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Rangers stayed in the hunt for their first SPL title in four years with a 2-1 win over Aberdeen at Ibrox in which both sides played the majority of the game with 10 men.

A Richard Foster own goal, quickly followed by a Kenny Miller header, put Rangers three points above Glasgow rivals Celtic, who play their penultimate game of the season at Hibernian on Sunday.

Aberdeen's hopes of a comeback were briefly buoyed by a well-taken goal from substitute Michael Paton.

Midway through the second half, Dons midfielder Foster raced back to intercept a Kenny Miller cross before it could reach Nacho Novo, but succeeded only to turning into his own net.

Two minutes later, Foster was again culpable as he lost Kenny Miller at a corner all too easily and the Scotland striker simply took a step back to evade Foster and glance in a header.

On 77 minutes Paton - who had replaced striker Lee Miller just before Rangers' quick two-goal hit - found himself in the box with his back to goal and managed to wriggle past two defenders and finish from close range.

Referee Stuart Dougal - presiding over only his fifth SPL game of the season - made his mark on this year's title race after sending off Aberdeen's Charlie Mulgrew and Rangers' Madjid Bougherra in the first half.

Mulgrew was fouled from behind by Rangers forward Kyle Lafferty. As the Dons defender angrily squared up to his aggressor, Northern Ireland international Lafferty fell down as though he had been head butted.

After clearing a fracas between the two sets of players, Dougal showed Mulgrew a red card for the perceived violent conduct and Lafferty a yellow for the initial foul.

Rangers continued to dominate proceedings as they had done against 11 men, but it was not until past the half-hour mark that they really troubled Dons keeper Jamie Langfield.

The impressive Sasa Papac hit the woodwork twice in quick succession, first directing a shot from Steven Davis on to the frame of the goal before steering a cross from Maurice Edu on to the outside of the post.

That spell was brought to an abrupt end, however, when Bougherra was given his marching orders, again in questionable circumstances.

The Algerian defender burst into the Aberdeen box chasing the ball and slid in feet first as Langfield came out to claim the ball. The two players collided, with Bougherra's foot appearing to catch Langfield's face, and Dougal wasted little time showing his second red of the match and third in the top flight this season to even up the sides.

Jimmy Calderwood's Dons tried their best to take full advantage as Rangers regrouped, and Peter Pawlett forced a good save from Alexander, who was at full stretch to tip a curling shot around the post.

After the break Lafferty, whose impressive performance will be overshadowed by the Mulgrew incident, twice had shots blocked when he looked odds on to score.

Kenny Miller was marshalled well for much of the game by Dons skipper Scott Severin, who made several timely interceptions and forced the Rangers forward ever deeper in search of the ball.

It was from deep that Miller forced another good save from Langfield, his fierce drive palmed away and almost into the path of Kris Boyd.

Substitute John Fleck had a good chance to put Rangers level on goal difference with Celtic, but his strike from an acute angle late on was smothered by Langfield.

Tony Mabert / PA Sport