RANGERS have moved back into second place in the Premiership after a 2-1 win over Aberdeen at Ibrox.

Goals from Kenny Miller and Lee Hodson clinched a deserved victory for Mark Warburton’s side as they bounced back from Wednesday’s defeat to Hearts.

Clint Hill and Ryan Jack saw red in a hotly contested affair before Andy Considine headed home a last minute consolation for Derek McInnes’ side.

Rangers will now host the Jambos next weekend with a chance to consolidate second spot in the top flight standings.

Warburton made five changes from the side that were beaten at Tynecastle in midweek as he shuffled his pack across the park.

Hodson came in for James Tavernier at right-back and Clint Hill replaced Danny Wilson, while Matt Crooks dropped onto the bench as Kenny Miller took up a midfield spot.

Up front, there was a return for Joe Garner and the wide berths went to Michael O’Halloran and Barrie McKay as the Gers looked to get back to winning ways.

It was Aberdeen who had the first chance of the afternoon as James Maddison fired a free-kick just wide but Warburton’s side soon grew into the encounter.

There was more tempo about Rangers’ play but there was little quality from either team as a frantic first half ended goalless.

Joe Garner saw a low shot turned round the post by keeper Joe Lewis before his Light Blues counterpart pulled off a good stop to deny Jayden Stockley.

The best move of the opening period came after 23 minutes and should have resulted in the deadlock being broken but Lee Wallace couldn’t make Ibrox roar.

Garner and McKay combined well in the middle of the park and the winger sent his captain clear with a neat ball in behind. With only Lewis to beat, Wallace pulled his shot wide of the far post.

The left-back would bomb forward once again just minutes later but McKay opted not to use him this time as he burst from his own area and fired a shot just over the bar.

It was a competitive and feisty affair and Aberdeen should have silenced the home crowd just after the restart but Stockley headed wide from a Jonny Hayes cross.

When Rangers got their next sight of goal, Miller made no mistake. Rangers worked a quick free-kick after a foul on Garner and the striker had time to pick his pass.

His cross took a slight deflection as it split the Dons defence and Miller timed his run perfectly as he arrived at the back post and fired the ball beyond Lewis.

Rangers deserved their lead but couldn’t rest on their laurels as the Dons looked for a way back into an end-to-end encounter.

It was Warburton who turned to his bench first as Tavernier took over from Miller and Martyn Waghorn replaced O’Halloran.

In between, Aberdeen spurned a glorious chance as Maddison picked the ball up and burst towards the area but his tame shot was easily held by Foderingham.

It would prove costly for the Dons as Rangers doubled their advantage just minutes later and secured a huge Premiership win.

A McKay pass did the damage this time as the Reds defence was breached and right-back Hodson made no mistake as he rifled the ball beyond Lewis.

McInnes turned to his bench as Niall McGinn and Peter Pawlett entered the action but time was against the visitors as they attempted to avoid another Ibrox defeat.

Garner almost made it 3-0 with a header from a Wallace cross and tempers continued to flare on both sides as referee Steven McLean was kept busy.

Aberdeen continued to push in search of a way back into the game but it was Rangers who came closest to the third goal of the game as Lewis denied Harry Forrester with a smart stop.

With just minutes left, Clint Hill picked up a second yellow card and there were a couple of scuffles between a handful of players before the whistle as Ryan Jack also saw red.

When the Dons free-kick was finally taken, Aberdeen got their goal as Considine headed home a Maddison cross.

But it was Rangers who claimed the points as they moved back up to second spot in the Premiership standings.