Andrew Dickson reports from Pittodrie

RANGERS kept their hopes of moving to the top of the SPL alive with a hard-fought draw against Aberdeen at windswept Pittodrie.

Following Celtic's stalemate with Hibernian yesterday, victory would have taken the Ibrox side level with their Old Firm rivals on points.

Although they could only tie with the Dons instead, doing so at least means they have not lost ground on Gordon Strachan's team over the weekend.

Lee McCulloch's first-half dismissal after Charlie Adam's opener meant hanging on to a deserved lead was going to be difficult for Gers.

But while they were pegged back when Lee Miller equalised, Walter Smith's team battled well and might have found a winner in the second period.

The manager made two changes to the side which notched a late 2-1 win against Hearts at Ibrox last Saturday.

Brahim Hemdani and Kris Boyd both dropped to the bench, with Kevin Thomson and Daniel Cousin restored to the starting XI.

Rangers had the first chance, Lee McCulloch heading Barry Ferguson's free kick over after Richie Byrne was ruled to have fouled Daniel Cousin on the left.

Alan Hutton also saw his shot blocked and although Jamie Smith and Miller had chances at the other end, it was the visitors who settled best.

Steven Naismith's header forced Jamie Langfield into action and Cousin scooped a shot well over after Steven Whittaker's cutback as Gers looked more likely to score.

Sure enough, with the Dons looking flat after their midweek UEFA Cup exertions, they fell behind to a well-worked Light Blues goal on the half-hour mark.

McCulloch was the provider, his low, fast cross being turned in at the far post by Adam.

But from there the game threatened to descend into farce, with three bookings and a red card coming in a two-minute spell.

Hutton was yellow-carded by referee Kenny Clark for a strong tackle on Chris Clark when he appeared to have won the ball and Miller was cautioned for dissent seconds later.

Then after Clark got the same punishment for seeking retribution on Hutton further upfield, McCulloch was dismissed for an off-the-ball kick at Scott Severin.

It didn't take long for Aberdeen to make their one-man advantage count and they drew level seconds before the interval.

Miller was the scorer, heading in after Allan McGregor parried Richie Byrne's cross into his path.

But Rangers regrouped at half-time and began brightly after the restart, with Barry Ferguson driving a foot over the upright from long distance.

Indeed, despite being a player down, it was Smith's team which continued to enjoy the most possession as play raged on.

While chances were at a premium, it was still a more dominant Gers team which had the best of them.

Cousin should have put his side back in front when Naismith played him in but he tried to round Langfield and the home goalkeeper saved well.

Hutton also had a shot charged down as the Light Blues turned the screw with time ticking on.

Smith threw on Boyd for Cousin and his shot ran just past the post after Naismith fed him.

Moments later he had another opportunity but pulled the ball well wide once he had been released by Kevin Thomson.

Rangers were dictating play as the match edged towards a conclusion, with Zander Diamond putting over his own bar and Boyd once again off target.

In the end time got away from them but as the year draws to a close, it is still Gers who are in the ascendancy at the top end of the table.

RANGERS: McGregor; Hutton, Weir, Cuellar, Whittaker; Naismith, Thomson, Ferguson, Adam, McCulloch; Cousin (Boyd 75).

Subs not used: Carroll, Ehiogu, Papac, Hemdani, Furman, Efrem.

ABERDEEN: Langfield; Hart, Diamond, Byrne, Considine (Maguire 46); Nicholson, Severin (Touzani 46), Clark (Mair 79), Foster; J.Smith, Miller.

Subs not used: Soutar, Lovell, D. Smith, Aluko.