SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Aberdeen 2 Rangers 0:RANGERS LOST out on the Premier League title on a night to forget at Aberdeen as Celtic retained their crown with a win against Dundee United.
Nacho Novo was sent off with 10 minutes to go after Lee Miller and Darren Mackie had both scored for the Dons and news had filtered through of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's winner at Tannadice.
The destination of the trophy was always in Celtic's hands because of their superior goal difference but it was a disappointing night nevertheless for a Rangers team who had not so long ago harboured hopes of an historic quadruple. Aberdeen opened the scoring when Miller nodded home from a Barry Nicholson cross after 63 minutes. News then began to filter through that Vennegoor of Hesselink had scored for Celtic.
And, just to make Rangers' night even worse, they fell further behind after 77 minutes. Mackie latched onto a cross from the right and lashed a low shot past Alexander to snuff out any lingering hope Rangers had left.
ABERDEEN: Langfield, Maybury, Severin, Diamond, Foster, Maguire (Jamie Smith 69), Nicholson (Young 88), Touzani, Duff, Miller, Mackie (De Visscher 83). Subs Not Used: Soutar, Mair, Crawford, Jack. Booked: Jamie Smith. Goals: Miller 63, Mackie 77.
RANGERS: Alexander, Dailly, Weir, Cuellar, Whittaker, Davis, Ferguson, Thomson, Adam (Fleck 76), Darcheville (Boyd 62), Cousin (Novo 62). Subs Not Used: Graeme Smith, Broadfoot, Furman, McMillan. Sent Off: Novo (80).
Referee: K Clark (Scotland).
