The Dons were leading 1-0 at that point – ironically through a Stavrum goal after just four minutes – and a second goal would surely have killed the game and, possibly, Gers’ title hopes.
But if anything the Light Blues took heart from that decision and turned the game on its head and scored either side of half-time, Kenny Miller grabbing the equaliser before Michael Mols fired them into the lead.
To add insult to injury for Aberdeen they were reduced to 10 men with 21 minutes to go when striker Derek Young was dismissed for a two-footed lunge on Scott Wilson, his second bookable offence.
The mood on the Rangers supporters’ buses making the trip to the North East would have been one of disappointment as news filtered through of Celtic’s 4-1 win at home to St Johnstone which left them 16 points behind their bitter rivals.
But the journey back to Glasgow would have been a decidedly happier one with three vital points in the bag as the race for the title begins to hot up.
Dick Advocaat was faced with a selection headache before the game when Tugay Kerimoglu was injured 24 hours before the game and Arthur Numan had to pull out just moments before the game kicked off.
Other than that, though, Rangers lined up for the game as expected with Lorenzo Amoruso in the heart of defence despite one newspaper suggesting the Italian would be axed from the side.
And with only four minutes of the game gone the former Fiorentina stopper’s recent woes continued when he was found wanting as Aberdeen took an early lead.
Kevin McNaughton was allowed to run for at least 25 yards without being challenged and he whipped in a perfect cross which Arild Stavrum fired home with Amoruso at the wrong side of him.
Rangers struggled to get to grips with the game in the early part but captain Barry Ferguson certainly lead by example and he created the opportunity which lead to Gers’ first shot on target. The youngster played a lovely 40-yard pass over the Dons defence and into the path of Kenny Miller but the young striker’s shot was palmed over the crossbar by Ryan Esson.
It didn’t look as if it was going to be Rangers’ night and, in particular, Amoruso. Firstly the Italian saw his long-range free-kick trundle towards goal and then in the 32nd minute he was shown the yellow card for a tackle from behind on Derek Young.
Bert Konterman’s name soon followed Amoruso’s into ref McCurry’s book but that wasn’t before Aberdeen had their penalty claim waved away when Stavrum was pulled down in the box.
Then five minutes before half-time Rangers got themselves back on level terms. Scott Wilson played the ball into Michael Mols who turned well inside the box before setting Miller free and the youngster clinically finished for his SEVENTH goal in only his last THREE games.
Six minutes after the re-start Rangers took the lead after a cock-up in the Aberdeen defence. Ronald de Boer caught David Rowson in possession, squared the ball to Mols and with Esson out his goals the Dutchman had the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net.
The game started to turn nasty and in a spell of just a couple of minutes Darren Young scythed down Mols before Ferguson became the third player to be booked for chopping down full-back Clark.
Christiansen pulled off a wonderful save in the 61st minute when he turned a Darren Young effort round the post after a good flick on by new French signing and Dons substitute Alex Di Rocco.
With 21 minutes left on the clock the Dutch connection almost brought Rangers a goal which would have killed the game. Fernando Ricksen darted down the right wing before whipping in a cross which Mols neatly back heeled but Esson turned it round the post albeit at the second attempt.
Sixty seconds later Aberdeen were reduced to 10 men when Derek Young was sent off for his second bookable offence, a lunge on Wilson at the edge of the box and with him went any chance the Dons had of taking something from the game.
Rangers saw the final minutes through with an extra man advantage as they got their title challenge back on track ahead of next week’s tricky trip to East End Park where they will take on Dunfermline.
ABERDEEN: Esson, Whyte, Guntveit (Mayer 81), Solberg, Winters, Stavrum, Rowson, Clark (Di Rocco 60), Darren Young, Derek Young, McNaughton (McAllister 78) Subs: Preece, Perry
RANGERS: Christiansen, Ricksen, Amoruso, Ferguson, Mols, Albertz, De Boer, Konterman, Wilson (Adamczuk 81), Miller (Dodds 73), Vidmar Subs (not used): Brown, Ross
Scorers: Aberdeen – Stavrum (4); Rangers – Miller (40), Mols (51)
Bookings: Aberdeen – Derek Young (49), Whyte (68); Rangers – Amoruso (32), Konterman (36), Ferguson (56)
Sent Off: Aberdeen – Derek Young (69)
Referee: Michael McCurry
Attendance: 18,359