THERE will be a few of a Rangers persuasion who will, as was very much the case following the Scottish Cup semi-final last season, take this startling triumph as an indication their club is on the verge of once again challenging for major honours.

Defeating Aberdeen at Pittodrie, where their second-placed opponents were on a record-breaking 10 game winning run, by such an emphatic margin is certainly highly impressive and enormously encouraging.

Especially when you consider that Pedro Caixinha, the Portuguese manager who was taking charge of the team for just the fourth time and making his first visit to the venue, was once again forced to field two kids in a makeshift defence.

David Bates and Myles Beerman, who had made their Rangers debuts in the 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park five days earlier, retained their places at centre half and left back respectively despite having a combined age of 38.

With James Tavernier, whose defensive lapses have cost his side dear this term, and Danny Wilson, who has been unable to hold down a regular place, alongside them it was far from ideal.

The Ibrox outfit’s rearguard has hardly been watertight in the 2016/17 campaign when it has been at full-strength so their supporters could have been forgiven for watching the action through the gaps in their fingers.

It was little wonder, then, that those who had made the long journey to the north-east started to chant the name of their new leader after a double by Kenny Miller and a strike by Joe Dodoo in the space of five minutes late on had sewed up a sweet, unexpected and important victory.

Yet, it would be quite wrong, just as it proved premature to get carried away with the shoot-out win over Celtic that Mark Warburton orchestrated at Hampden around this time last year, for anyone to read too much into this result, as remarkable as it was.

Rangers were fortunate that Joe Garner, their striker who made more of an impact off the ball than he did when he was on it, remained on the field in the first half.

He was booked for his part in a fracas with Ryan Jack, the Aberdeen captain, early on and then went in needlessly and very late on Joe Lewis, the goalkeeper, shortly after. Players have been sent off for far less.

The visitors were also lucky that Wes Foderingham enjoyed another inspired afternoon. He single-handedly repelled a relentless Aberdeen onslaught early in the second half and denied Graeme Shinnie, Kenny McLean and Adam Rooney twice. The last of his blocks was exceptional.

Caixinha was asked about whether this display and result would increase confidence in the Rangers camp ahead of their semi-final with their city rivals in a fortnight. Rightly, he refused to look any further ahead than their next game this weekend.

“It would be a great mistake from myself to prepare for a game two weeks in advance when we have another game in the middle,” he said. “I will send a message to our players: ‘If some of them think they can slow down on Saturday they will not be playing at Hampden’. It is that clear.”

Having said all that, there was much for Rangers fans to take heart from. Not least, the tactical awareness that Caixinha showed as the game wore on and the substitution which he made that ultimately clinched the win.

He sensed that Shay Logan was tiring and put on Dodoo for Garner. The young forward set up the second goal with a fine interception and beautifully-weighted pass and then coolly slotted home the third.

“This game was good for Joe because Logan was exposing too much,” he said. “Maybe after 70 minutes and being the third game of the week he couldn’t afford to do that. Joe also has pace.”

Finishing third in the Ladbrokes Premiership and securing a return to European competition after a six year absence is now looking far more likely. Rangers are now six points ahead of their nearest rivals St. Johnstone in third place in the table. Beyond that? It is still too early to say.

“We still have a lot of work in front of us,” said Caixinha. “But when you have work in front of you and need to build, it’s always better to build when you have wins behind you.

“That’s what we’re going to do. But we’re not going to reduce the pace of the demand. We’re not going to reduce the focus on the demand. We’re not going to reduce the passion of winning. Today isn’t going to change anything with that.”

McInnes declined to condemn Kevin Clancy, the match official, for not showing Garner a second yellow card. He knew that Aberdeen had failed to make it 11 wins on the spin at home due to their own failings, both up front and at the back, and not those of anyone else.

Ash Taylor and Anthony O’Connor in particular will not enjoy watching a re-run of the encounter today as they combined to gift Miller his second goal just a minute after he had put his team in front with a stunning finish.

“We were in total charge of the game,” said McInnes. “The need to concentrate against good players should be there for 90 minutes. We’re disappointed with the first goal, but I’m more disappointed with the reaction after it to be honest. We have enough experience. We don’t lose many goals, especially here at Pittodrie, and we don’t normally go behind. I think it’s important that the players should have dealt with that better.”