So at the end of all that, Rangers are up to second place, on goal difference, above Aberdeen. Both sides are seven points adrift of champions Celtic, who also have a game in hand.

Our next live football will be on Tuesday, when Celtic host Anderlecht in their final Champions League group game. Anything better than a three-goal defeat will send them into the Europa League knock-out stages in February.

The next Premiership action sees Aberdeen travel to face Dundee on Friday, 8 December.

Will Derek McInnes still be in charge of the Dons by then? Will Rangers have a permanent manager by the time they host Ross County the following day?

Questions, questions...let's hope the Ibrox board puts us out of our misery soon.

Image source, SNS

As for the game itself, Derek McInnes thought defeat was "harsh" on his Aberdeen players.

"I thought we deserved something from the game," he added. “They got a set-play goal that’s very disappointing. It gives them a bit of impetus.

“I thought we were good value in the second half. The sending-off changes things and then their only real threat is on the counter - and it’s a ridiculous goal to lose; we were sloppy in midfield .

“I thought we deserved something from it. They defended well and the keeper has made a couple of saves. But it was a really motivated and committed performance."

So, has the continued speculation about whether Derek McInnes might become the next manager of Rangers affected Aberdeen's perfomances?

“I don’t know that," he tells BBC Scotland: "It’s certainly not been encouraged by anyone here.

"I’ve not been happy with how things have played out. It’s been driven by whoever and whether the players are affected or not, I don’t know. We were fantastic last week against Kilmarnock – a very Aberdeen performance - but during the week [a 3-0 defeat at Rangers] we didn’t play well. I don’t think I set us up in the right way, but today we were far better set up and were really committed.

"It’s an easy thing to say and you can make that assumption but a lot of the players are still playing at a good level, some not so. It’s certainly not doing us any favours.

“It’s been the elephant in the room for the last five or six weeks. The chairman came out and said something last week. I’m not going to stand here and make any assumptions about what another club wants to do. You can see today how passionate we are about getting a result for Aberdeen."

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Interim Rangers manager Graeme Murty, speaking to Sky Sports: “I’m proud, what the players have shown, no coach or manager can give them – the steel and determination.

“From number one to the bench, they were living each moment for one another. I know we rode our luck at times but anything less than a win would have been harsh on them.

“In terms of sheer grit, I couldn’t ask for any more.

“Looking at the tackle, it was there to be won and he (Ryan Jack) gets to it first. I want to talk about the positives."

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Rangers striker Kenny Miller, speaking to Sky Sports: "We’ve gained some ground [in the league] so I’m delighted. To come up here and get a fighting victory was outstanding.

"It must give us a bit of belief. If we show the battling qualities that we have in the last couple of games we can only head in one direction."

IF that was Derek McInnes' last game as Aberdeen boss, it was a painful way to bow out. A second defeat by Rangers in five days, and a sticky recent run now extends to one win in the last five, and seven points from their last seven games.

Graeme Murty, by contrast, is bounding around congratulating his Rangers players, and rightly so. That was his fourth win in six games in his second spell as caretaker boss.

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Aberdeen send goalkeeper Joe Lewis up for a last-ditch free-kick launched into the box, but it comes to nothing.

Job done for Rangers, who are up to second place on goal difference, above Aberdeen.

Image source, SNS

Frank Ross whips in a superb cross from the left flank. Adam Rooney dives for it with his head, but it eludes the big striker, who is subsequently flagged offside, though TV replays suggest he wasn't.

Kenny McLean's corner is well delivered, and Scott McKenna gets up well, but Daniel Harvie gets in his way and the chance is gone.

Adam Rooney tries to get on the end of a through ball, but tangles with Rangers defender David Bates. The free-kick goes against the Aberdeen striker.

Greg Stewart carves an opening for himself, but his right-foot drive drifts narrowly over the bar. Can the Dons find an equaliser in these final few minutes?

Billy Dodds
BBC Scotland summariser

You wouldn't really know Rangers were playing with 10 men. They've looked reasonably comfortable since losing Ryan Jack.

A nice move down the left puts Declan John into space, but his cross eludes everyone and goes out for a throw-in.

It's been a decent game in this second half, plenty of incident. Into the final 10 minutes of normal time now.

Derek McInnes sends on another 19-year-old, Daniel Harvie, at left-back for Anthony Considine.

Good turn from Aberdeen substitute Nicky Maynard, and he gets a shot away, but a deflection takes the pace off it and it bounces into the grateful arms of Wes Foderingham.

More pressure from the hosts, launching a free-kick into the Rangers box that Adam Rooney jumps high for, backing into Wes Foderingham. Referee Willie Collum awards a free-kick, but there wasn't much in that.

End to end now, Josh Windass wasting a good shooting opportunity before passing the ball out of play instead.

Frank Ross has the bit between his teeth after that sumptuous strike, and the Aberdeen substitute fires in another effort, but this time it's a comfortable save for Wes Foderingham.

Dons boss Derek McInnes made a switch in between those goals, with Stevie May being replaced with Nicky Maynard up front.

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound