Aberdeen stifle Rangers title ambitions

Rangers missed the chance to go top of the Scottish Premier League after they were held to a goalless draw by Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday.

With Celtic not playing until later in the afternoon Rangers had the chance to put pressure on their rivals by picking up the win that would have seen them go top.

But having not won at Pittodrie in their last four visits Rangers manager Walter Smith opted for the cautious approach and played a five-man midfield, with top-scorer Kris Boyd dropping to the bench.

Chances were few and far between in the match and both sides had to settle for a point, which leaves Rangers a point behind Celtic before their match against Hibernian.

The home side started brightly and came close to opening the scoring in the ninth minute from a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick.

The left-back’s effort from 20 yards out looked to be curling in but Allan McGregor did well to force it round the post for a corner.

Darren Mackie was next to try his luck in the 14th minute but his shot on the bounce from outside the box was straight at McGregor.

Rangers, who played Kenny Miller on his own up front, were struggling to create chances and their first effort came from John Fleck.

The 17-year-old, making only his second start, collected a cross field pass from Kirk Broadfoot, cut inside and drove into the box but his shot sailed well over the bar.

At the other end Gary McDonald couldn’t keep his header on target when he connected with a Mackie cross in the box.

The Glasgow side began to grow in confidence and Lee McCulloch had their first shot on target after 28 minutes.

Jamie Langfield couldn’t hold the midfielder’s powerful drive from 25 yards but incredibly Miller completely missed the rebound, with only the flag for offside sparing his blushes.

In the 34th minute Miller again missed a golden chance to put Rangers ahead when he headed over the bar from a Broadfoot cross under no pressure.

Two minutes later Fleck fired in a free-kick from the right which Zander Diamond did well to block as Madjid Bougherra lunged in to try and connect with it.

The Dons were forced into an early change in the second-half when Langfield was replaced by Bertrand Bossu after the keeper took a knock on the head from Miller as he dived at the Scottish striker’s feet in the box.

The home fans were screaming for a penalty in the 61st minute when Lee Miller and Stuart Duff both went down in the box after their shirts appeared to pulled, but referee Calum Murray waved their protests away.

Two minutes later Bossu, in only his second appearance for Aberdeen, was called into action when he turned a Fleck flick from a Miller cross round the post.

In the 72nd minute Boyd, on for the ineffectual Miller, just failed to connect with a Barry Ferguson pass in the six-yard box when even the slightest of touches would have resulted in a goal.

With six minutes left substitute Nacho Novo came close. The Spaniard controlled a Pedro Mendes cross from the right on his chest before firing his volley into the side netting.

Boyd then connected with a Sasa Papac in-swinging cross in the box but his header took a deflection and went straight to Bossu.

In the 89th minute Mackie was inches away from clinching the game for Aberdeen but his header went just by the post from a Mulgrew cross.