RANGERS and Aberdeen will bring their rivalry into a new campaign on Wednesday when the Dons visit Ibrox in their first meeting of the 2017/18 season.

It promises to be a dramatic occasion after a month of speculation that Derek McInnes could be offered the Light Blues job and with the Pittodrie side having the opportunity to move nine points clear of the Gers in second place. 

Graeme Murty will be in the dugout for Rangers once more after stepping up as caretaker to lead the first team for the last four matches.

He started well with two wins against Hearts and Partick Thistle, but a first league home defeat to Hamilton since 1926 and an away loss to relegation-threatened Dundee have piled pressure on the players to deliver a performance.

Read more: Midweek preview: What games are on, when do they kick off and are they on TV?

Aberdeen finished nine points clear of Rangers in second last season, but the head to head meetings between the two sides ended with two wins apiece. 

25 September 2016

Aberdeen 2-1 Rangers

In their first meeting since January 2012, the Dons triumphed thanks to a glorious James Maddison free-kick in the 90th minute.

Some dismal defending from the away side saw Jonny Hayes race clear through on goal one minute into the second half before beating Wes Foderingham with a cool finish.

Mark Warburton’s side drew level with 11 minutes remaining when goalscorer Hayes hauled down Lee Wallace in the box to allow Andy Halliday the opportunity to convert from the penalty spot.

A scrappy affair was punctuated by bookings, with Aberdeen picking up five yellow cards and four Rangers players also going into the referee’s notepad.

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But the game would be settled in style in stoppage time, when on-loan teenage midfielder Maddison curled a superb 25-yard strike into the top corner.

3 December 2016

Rangers 2-1 Aberdeen

A fiery encounter at Ibrox saw Rangers go into second place thanks to a 2-1 win over Derek McInnes’ side.

Kenny Miller latched onto Joe Garner’s pass to put the home side in front on 52 minutes, before Lee Hodson doubled their lead with a powerful finish 20 minutes from full-time.

Injury time was eventful, with Clint Hill and Ryan Jack both sent off for receiving second yellow cards before Andrew Considine headed in a 94th-minute consolation.

9 April 2017

Aberdeen 0-3 Rangers

Rangers put three goals past Aberdeen in five minutes late on at Pittodrie to end the Dons’ run of 10 consecutive home wins in emphatic fashion.

Kenny Miller was the hero once more with a superb angled opener, before doubling his tally with a clinical finish just two minutes later after breaking clear of the Aberdeen defence.

Read more: Midweek preview: What games are on, when do they kick off and are they on TV?

The visiting fans only had to wait another couple of minutes to celebrate a third, as Joe Dodoo cut inside from the left to fire a low shot past Joe Lewis and silence the home crowd.

The result was a big boost for Pedro Caixinha’s men, but too little too late to influence the league standings as it still left the Light Blues with nine points to make up in six remaining matches.  

17 May 2017

Rangers 1-2 Aberdeen

In Rangers’ final home match of the season Aberdeen celebrated a historic achievement by securing a win at Ibrox for the first time in 26 years.

Graeme Shinnie burst through the home side’s defence to drill his side in front after just nine minutes before Joe Garner came close for the Gers and goalkeeper Wes Foderingham denied efforts from Ash Taylor, Niall McGinn and Adam Rooney.

McInnes’ side eventually doubled their lead on 51 minutes when on-loan Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie nodded in from close range.

A superb chipped finish from Martyn Waghorn got Caixinha’s charges back in the game with half an hour remaining, but Aberdeen held on for a famous win despite having striker Jayden Stockley sent off for a double booking late on.