Aberdeen 1-2 Rangers:Rangers boosted their hopes of clinching second place in the Scottish Premier League with a 2-1 win over Aberdeen.

Goals from Nacho Novo and Libor Sionko secured a crucial victory in front of a sell-out crowd at Pittodrie, despite a late strike from Steve Lovell. The win allowed Rangers to move one point ahead of Aberdeen in the SPL.

A third place finish last season saw the Ibrox side miss out on a Champions League place to Hearts and they were well aware a similar scenario this time around would be unthinkable.

And they headed into today's game knowing defeat would see them fall five points behind Aberdeen in the race for the runners-up spot.

Rangers were forced to make one change from last week's Old Firm derby, replacing the injured Steven Smith with Sasa Papac, while Aberdeen were able to name the same side who defeated Hearts.

Boosted by encouraging performances against Hibernian and Celtic in their last two games, it was Gers who had the first chance of the game.

Sionko was an early threat when he unleashed a powerful drive which flashed just wide of the post.

Aberdeen then came close when Scott Severin played a dangerous ball through to Darren Mackie but he failed to connect properly in front of goal and the chance was lost.

Chris Clark was then unfortunate to see his effort deflect over the Rangers crossbar.

The Dons were carving out the best of the chances and only the woodwork prevented them from taking the lead when Mackie's thunderous effort crashed off the post.

At the other end of the park, Novo blasted over after the ball broke kindly to him 10 yards out.

Rangers took the lead in bizarre fashion with 21 minutes gone.

A Sionko cut-back found Novo, whose mis-hit shot drew mocking cheers from the Aberdeen fans, but they were stunned into silence when the effort looped over goalkeeper Jamie Langfield and into the back of the net.

Rangers doubled their advantage just two minutes later when Novo turned provider to set up Sionko, who despatched a low shot past Langfield from a few yards out.

The Dons tried to haul themselves back into the game and Barry Nicholson fired over before Lee Miller struck the post.

Aberdeen made a change at the interval, replacing Jamie Smith with Zander Diamond.

Rangers then swapped Dado Prso for Filip Sebo - who grabbed the winner against the Dons at Ibrox - 10 minutes after the restart.

Only last-gasp defending prevented the home side from pulling a goal back when Severin's backheel flick was hooked off the line by Papac.

Lovell was then thrown into the action in place of Andrew Considine as Aberdeen tinkered with their line-up again.

Aberdeen used their final substitution to swap Nicholson for Chris Maguire, while Gers replaced Novo with Gavin Rae.

Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor had not had a great deal to do but he was left picking the ball out of the back of the net after 83 minutes.

He blocked a Mackie effort but the ball fell back to the feet of the Dons forward who passed to Lovell and all that was required was to side-foot home from close range.

However, it was too little too late from Aberdeen and Rangers held on for a vital win.