Derek McInnes has been desperate for speculation linking him to the vacant Rangers job to go. His Aberdeen side did a good deal to dampen it on Wednesday evening at Ibrox, where they were beaten 3-0 by the Glasgow side.
In truth, the future of the Dons boss should be regarded as a sub-plot of what was a return to form for Rangers after a dire sequence of results. Few would have backed the hosts to bounce back so impressively after stunning defeats to Hamilton and Dundee, yet they were worthy winners against opponents who continue to stutter when placed in the spotlight of a big match.
Too often this season, Rangers players have been forced to apologise to the press after weak performances. For supporters, it was little more than lip service, yet finally they have seen a response on the field.
Pedro Caixinha was fired nearly five weeks ago, and while Rangers appear no closer to finding his full-time replacement, they have at last turned in the type of performance that their supporters demand.
From the outset of this encounter, they were sharper all over the field than their opponents, with the midfield pairing of Ryan Jack and Jason Holt setting the tone in what was the type of physical contest that their previous boss abhorred.
Holt’s alertness was underscored on six minutes when he won a loose ball in the box and was taken out at the same instant by Greg Tansey. It was an incident that would sum up much of the game, with Aberdeen out of sorts, and there was little surprise as James Tavernier slammed the resulting kick down the middle of the goal and into the net.
As the central duo of comprehensively won their battles, it allowed the forwards to play some slick one-touch football that regularly prised open an Aberdeen rearguard that looked distinctly uncomfortable in a back three.
A second goal soon followed; Carlos Pena timing his run into the box nicely to tuck away his finish with the kind of assurance rarely seen from him this season.
A couple of defensive scares down the right, where Tavernier continues to be exposed, followed, but with Stevie May and substitute Gary Mackay-Steven both failing when well placed, these were let offs the hosts deserved for their offensive endeavours.
Although the second half was less spectacular, Graeme Murty’s men still looked in total control, barely giving their opponents a sight of Wes Foderingham’s goal.
A highly successful evening was completed with Tavernier grabbing a third, though the fact the former Newcastle man was in an offside position when he turned the ball into the net from a Josh Windass cross escaped the match officials.
Although it killed Aberdeen’s interest in the game, there had been little suggestion of a comeback in any case as the home side kept them at an arm’s lengthy with a streetwise display that saw some thumping challenges, most notably from Bruno Alves.
The Dons’ frustration told as Ryan Christie was sent off for two needless yellow cards and Aberdeen will now be without their best player when the sides do battle again in the north east on Saturday.
It was, indeed, a bruising evening for Aberdeen, whose failure to capitalise on Celtic’s shock draw against Motherwell will add a further bitter taste to the loss.
But this was Rangers’ night, the evening upon which they set the standard by which they should be judged in all future matches – starting with the weekend’s rematch at Pittordrie. There is a glimmer of hope, at last, in the Ibrox tunnel.