on 24 minutes with a powerful right-footed shot from 20 yards out.

A fine strike from Kyle Lafferty doubled the lead on 64 minutes before Darren Mackie reduced the deficit four minutes later from close range.

But Kenny Miller sealed the points for Rangers with 14 minutes remaining, firing in from a Danny Wilson nod-down.

Rangers are now just two wins away from sealing a record 53rd league championship title - potentially before the SPL splits in two for the remaining five fixtures.

In contrast, Mark McGhee's Aberdeen face the ominous threat of a relegation battle if their run of one win in their last 14 matches does not improve soon.

Walter Smith made one change from the side that faced Hamilton on Saturday, with Kris Boyd dropping to the bench in favour of Lafferty, while Aberdeen brought back Steven MacLean, Darren Mackie and Jerel Ifil.

The tempo of the match was set from the start, living up to the fiercely-contested history of the fixture between the sides, but despite the pace-fuelled opening, few chances hit the mark.

Davis curved in a tempting free-kick that edged past Jamie Langfield's left-hand post in the 10th minute, then Lafferty sent in a few half-hearted attempts on goal - one of which cleared the bar.

The opener came in stunning fashion from the boot of Davis after Steven Naismith played a square ball across the edge of the box and the Northern Ireland international thundered in an unstoppable shot from 20 yards.

Davide Grassi finished off a rare foray forward for Aberdeen with a long-range effort that whistled harmlessly into the Copland Road stand as the half-hour mark passed.

Rangers continued to dominate, although Lafferty struggled to reach a dangerous Miller cross from the right that flashed past Langfield in the Aberdeen goal.

As half-time approached, Mackie blasted in a long-range effort that drifted six yards wide of Allan McGregor's right-hand post.

Rangers continued to look dangerous after the re-start, and despite the narrow deficit, Aberdeen managed to gain a foothold on the match but lacked momentum going forward.

With 56 minutes played, Lafferty sprinted past Ifil down the left and crossed in, but Sasa Papac sent the final ball woefully over Langfield's crossbar.

Aberdeen's confidence continued to grow and Mark Kerr delivered a neat flick into the Rangers penalty area that Steven MacLean failed to reach.

Lafferty finally found the net in the 64th minute with a confident strike from the 18-yard line after powering through the Aberdeen defence and striking towards the bottom of Langfield's right-hand post.

Moments later, Mackie passed up an opportunity to pull one back, feebly lobbing the ball into the Rangers penalty area when he really should have pulled the trigger.

Mackie made amends in the 68th minute when MacLean cut the ball across from the right for him to slide in and narrow the deficit.

Rangers breathed a sigh of relief when Miller blasted in after Wilson had nodded down a Davis corner with 14 minutes of the match remaining.

The match continued to its conclusion at a frantic pace, and Aberdeen's Mark Kerr tried for goal with two minutes remaining, while Papac cleared a Charlie Mulgrew corner.

The dejected Dons refused to give up and Zander Diamond pressed for a consolation in the dying minutes of injury time, but Rangers held fast and extended their lead at the top of the table to 13 points.

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