Match report of this afternoon's home win in the clash against Aberdeen

Rangers widened the gap to seven points over third-placed Aberdeen with this comfortable victory.

The match was all over in just over half an hour as the Gers led by three goals, all finished by top-scorer Kris Boyd.

It was an emphatic statement by Boyd who had been left on the bench in the last two games.

Aberdeen never really got going and seemed shell-shocked for most of the afternoon after their horrendous start.

Rangers played both Dado Prso and Boyd up front against Andrew Considine and Russell Anderson and the Rangers strikers gave their opponents a torrid afternoon.

Prso controlled a Barry Ferguson cross on his chest but Anderson managed to hook clear as the striker was about to shoot. Charlie Adam's effort went close before Rangers took the lead.

Nacho Novo cleverly laid the ball off to Alan Hutton and Boyd did superbly well to get enough power on his header to meet James Langfield from the wing-back's cross.

Lee Miller shot straight at Allan McGregor in Aberdeen's only effort in the first half before Boyd struck again.

Adam's cross took a deflection but Boyd was first to react and hooked the ball home.

Rangers made it three with a superb break. Ferguson's inch-perfect pass released Hutton and he hurdled Richard Foster's challenge, before cutting the ball back for Boyd to shoot high into the roof of the net.

Understandably Rangers eased up in the second half though Adam and substitute Gavin Rae nearly added to their lead.

Boyd is undoubtedly a clinical finisher, but his willingness to get more involved in the build-up will have pleased his manager just as much.