Aberdeen 2, Rangers 0

ABERDEEN clawed themselves away from second bottom place in the

Premier League with this victory. And Pittodrie players who had failed

Willie Miller so often this season pushed caretaker manager Roy Aitken

toward a permanent role with the club.

If Aitken can continue to coax and cajole this kind of fighting

performance from his team, then the manager's job will surely be his for

keeps.

Rangers remain 14 points clear at the top of the premier division, but

this result suggests that manager Walter Smith's caution over the

championship has some foundation.

Certainly the champions returned to Glasgow last night still angry

over two penalty claims that went against them in the second half.

One came before the Aberdeen spot kick that Billy Dodds converted to

give his team the lead; the other came after it. Neither incident

convinced referee Jim McCluskey, though the second looked as if it

should certainly have been awarded.

By the end, however, Duncan Shearer had scored a second goal and

Aberdeen had taken the three points convincingly.

It was a gritty performance from Aberdeen, one which brought to mind

the manner in which their caretaker manager himself played. The result

now allows Aitken breathing space as he begins to pick up the pieces

after the sacking of Miller.

It was an important result for the new man, and it demonstrated to the

rest of the country that Rangers' relentless march towards the title can

at least be delayed.

Aberdeen fielded a team that looked equipped to attack, while Rangers

appeared to have opted for a more conservative approach. They played new

signings, Alex Cleland and Gary Bollan, in midfield, sitting in the wide

positions.

For long enough in the first half that set-up looked good enough to

allow the Ibrox men to remain at least unbeaten. And, perhaps, do

better.

Eventually, however, the game hinged on the decisions of referee

McCluskey. In 55 minutes, Charlie Miller was brought down by Stephen

Wright as he went through, but the referee waved away Rangers' penalty

claims.

Then, in 58 minutes, a pass-back from Richard Gough had Ally Maxwell

in trouble. When Shearer reached the ball the 'keeper desperately

brought him down, the penalty was given, and Dodds scored.

In 69 minutes, Brian Laudrup was pushed off the ball by John Inglis.

It looked a certain penalty this time, but once more referee McCluskey

waved away Rangers' protests.

Just last week, Rangers' boss Walter Smith was critical of decisions

that went against his team when they met Dundee United. It must have

seemed like history repeating itself yesterday.

The game had started excitingly with Maxwell holding a low shot from

Dodds and then Theo Snelders pushing away a drive from Miller.

In 30 minutes David Robertson saw a gap in the Aberdeen defence, burst

through it, and slammed in a shot only to watch in disbelief as Snelders

punched the ball away.

At this stage Rangers had the better chances but, in the second half,

it was Aberdeen who took the lead and, despite Rangers' pressure, the

Pittodrie men remained in front and added a late second.

After the interval, young Stephen Glass had taken over from Stewart

McKimmie, injured halfway through the first half. The change did not

stop Aberdeen from looking more aggressive.

In 58 minutes they stunned Rangers by going ahead from their penalty.

Four minutes later Gordon Durie replaced Bollan and the Ibrox men pushed

forward looking for the equaliser.

In 68 minutes a corner from Laudrup -- his third in rapid succession

-- found Gough. His header forward almost reached Durie just short of

the goal line, but somehow Snelders got there first with a brave save as

Durie prepared to hook the ball into the net.

Four minutes after that Basil Boli had a chance from close range, but

shot high over.

While Rangers had pressure, Aberdeen were looking dangerous when they

broke forward. There was a warning ten minutes from the end when Shearer

swept over a cross from the left and Dodds smacked a header against the

bar.

The second goal was delayed for just eight minutes. Stuart McCall

tried to be over-elaborate at the edge of his own penalty box. He was

dispossessed by Shearer, who then sent a vicious low shot past Maxwell

to confirm the Aberdeen victory.

Still not content, the burly striker almost scored a third with a long

range shot that Maxwell pushed clear.

At the end, the only demonstrations at Pittodrie came from the fans

celebrating victory.

The threatened protests against chairman Ian Donald did not take place

beforehand -- and there was certainly no room for them afterwards.