Aberdeen 1-1 Rangers

By Thomas McGuigan

Lee Miller equalised for the lethargic Dons

Ten-man Rangers spurned the chance to go level on points with league leaders Celtic after an ill-tempered draw.

Charlie Adam gave Rangers the lead after 30 minutes when he fired home Lee McCulloch's wicked cross.

A dull encounter exploded into life when Chris Clark and Allan Hutton received bookings for lunging tackles - and Lee McCulloch was then sent off.

Lee Miller equalised on the stroke of half-time, but Aberdeen failed to take advantage of their extra man.

Interview: Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood

Interview: Rangers manager Walter Smith

Aberdeen made just one change to the side that thumped FC Copenhagen 4-0 in the UEFA Cup, Sone Aluko making way for Richard Foster.

Daniel Cousin returned up front for Rangers as Kris Boyd was relegated to the bench. Kevin Thomson was preferred to Brahim Hemdani.

Rangers were without Jean-Claude Darcheville due to a family bereavement.

The visitors settled quickly and Cousin looked to have the measure of Richie Byrne in the opening minutes.

Jamie Smith sent a shot just wide of Allan McGregor's left-hand post with a rasping effort in the 10th minute.

Hutton then spurned a great chance for Rangers after a superb pass from Barry Ferguson, as his weak shot was saved by Jamie Langfield.

Adam gave Rangers the lead on the half-hour mark when he slid home McCulloch's cross from close range.

The game then exploded into life when Hutton was booked for a rash challenge on Chris Clark.

Lee McCulloch was sent off as the game boiled over

The Aberdeen player sought retribution moments later with a scything challenge on Hutton - sparking clashes between both sets of players.

Clark was shown a yellow card and McCulloch was shown a straight red for an off-the-ball incident.

Miller equalised for the Dons on the stroke of half-time with a brave header after McGregor palmed away Byrne's cross.

Rangers were the stronger side in the second half as the Dons looked sluggish after their midweek heroics in the Uefa Cup.

Langfield saved brilliantly at the feet of Cousin, when the Rangers forward raced away from the leaden-footed Dons defence.

Rangers substitute Kris Boyd had two chances to seal the points for the visitors and Aberdeen defender Zander Diamond almost sliced the ball into his own net.

The Dons struggled to make five-yard passes to team-mates as their midfield failed to make their numerical superiority count, and the game ended all-square.

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Aberdeen: Langfield, Hart, Byrne, Diamond, Considine, Clark, Nicholson, Severin, Foster, Miller, Jamie Smith. Subs: Soutar, Lovell, Touzani, Daniel Smith, Mair, Maguire, Aluko.

Goal: Miller 45.

Booked: Miller 34, Clark 36, Considine 43, Touzani 71

Rangers: McGregor, Hutton, Weir, Cuellar, Whittaker, Naismith, Ferguson, Thomson, Adam, Cousin, McCulloch. Subs: Carroll, Ehiogu, Papac, Hemdani, Boyd, Furman, Efrem.

Goal: Adam 30.

Booked: Hutton 33, Adam 62

Sent-off: McCulloch 37

Referee: K Clark

Att: 17,798