RANGERS have completed their title-winning season in style with a 4-0 trophy day win over Aberdeen at Ibrox, meaning Steven Gerrard’s very own ‘Invincibles’ have played 38 Scottish Premiership fixtures in 2020/21 without suffering a single defeat, with 19 victories from 19 games at home.
An own goal from keeper Joe Lewis, an impressive double from Kemar Roofe and a late strike from substitute Jermain Defoe gave the Light Blues their 32nd win of a truly memorable league campaign this afternoon and the result has taken the champions to 102 points – the first time a Rangers side has reached or gone above the 100-point mark in a top flight season.
In his pre-match press conference, Gerrard admitted he was excited and looking forward to seeing captain James Tavernier lift the Premiership trophy and enjoying the ‘55’ celebrations that will continue into tonight - and no doubt for a few days or weeks for most of us!
Before that, however, the manager urged his players to produce one more performance and not let their concentration slip against an Aberdeen side always capable of an upset.
But, as with so many games this season, Rangers were more than up for the challenge on a day when the club’s epic 10-year journey from the Third Division back to the top of the Scottish game finally came to an end.
After a 3-0 away victory over Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Wednesday night, Gerrard made one change to his starting eleven to face the Dons, with 2020/21 SPFL Player of the Year Allan McGregor coming back into the side to replace Jon McLaughlin between the posts.
And as the Rangers stars emerged from the tunnel in-stadium pyrotechnics and fireworks added to the pre-match atmosphere, with loyal bluenoses making themselves heard outside.
The decibel levels on Edmiston Drive increased after just four minutes when the Light Blues took an early lead in somewhat bizarre circumstances. Tavernier’s delivery from the right took a deflection off a defender before Joe Lewis dived out from his goal to try to and stop the ball going across his six-yard box. Instead, it hit off his hand and ended up in the back of the net.
Aberdeen’s forays into Rangers’ half were rare as the clock hit the 20 minutes, with the Light Blues probing but unable to double their advantage, although Connor Goldson did come very close with a header from a Tavernier corner.
It was patient, controlled football from the champions and they were rewarded for the efforts just after the half-hour mark, with Roofe making it 2-0.
Ryan Kent was the architect as his clever control and electric pace took him into the box from the left flank and his cutback was perfect for Roofe who diverted the ball home, although it took a nick off the visitors’ Jack MacKenzie on the way in.
With a 2-0 lead in place at the half-time break, Rangers were in a position to enjoy the second forty-five if they could maintain the high standards they have set throughout this remarkable campaign.
McGregor was certainly ensuring they remained in place, and when substitute Fraser Hornby met Ryan Hedges’ cross and put the ball wide at full stretch on 49 minutes, the Gers number one could be clearly heard demanding his teammates stay focused.
However, a bit of slackness was creeping into Rangers’ play and before the hour mark they were very fortunate not too concede when Lewis Ferguson clattered the crossbar from Hornby’s cross when he undoubtedly should have scored. McGregor then had to be sharp to deny Hedges who had got in behind the Gers backline.
That proved to be a pivotal moment as the home side made it 3-0 on 60 minutes, with that man Roofe again on target. Ianis Hagi latched on to a loose pass and played in the striker who made no mistake with a low, left-foot strike at the Copland Road end.
Defoe added a fourth goal with just two minutes remaining, the substitute producing a trademark finish, but this was once again a powerful performance from a relentless Rangers side that has made history thanks to their results and displays in the Premiership this season - now it’s time to enjoy the 55 party!
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Simpson, Goldson, Hagi (Arfield 61), Davis, Kent (Stewart 68), Aribo (Itten 79), Kamara, Morelos (Defoe 62), Roofe (Wright 68)
SUBS: McLaughlin, Firth, King
GOALS: Lewis 5og, Roofe 34, 60,
ABERDEEN: Lewis, Hoban, Considine, Hendry (Campbell 45), Hedges (Ramsay 89), McGeouch, Hayes (McGinn 75), McLennan, Ferguson, Kamberi (Hornby 45), MacKenzie
SUBS: Ritchie, Ross, Gallagher, Ruth, Kennedy
REF: Nick Walsh