Aberdeen . . . . . . . . 1 Rangers . . . . . . . . 0

THE title hopes Rangers have cherished over the past few weeks appeared to dissolve at Pittodrie yesterday. At a ground where they have not had many happy memories, their support was forced to endure defeat just 24 hours after Celtic had re-established their own

championship credentials with a 4-1 win over Motherwell.

Last week, the Ibrox manager Walter Smith had been accused of playing ''mind games'' when he stated the obvious - that Celtic remained favourites because they had the easier run-in.

Yesterday, Aberdeen helped to prove that assessment correct with a goal from Stephen Glass after just 28 minutes, a goal which was enough to place Rangers three points behind Celtic at the top of the premier division.

There may yet be another twist, another turn. But, for me, this could well turn out to be the crucial result in a season which has contained so many surprises.

With so few games left, it is difficult to see Celtic falter and, while Rangers found resources we all thought they had forgotten to stage their late rally, it is difficult to see them doing so again.

It is also difficult to see them come to terms with the sudden loss of Italian defender Lorenzo Amoruso, who was sent off yesterday by referee Willie Young after 60 minutes. The reason for the ordering-off remained obscure last night - but Amoruso was red-carded and he will be absent against Hearts this weekend.

Rangers will be angry at that decision, one which could yet cost them the title - indeed, it may have ended their hopes of a comeback yesterday - but all they can do is to continue to play on and hope they recapture their form. Even that, now, may not be enough with Celtic able to open up that critical three points gap.

Rangers did not reach the heights they had scaled in the clashes with their Old Firm rivals. Instead, they gave an awkward, disjointed performance which brought to mind the travails they had gone through so often this season.

In contrast, Aberdeen worked well, and worked hard. For the most part, they were first to the ball and, until the second half, the most assertive team. After half time, they were content to sit back and even when Rangers were left with only 10 men they maintained a defensive strategy, happy to try to hit on the break.

It was an untidy, and often ill-tempered game. As well as the ordering-off of Amoruso, there were six yellow cards - two to Aberdeen and four to Rangers.

The Aberdeen players cautioned were Jim Leighton and Jamie Buchan - who then became something of a target. Three Rangers players were yellow-carded for fouls against him, Alex Cleland, Stuart McCall and Jonas Thern, with Gordon Durie also cautioned for a challenge on Gary Smith.

Aberdeen started the game aggressively with Billy Dodds seeing a shot pushed away by Andy Goram, and then watching as another was stopped by Amoruso. It was 10 minutes before Rangers were allowed to move upfield. McCall had a shot held by Leighton who then stopped a long-range shot by Jorg Albertz.

However, in 28 minutes it was the Pittodrie men who went in front - and deservedly so. Ricky Gillies chased a ball out to right flank. He gathered it and then drilled it across into the penalty box where Glass glided a header past Goram.

In an attempt to change things in the second half, Rangers manager Walter Smith sent on Rino Gattuso to take over from Stuart McCall, but before he could make any impact, Amoruso was ordered off.

It all began when Gordon Durie was fouled on the edge of the Aberdeen penalty box by John Inglis and referee Young gave a free kick.

Leighton raced to protest and was yellow-carded. In the meantime, there was jostling in the penalty box and the referee sent Amoruso from the field. The Italian, along with most people at Pittodrie, seemed amazed at the decision.

Rangers could have gone further behind in 72 minutes but for the superb instincts of goalkeeper Andy Goram. Dodds swept in a cross from the right, Mike Newell had a free header which Goram stopped at point-blank range as the striker bundled into him.

Seventeen minutes from the end, Marco Negri replaced Ally McCoist, and then Craig Moore took over from Cleland.

In the last 10 minutes they had their best openings of the game when Jonas Thern volleyed a shot just wide and then, as the game edged into injury time, Negri threatened in the same way.

Aberdeen sent on Russell Anderson for Eoin Jess, Brian O'Neil for Mike Newell, and Joe Miller replaced Stephen Glass, but these were mainly cosmetic.

Next league games: Aberdeen - Kilmarnock (a). Rangers - Hearts (a).