RANGERS saw another two crucial Premiership points slip through their grasps as Aberdeen earned a deserved draw at Ibrox.
Steven Gerrard’s side knew they had little margin for error in the title race after being beaten at Tynecastle last weekend as they fell five points adrift of Celtic.
But this was another huge blow for their silverware aspirations as Derek McInnes saw the Dons battle their way to a share of the spoils. It could easily have been a famous win.
It was a game of few clear chances for Rangers and a late charge failed to give them the breakthrough that they so desperately needed and the pressure is now really on Gerrard and his players after a series of poor showings in the Premiership.
Ibrox gave new recruits Ianis Hagi and Florian Kamberi a warm reception pre-match but both had to settle for a spot on the bench as Alfredo Morelos returned to the starting line-up.
Rangers haven’t hit the heights since returning to action after the winter break and the home crowd would have been expecting a performance as well as a result against the Dons. They got neither.
It was the visitors that started on the front foot and Sam Cosgrove failed to connect with a teasing cross after Niall McGinn beat Borna Barisic down the right. Just minutes later, keeper Allan McGregor was forced into action for the first time as he tipped a Lewis Ferguson header over the bar.
Rangers hadn’t really got going and they should have been behind before the half hour mark. Nikola Katic stumbled under pressure from Cosgrove on the halfway line and the striker was in the clear with only McGregor to beat.
A heavy touch gave the keeper a chance to thwart Cosgrove, though, as McGregor gathered well and the Englishman knew a real opportunity had been passed up. It was as close as Aberdeen would come before the break.
At the other end, Joe Lewis made a smart save to his right to deny Steven Davis, while he gathered at the second attempt after a powerful strike from Morelos.
Davis was involved again as he fired in a corner to the near post and Scott Arfield was unfortunate to see a glancing header blocked by Lewis as the keeper came to the fore once again.
There was more purpose about Rangers after the restart but the goal that Gerrard’s side needed didn’t arrive before the hour mark. Arfield saw an effort deflected wide, but it was Morelos that had the clearest opening.
A chipped ball over the top from Connor Goldson found the striker in behind the Dons defence but Lewis made an excellent stop as Ibrox rose in anticipation.
The Dons keeper was at it again seconds later as Barisic tried his luck with a right-foot effort, while McGregor had to react quickly as a long-range drive from Andrew Considine threatened to deceive him. A strike from Jon Gallagher wasn’t far away either, and another attempt minutes later forced McGregor into action once again.
When the Gers keeper pulled off another stop from an Ash Taylor header, Ibrox began to really show its frustration as Gerrard’s side entered a huge final 20 minutes of action.
It was soon time for Gerrard to turn to his bench once again. Sheyi Ojo had made no real impact after being introduced and he needed Hagi to show why there was as much excitement about his signing.
Gerrard soon had his final roll of the dice as Kamberi replaced Matt Polster. Rangers weren’t short of attacking options now, but they needed a hero to emerge in the final minutes.
There wasn’t one for Gerrard, though. The final whistle was greeted with a chorus of boos and Rangers now find themselves very much on the back foot in the title race.
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