Rangers remain in the Scottish Cup but their fading power was again exposed as they lacked the spark to overcome first division leaders Dundee at Ibrox.

A goalless draw seemed the inevitable outcome from an early stage of a quarter-final which struggled for life throughout and embodied Rangers' troubled season.

Naturally, Dundee deserve credit for taking their unbeaten league away record to Scottish football's toughest venue and earning a replay on March 17.

But for all their efforts the night was about Rangers. Walter Smith steps down at the end of the season and increasingly there is a sense that Dick Advocaat's arrival cannot come soon enough.

Marco Negri and Jonatan Johansson each had fine second-half chances to have won the game, but the recurrent theme of the contest was Rangers' lack of invention.

Yugoslav international Gordan Petric was offered a rare place in the Rangers defence because of Richard Gough's suspension, while Johansson was awarded a first start.

As anticipated both Paul Gascoigne (calf) and Brian Laudrup (knee) both missed out and Rangers struggled to show the same guile without them.

Their start could hardly have been brighter though, Jorg Albertz weaving a low pass to Negri whose snap shot struck the crossbar before rebounding to safety after three minutes.

It might have prompted further attacks, but instead it seemed to provoke only apathy - Rangers failed to threaten as seriously for the remainder of the opening half.

Johansson was enduring a difficult start miskicking badly when Albertz found him in time and space after five minutes and never quite recovering his confidence.

As ever with a player looking to blend in, every subsequent chance seemed to go his way and he again should have done better with a glancing header from a Jonas Thern cross after 18 minutes.

Dundee were hardly posing a threat however and their first effort at goal, a speculative one at that, was a looping James Grady 25-yard shot which cleared the crossbar.

Rangers' response was immediate, Albertz unleashing a typically powerful, swerving drive spilled by keeper Rob Douglas who was relieved to see his defender Barry Smith first to the rebound.

After 27 minutes came the main talking point before the break as Rangers claimed Robert Raeside impeded Negri in the area, but their penalty appeals were rejected.

Referee Jim McCluskey had to decide whether the defender had blocked the Italian, or whether Negri had merely run into him and chose the latter option.

A speculative Thern drive summed up Rangers' lack of craft before the break and they suffered the blow of Sergio Porrini limping off to be replaced by Craig Moore after 43 minutes.

Negri forced Douglas into a diving save in the closing minute of the half but the keeper was really to come to prominence after the restart.

Raeside went close for Dundee after 48 minutes with their first realistic effort at goal, though Goram had the half-volley well covered as it went narrowly wide.

After 55 minutes, Johansson did well to manage a shot at all from an overplayed McCall pass, and visiting keeper Douglas had to be alert to the strike.

But on the hour mark, Johansson conspired to send a free header over the bar from a precise Albertz cross which proved the signal for the home support to turn on their team.

An injury to Thern, enabled Sebastian Rozental to enter the fray to add attacking options to a Rangers team badly lacking them.

But it was Dundee who had the next goal attempt, a Lee Maddison drive over displaying his team's growing confidence as the match remained goalless.

With nine minutes remaining a superb reaction save from Douglas denied a clean through Negri.

Then, in the 89th minute, the Dundee keeper kept out a sharp header from Rozental and Dundee's job was done.

Teams

Rangers: Goram, Cleland, Albertz, Petric, Porrini (Moore 42), Bjorklund, Thern (Rozental 78), McCall, Negri, Ferguson, Johansson (McCoist 81).

Booked: Bjorklund, Thern.

Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Raeside, Adamczuk, Irvine, Rogers, Maddison, Magee (Anderson 72), Annand (McCormick 84), Grady, McInally.

Subs Not Used: Tully.

Booked: Adamczuk.

Att: 40,309

Ref: J McCluskey (Stewarton).