Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen: Ibrox side level with leaders Celtic after Kemar Roofe winner

Rangers moved level on points with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership thanks to Kemar Roofe's bundled late winner at a packed Ibrox.

Rangers celebrated 150 years since their foundation, but the players fell short of the pre-match pyrotechnics.

It looked like a determined and organised Aberdeen would secure a third consecutive draw with the Glasgow side.

But substitute Roofe was on hand to tap home from close range from a James Tavernier header into the six-yard box.

It leaves Aberdeen sitting third bottom of the table without a win in 10 games and still searching for a win under new manager Jim Goodwin.

Rangers, now unbeaten in nine since losing to Celtic, stay behind their city rivals on goal difference before the leaders' visit to Livingston on Sunday.

With Rangers having been held at home by Motherwell last Sunday and struggled at times against St Johnstone in midweek, Giovanni van Bronckhorst freshened up his side, with fit-again Scotland midfielder Ryan Jack back as a driving force.

However, it was Aberdeen who were winning the midfield battle even with combative former Celtic midfielder Scott Brown a surprise absentee from the match-day squad.

Goodwin could be seen geeing up his troops one by one during the pre-match warm-up and whatever the manager said had the desired effect as his players hunted the opposition in packs.

Alfredo Morelos sent an early shot across the face of goal, but a Glen Kamara cut-back that deflected off visiting midfielder Connor Barron and on to the outside of the near post was the only threat of note Rangers could muster before the break.

Van Bronckhorst had moved Calvin Bassey from left-back to central defence, with Leon Balogun dropped to the bench, and the Nigerian looked