Rangers picked up a much-needed three points at Pittodrie on Saturday, but the talking points had as much to do with a contentious VAR decision as anything that happened on the pitch in what turned out to be a bruising afternoon for Aberdeen.
It was not pretty from Rangers by any stretch, but in a season where results have been hard to come by, Derek McInnes will take the win and move on. The visitors looked shaky for long spells and Aberdeen had their moments, but when it mattered most, Rangers got the job done.
Lawrence Shankland, making his debut after his winter move to Ibrox, was the man who made the difference. The Scotland striker stepped up to convert a penalty with real composure, and for a player who has spent years being linked with a move to one of the Old Firm clubs, he looked right at home. His hold-up play caused Aberdeen problems throughout and he gave Rangers an outlet they have been missing. If this is a sign of things to come, the Ibrox faithful will be excited.
But the moment that will dominate the post-match discussion was the VAR call that left the Aberdeen dugout and supporters absolutely furious. The Dons were convinced they had a strong case going in their favour at a crucial point in the game, only for the video review to go against them. Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin made no attempt to hide his frustration after the final whistle, and the home support made their feelings very clear inside Pittodrie.
VAR has been a hot topic in Scottish football since its introduction, and incidents like this one only add fuel to that fire. Supporters and managers across the Premiership have questioned the consistency of decisions, and Aberdeen will feel they were hard done by here. Whether the call was right or wrong, the drama surrounding it overshadowed what should have been a straightforward football story.
For Rangers, though, this was about more than just three points. There has been growing pressure on the squad and management in recent weeks, with performances failing to convince and results not always following. A win away from home, even one as unconvincing as this, gives the dressing room something to build on. McInnes will know they cannot keep relying on penalty kicks and VAR luck to get over the line, but for now the points are in the bag.
Aberdeen, on the other hand, will feel this was a real missed opportunity. They are pushing hard to secure a strong finish to the season and were competitive throughout. On another day, with a different VAR outcome, they could easily have taken something from this game. Thelin has built a side that is hard to beat at Pittodrie and the performance will give them confidence even if the result stings.
The Premiership title race and the battle for European spots are heating up, and every point counts from here until the end of the season. Rangers will hope that Shankland can continue to make an impact quickly, because they need a consistent goal threat if they are going to stay in the mix at the top end of the table.
Saturday was far from a classic, but Scottish football rarely does boring when these two sides meet. The VAR row will run for a few days yet, and rightly so. Aberdeen deserve answers, and the governing bodies would do well to address the concerns being raised before the controversy grows any louder.