Rangers kept up the pressure on Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts as they earned a convincing victory over Aberdeen that deepened the visitors' relegation worries.

Goals from Tochi Chukwuani, Mikey Moore, Nicolas Raskin and James Tavernier meant Rangers stayed within three points of the league leaders.

Defeat for Aberdeen, on a day when Kilmarnock and St Mirren both won, leaves them just three points above the relegation play-off spot.

After an opening half hour where Rangers dominated possession but could not find a cutting edge to trouble organised Aberdeen, a moment of real quality allowed the hosts to open the scoring at Ibrox.

Raskin's diagonal cross-field ball found Tuur Rommens and the left-back hit-the byline before delivering a dangerous cutback.

Moore's shot was saved by Dimitar Mitov, with Chukwuani side-footing in from the edge of the box.

Rangers extended their lead just three minutes after the restart. Ryan Naderi took the ball in and opened up space in the Aberdeen half, then picked out Moore, who controlled, set himself and then put a low finish into the far corner of Mitov's net.

Aberdeen responded immediately, pouncing on some slack play out from the back by the hosts. Afeez Aremu's quick thinking allowed him to slide the ball into the path of Dennis Geiger and the midfielder tucked a shot past Jack Butland, denying him a clean sheet on his 150th appearance for Rangers.

Rangers restored their two-goal cushion just after the hour mark. Tavernier's free-kick into the box was not properly cleared and Raskin conjured up a volley that flew past Mitov.

The hosts thought they had a fourth goal after substitute Bojan Miovski netted against his old club in injury time, but a video assistant referee (VAR) review led to the goal being ruled out for an earlier handball.

There was time for the hosts to add another strike to their goal difference, with Tavernier firing in a pinpoint free-kick in the dying moments.

Hearts' narrow win over Dundee earlier on Saturday had set down the challenge for Rangers to keep pace and ensure the gap at the top remained at three points as the league pauses for international football.

But there was also added pressure on Danny Rohl's side to respond after their Scottish Cup exit and consecutive 2-2 Premiership draws against Celtic and Livingston prior to that.

On all counts, the hosts delivered, seeing off a determined Aberdeen side without much trouble.

The performance wasn't a full 90-minute dominance but goals from four different scorers, and a consistent threat when on the front foot would have been encouraging for Rohl as the title race heads into the home straight.

While a soft goal conceded might irritate the German, there were plenty more positives and the form of Mikey Moore in particular will encourage the thought that the team are coming good after a difficult spell.

For Aberdeen, a trip to Ibrox was never going to be an appealing challenge for a team trying to steer themselves clear of the bottom end of the table, and the result will have done nothing to dispel the idea the Dons could find themselves in the play-off at the end of the season.

After a home draw with Falkirk, a 4-1 defeat on the road is not the new manager bounce the club hoped for when appointing Stephen Robinson, though the manager himself may take what positives he can.

There was no lack of determination on show at Ibrox, and the team did frustrate Rangers for long spells despite conceding the lions share of possession.

On a weekend when the teams below them took maximum points, the danger has increased though, and there's a huge match after the international break when Aberdeen travel to Paisley to face a St Mirren side only three points behind them.

Robinson will know all about his old side, and will have the benefit of two weeks to work with his new squad. The former Northern Ireland international may want to put defeat at Ibrox firmly behind him and look to the future if he is to halt Aberdeen's season turning into a nightmare.

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl tells BBC Scotland: "Three points is fantastic. We performed well. We were the better team. It was a great performance.

"Nice goals as well. Fantastic goals. You want to see goals. You want to dominate at home. We did our job today.

"My team did well. They handled the situation. If we perform like this, we have a big opportunity to win more games.

"Seven finals to go and if we perform again in this level then it will be difficult to beat us and we can win a lot of games. We hunt until the end and if we do this like today then we have a big, big opportunity as a club to achieve something.

"We can go with a good feeling now in the international break. Hopefully, everyone comes back healthy."

Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson tells BBC Sportsound: "We were too easy to play against and the goals we concede were too easy, which has been the story since before I came in here. That has to stop.

"We're in a relegation fight. If that wasn't clear before it certainly is after tonight. I've reiterated to the players that there's no hiding place now.

"People need to stand up. Aberdeen Football Club has been very good to this group of players but maybe home truths should have been told six months ago. They've been told now.

"I want a reaction soon and we need to have a reaction soon."

After the international break, Rangers are at home again, facing Dundee United at Ibrox on Saturday 4 April (15:00 GMT). Aberdeen are on the road, playing St Mirren in Paisley at the same time.