Perhaps Rangers manager Dick Advocaat needs the club's recent financial boost after all?

The Premier League champions-elect were held to a 1-1 draw at bottom club Aberdeen as a lack of penetration denied the Light Blues another giant step to the title.

Rangers were clearly dreaming of the £53million investment when Cato Guntveit rocked the Glasgow giants with a 16th-minute opener. Barry Ferguson earned a point for Gers nine minutes before the break to prevent Aberdeen moving off the bottom of the table.

But Dons' defender Russell Anderson can count himself fortunate to have remained on the field after hauling down Lorenzo Amoruso as last man. And Arthur Numan almost cost Rangers the game when he controlled an rebound off goalkeeper Stefan Klos with his arm.

But it was a distinct lack of a cutting edge which will have hurt Rangers as they failed to capitalise on some good build-up play.

Aberdeen were off to a flier in the opening period and Arild Stavrum tested Stefan Klos with a teasing early cross. The Rangers goalkeeper came way out of goal to meet but could only fumble.

Stavrum was again involved when he connected with a low Andy Dow ball into the area but pushed the ball wide. Stavrum appeared to be relishing the challenge of playing against Rangers and launched a ball into the area from the byline. Eoin Jess rose unmarked and headed goalwards. But somehow Klos reached out his left hand to push the ball around the post.

The champions were beginning to get into their stride with Neil McCann looking particularly dangerous down the flank and running across field. And fresh from his excellent Scotland international performance in midweek, Ferguson almost set Andrei Kanchelskis clear with a long pass from the centre of the park.

Tugay attempted a long-range effort from almost 35 yards which failed to trouble Leighton and it was the Dons who drew first blood after 16 minutes.

Andreas Mayer swung over a cross from the left of the penalty area. The ball beat Amoruso and Guntveit headed past Klos to give Aberdeen the lead.

Immediately Rangers tried to hit back but Jorg Albertz could only loft his shot over the bar. The Dons defence was under pressure from Ferguson and Tugay's probing but, under the solid marshalling of Thomas Solberg, the back line held firm.

Rod Wallace had the ball in the net after 28 minutes after the Dons' defence failed to cut out McCann's flick on the edge of the box. But the linesman ruled the effort out for offside.

There was embarrassment for Wallace after 33 minutes when McCann put a low cross into the six-yard box. The former Leeds man stuck out a leg and from just three yards, put the ball wide to everybody's amazement.

Seconds later, Wallace inadvertently atoned for his error when he helped Rangers equalise. McCann and Tugay played a one-two at a corner before the Scottish international found Ferguson 25 yards out. The midfielder drove goalwards and the ball skimmed off Wallace to deflect past Leighton.

Two minutes later, Russell Anderson was booked for hauling down Amoruso on the edge of the box and the Italian's subsequent thumping free-kick was brilliantly saved by Leighton.

Rangers were out of the blocks quickly in the second period and Kanchelskis made a darting run down the right before cutting inside two Dons defenders. Kanchelskis laid the ball off to Ferguson, who hit his shot straight at Leighton.

Mayer forced Klos to push over with a speculative cross to the far post and Paul Bernard lifted a shot over from Dow's corner. Mayer attempted a bicycle kick after 51 minutes which baffled everyone at Pittodrie as the midfielder had plenty of time to control Dow's cross just inside the area.

Stavrum was guilty of squandering a great opportunity after 58 minutes when Mayer played him clear on goal. Stavrum moved forward with pace escaping the attentions of Numan but in the area, he opted to cross the ball rather than take a chance on goal.

Sadly the rest of the Aberdeen team believed that he was going to shoot as well and failed to arrive in the area.

And Jess was left disappointed when he was denied a penalty after Amoruso appeared to barge him over in the area.

Advocaat elected for fresh legs up front and put Jonatan Johansson on for his first senior appearance after five months out through ligament damage - ironically suffered at Pittodrie - in place of Wallace.

Klos was forced to punch clear under pressure from Bernard after 77 minutes and there was a fright for Rangers four minutes from the end when Ferguson carelessly played a ball back to Klos. The pass dropped to Stavrum who shot straight at the keeper and the rebound appeared to be controlled by Numan's arm.

The game eventually petered out to an inconclusive result but with a 16-point lead at the top of the Premier League, were Rangers really disappointed?

Teams:

Aberdeen: Leighton, Lilley, Solberg, Anderson, McAllister, Guntveit, Mayer (Belabed 77), Bernard, Dow (Winters 76), Jess, Stavrum (D. Young 89).

Subs Not Used: Preece, McGuire.

Booked: Anderson.

Goals: Guntveit 17.

Rangers: Klos, Reyna, Amoruso, Wilson, Numan, Kanchelskis, Ferguson, Albertz, Tugay, Wallace (Johansson 65), McCann.

Subs Not Used: Charbonnier, Nicholson, Penttila, Dodds.

Goals: Ferguson 37.

Att: 16,521

Ref: Douglas MacDonald (Scotland).