Prso took his goals tally for the season to 21 with a brilliant back heel and then a close range finish which, added to Barry Ferguson’s tremendous early strike, gave Rangers a vital win.
With Celtic losing to Hibs yesterday, the gap is now just two points with three game to go. Can Rangers still win this championship?
On the evidence of their performance in Aberdeen, Rangers have it within their capabilities to win their remaining matches. It remains to be seen whether Celtic can do the same.
Having been given renewed hope in this topsy turvy title race, Rangers knew they had to take advantage of Celtic’s clip yesterday and they looked like a team with extra desire in the early moments at Pittodrie.
Barry Ferguson signalled his intent by testing Ryan Esson after just four minutes following some superb interplay with the recalled Alex Rae, who seemed to relish his return.
The Aberdeen keeper dealt comfortably with the right foot drive, but there was little he could do when Ferguson found himself in an even better position five minutes later.
The soaking conditions undoubtedly played a part as Ritchie Byrne lost his footing in the left back area and Dado Prso was quick to react.
He galloped forward then played a clever square pass to the advancing Ferguson who fired a superbly sweet left foot shot from the edge of the box which flew into the right corner.
It was just the start Rangers wanted and they took command of the contest, adapting better, it seemed, to the saturated field.
Rae and Ferguson were in control in midfield and Rangers’ passing was crisp and accurate as they attempted to build on their lead.
Prso tested Esson with a snap shot in 22 minutes but it was comfortable for the Dons keeper.
However, two minutes later he came to the rescue of his side with a quite superb block on Ferguson’s dead ball effort.
Anderson had brought down Prso in a right central area just outside the box after Sotirios Kyrgiakos had fired the ball forward from his own half.
Ferguson showed great technique as he swerved the ball up and over the wall and then watched as it dipped towards the left corner, but Esson managed to claw it away.
Fernando Ricksen, playing in his old role of right back due to the re-organisation of the side, should have done better in 28 minutes when Prso cut the ball back from the left but he completely miss-cued.
And you felt that a second Rangers goal at this stage might just deflate Aberdeen.
However, the Dons levelled the match in 32 minutes thanks to the industry of Chris Clark and the help of a deflection.
Clark skipped away from Ferguson in midfield and was at least 25 yards out when he let fly. Ronald Waterreus’s job was made more difficult as the ball struck Andrews on the way through and diverted into the left corner of the net.
Rangers needed to react quickly and they did so three minutes before half-time when Nacho Novo and Prso linked superbly.
The little Spaniard, playing wide right, had been having an unsuccessful afternoon but he sprang to life at just the right moment.
He wriggled away from Byrne, cut inside Anderson and then produced a low cross which Prso delightfully flicked into the left corner with a flick of his left heel.
It was a wonderful goal and the powerful Croat raced to celebrate with the Rangers fans, sliding on the soaking turf as he did so.
With their noses back in front Rangers knew they wanted to strike early in the second half to set up the win they desperately wanted – and they duly did just that.
Again it was the predatory instincts of Prso which were so crucial for Rangers as he further illustrated the enormous influence he has had for Alex McLeish this season.
Rangers won a corner on the right side in 58 minutes after Novo’s shot had been deflected.
Ricksen swung the ball over, Andrews’ header was blocked in the six-yard box and Prso was quickest to react, spinning around before firing the ball home from close range.
It was Dado’s 21st goal of the season and it could hardly have been more precious for Rangers and their revived title aspirations.
The Light Blues were in real control by this stage and there was purpose and menace about their play every time they took possession, it seemed.
Andrews headed just over the bar from Ricksen’s cross in 63 minutes. Then in 67 minutes only a fantastic tackle from Zander Diamond denied Prso a clear run on goal and a certain hat-trick.
McLeish, who has brought back Peter Lovenkrands for his first start since December 2, replaced the Dane with Shota Arveladze for the last 20 minutes or so to add a bit of experience and craft.
Indeed the Georgian striker might have scored twice late on, volleying Prso’s cross over the bar and then having a close range shot blocked by Esson in the final minute
Pittodrie proved to be problematic earlier in this campaign as Rangers drew here with both the Dons and Inverness Caley Thistle.
However, this win in the Granite City might just go down as the one of the most crucial in many years.
Bring on next weekend!
ABERDEEN (4-4-2): 20-Esson; 3-McNaughton, 4-Anderson, 5-Diamond, 27- Byrne (15-Hart 45); 11-Clark, 6-Severin, 8-Heikkinen, 18-Muirhead (24-Dempsey 71); 14-Mackie, 23-Whelan (29-Blaha 62)
Subs not used: 1-Preece, 19-Stewart, 22-Winter, 25-Considine.
Bookings: Diamond (37), Severin (84)
RANGERS (4-4-2): 25-Waterreus; 2-Ricksen, 5-Andrews, 16-Kyrgiakos, 21-
Ross; 10-Novo, 8-Rae, 6-Ferguson, 26-Lovenkrands (7-Arveladze 69); 4-Buffel, 9-Prso (19-Thompson 87).
Subs not used: 22-McGregor, 37-Smith, 7-Burke, 45-McCormack, 12-Malcolm.
Bookings: None
Man of the match: Dado Prso