Steven Gerrard's side are in second place behind Old Firm rivals Celtic and they head to Pittodrie just two points ahead of the Dons, who leapfrogged Kilmarnock with a 2-1 win over Hibernian at Easter Road.

"Aberdeen is a very difficult place to go," Croatian defender Barisic told Rangers TV.

"They play good football but we have confidence so we will go there and try to take the three points.

"We are happy with the win, four goals and three points is a good result.

"We were the better team, we created more chances, we maybe need to score more of them.

"To be honest I can't say that we played some of our best football.

"But at the end of the day three points is the most important thing because of the title race.

"We have more confidence to take into other games."

Barisic, who signed a four-year deal with Rangers from Osijek in the summer, played his first two games of the year in the 3-0 win at Livingston last weekend and the defeat of St Mirren after coming back from a hamstring injury sustained in December.

The 26-year-old believes a run of games will benefit him as the season starts to heat up.

"I am very happy because we win the two games," he said. "I am happy that I have come back and the most important thing is no injuries for me.

"I feel good but of course I need games to upgrade my form and it will come in the future."

Defoe was more than happy that penalty-taker Tavernier handed the ball over to give him the opportunity to score his first goal at Ibrox.

The former England international said: "It was very pleasing because as a forward you always want to score.

"The most important thing is to get the three points but as a forward you get judged on scoring goals.

"For the captain to give you the ball when he is on a hat-trick it says a lot about his character and it says a lot about the spirit of the team.

"I was surprised when he gave me the ball because he was on his hat-trick, not many people would do that."

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