Rangers fear for injured Naismith

Naismith required treatment after making a rash challenge on Dons midfielder Rob Milsom, only to collapse to the ground and be stretchered off moments after returning to the field when his right knee buckled.

The Scotland internationalist suffered a similar injury to the same knee in 2008 and Davis is hoping the damage is not as bad as first feared.

“It’s a massive blow for the whole team as well as him personally. Last year he was player of the year and he has been fantastic so far this season. It puts a real dampener on the result. Over the last 18 months he has possibly been our best player.”

Davis criticised the Aberdeen supporters who cheered when 25-year-old Naismith, the SPL’s top scorer, was carried off during a feisty encounter at Pittodrie, which Rangers won 2-1.

“No fan should want to see any player get injured, whether it’s for your own team or the opposition.”

The Light Blues recovered from the setback to pick up their seventh win from seven on the road this season with a clinical finish from Kyle Lafferty and a Nikica Jelavic penalty.

Richard Foster pulled one back for the Dons, with the aid of an Allan McGregor error.

The outcome gave Rangers their 14th consecutive league win on the road, only one short of the club record set in 1928-29 under the management of Bill Struth.

Aberdeen midfielder Chris Clark felt the turning point came in the first half when the Dons were denied a penalty as Darren Mackie collided with Dorin Goian in the penalty area. He also felt striker Rory Fallon was harshly penalised when he was shown a straight red for elbowing the Romanian.

Clark said: “Darren was just about to strike the ball into the net when there was a coming together so that was frustrating. The first goal was always going to be crucial. I don’t think it was right that Rory was shown a straight red. His eyes were fixed on the ball and he is not that type of player. He admits he caught the player but there was no intention.”