Rangers' hopes of catching Hearts in second place deteriorated further as Aberdeen secured all three points at Pittodrie.

Goals from Jamie Smith and Steve Lovell earned the win for the Dons in the Bank of Scotland Premier League clash.

But two defeats in less than a week means the pressure is back on Rangers manager Alex McLeish.

Just when Rangers thought they had turned the corner this season, they find themselves right back where they started.

A 10-game unbeaten run came to an end when they were dumped out of the Tennent's Scottish Cup by Hibernian at the weekend and the last thing they needed was defeat by Aberdeen with an Old Firm derby looming.

Rangers had hoped to head into Sunday's game with the opportunity to slash Celtic's lead at the top of the SPL - instead they find themselves with even further ground to make up and the fragile confidence they had started to build all but shattered.

The first chance of the game fell to Aberdeen and it was new signing Ferne Snoyl, making his full debut, who almost drew first blood for the Dons.

A Lovell cross was met by the Dutchman who rifled a powerful shot at goal. The effort was blocked by Rangers goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus and the Dons failed to capitalise on the resultant corner.

The Pittodrie side were threatening again when Barry Nicholson's long ball found Chris Clark, who delivered the cross for Smith but he nodded just over the crossbar.

Rangers came close when a Bob Malcolm shot was blocked and the ball fell to the feet of Dado Prso but Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield managed to block with his legs.

With half an hour gone, Aberdeen claimed Marvin Andrews had handled in the area but their pleas for a penalty were ignored by referee John Underhill.

The defender then almost opened the scoring for Rangers when he rose above everyone else in the box to meet Chris Burke's corner with a free header only to nod over.

Instead, it was Aberdeen who had the net bulging after 34 minutes when Snoyl whipped the ball into the path of Smith and he sent a low volley past Waterreus.

The Dons doubled their lead two minutes before the break when Russell Anderson set up Lovell and he diverted home from close range.

Kris Boyd and Sotirios Kyrgiakos were sacrificed at the break for Thomas Buffel and Steven Smith, with Ian Murray moving to centre-half and Smith taking over the left back position.

The changes worked and Rangers were far more convincing after the restart.

Burke raced down the left flank before firing into the path of Barry Ferguson but the Ibrox skipper stabbed an inch wide of target.

Fernando Ricksen then fired well over, before Ferguson squandered an opportunity to make amends for his earlier miss when he sent a diving header the wrong side of the post.

But the best chance fell to Lovenkrands. Prso released Buffel into the box but, instead of having a go himself, he unselfishly set up Lovenkrands only for the Dane to fire wide of a gaping goal.

The referee dismissed another penalty claim, this time for Rangers, when Murray went to ground in the box under pressure from Anderson.

The Ibrox side refused to give up and Prso supplied a great ball for Burke but his first touch let him down and he smashed the ball into the side netting instead.

Buffel then played a low pass to Lovenkrands, who was sliding in at the near post to score when Anderson intercepted to divert the ball to safety.

In the end, it was too little too late from the Scottish champions as Aberdeen held on for the win.

Teams

Aberdeen Langfield, MacFarlane (Diamond 76), Anderson,McNaughton, Snoyl (Foster 66), Nicholson, Griffin, Severin,Clark, Lovell (Mackie 73), Smith.

Subs Not Used: Esson, Dempsey, Stewart, Macauley.

Booked: Foster.

Goals: Smith 34, Lovell 43.

Rangers Waterreus, Ricksen, Andrews, Kyrgiakos (Buffel 45),Murray, Burke, Ferguson, Malcolm, Lovenkrands,Kris Boyd (Smith 47), Prso.

Subs Not Used: Klos, Carcary, Hutton, Novo, Hemdani.

Booked: Prso, Burke.

Att: 17,087

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).