Rejuvenated Aberdeen made it seven straight wins under interim manager Barry Robson with a 2-0 victory over startled Rangers at Pittodrie. The hosts had the best of a goalless first half and three minutes after the restart, defender Liam Scales beat Allan McGregor with a stunning if perhaps fortuitous effort from wide on the left for his first goal since signing on loan from Celtic last summer. Bojan Miovski headed in a second in the 56th minute to help Aberdeen to their first home win over Rangers since September 2016. Robson took over from Jim Goodwin in January and the third-placed Dons continue on an upward trajectory. Michael Beale, meanwhile, must have concerns, with Rangers 13 points behind leaders Celtic with five post-split fixtures remaining. But in reality the title was already gone with Rangers’ hopes all residing in the Scottish Cup, their last realistic chance of silverware this season. It was a sobering defeat and Beale must get a lot more from his side in the semi-final against Celtic on Sunday week if they are to have a chance of retaining the trophy. The afternoon had started with some promise for the Ibrox side. Amid a hurly-burly start the unchanged visitors threatened in the 12th minute when Alfredo Morelos’s shot from eight yards was headed off the line by Leighton Clarkson and John Lundstram fired the loose ball over the bar. Kelle Roos then saved an effort from Fashion Sakala after the attacker escaped the attention of Mattie Pollock. The pace of the game did not subside and in the 25th minute a sweeping Rangers move ended with left-back Borna Barisic striking the outside of the post with a drive. The visitors began to build up a head of steam and when Sakala’s clever flick put Nicolas Raskin through, the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Pollock for a corner. Aberdeen had their first clearcut chance in the 40th minute. Ben Davies’s careless pass was cut out by Miovski and Ylber Ramadani, in for the suspended captain Graeme Shinnie, raced in on goal before forcing McGregor into a fine near-post save. But the resulting corner came to nothing, the first half ending with Aberdeen’s Ryan Duncan firing wide from distance. Rangers captain James Tavernier was partyl culpable for Aberdeen’s goal when his pass up to Morelos was cut out by the alert Scales, who then launched what looked like a cross from the left which flew over McGregor and crept in at the far post. There was no doubt about the intention of Aberdeen’s second, however, which came from Clarkson’s sumptuous cross to the back post that Miovski headed back across McGregor and into the net, the goal confirmed after a long VAR check. Rangers were all over the place for several minutes as the home side went for a third but they steadied and worked their way back into the game. In the 72nd minute Roos saved Tavernier’s shot from point-blank range before substitute Rabbi Matondo, on for Raskin, missed from 14 yards as prospects of a comeback diminished by the minute. At the other end McGregor blocked a drive from Duncan, preventing a bigger defeat for the shell-shocked visitors.