David Weir opened the scoring but his header was cancelled out by Derek Young, before DaMarcus Beasley controversially had a goal ruled offside late in the game.

Rangers had hoped to make amends for the defeat at the same venue on the final day of last season which killed off their title hopes – instead they were forced to settle for a point.

There had been a sense of optimism surrounding Rangers ahead of the game.

Last week saw the arrivals of Spanish youngster Aaron and Pedro Mendes from Portsmouth. This week it was the capture of Steven Davis on a permanent deal and a successful conclusion to the Maurice Edu transfer.

Maximum points from the opening two games against Falkirk and Hearts – combined with Celtic dropping points at Dundee United – boosted morale further among Walter Smith's men.

Davis made his second debut as a Rangers player, while Kenny Miller and Nacho Novo were also drafted into the side and Aaron started on the bench.

Kyle Lafferty missed out with the hamstring injury which kept him out of action for Northern Ireland midweek, with Lee McCulloch and Andrius Velicka also absent.

Jamie Smith was back in the first team for Aberdeen after missing last week's trip to Motherwell through illness but Zander Diamond was ruled out with a thigh injury.

Charlie Mulgrew started despite sustaining a head gash with the Scotland under-21s and enduring a fraught return from Lithuania.

Rangers started well and carved out a decent opportunity in the opening minutes when Kirk Broadfoot charged down the right flank before delivering a cross to Novo. The striker turned Andrew Considine before rifling inches over the crossbar.

Mendes then had a go from distance with a long-range effort which fizzed narrowly past Jamie Langfield's left-hand post.

Then it was the turn of Aberdeen to pile on the pressure when Madjid Bougherra fouled Lee Miller 25 yards out.

Mulgrew – complete with bandaged head – stepped up for the free-kick which was comfortably held by Allan McGregor.

Rangers surged into the lead with 24 minutes gone after Novo was fouled out on the right by Considine and Kevin Thomson's free-kick was met by the head of Weir, who nodded past Langfield from 10 yards.

The Dons goalkeeper was then called into action again, this time managing to block a ferocious long-range shot from Boyd.

Rangers were determined to add to their lead and Scott Severin was dispossessed by Novo, whose angled chip fell across the face of goal and wide of the target.

But Aberdeen were back on level terms on the stroke of half-time. A Mulgrew cross was met by Miller who saw his header blocked by McGregor, before Young blasted home the rebound.

Rangers were determined to reclaim their lead after the restart, with Novo charging past several red jerseys into the box only for his finishing to let him down as he lashed over.

At the other end, Darren Mackie picked up the first booking of the game for a needless challenge on Weir.

Rangers continued to press and Mendes won a corner before connecting with Davis' flag-kick on the edge of the box and chipping over with an opportunistic effort.

Boyd then nodded a Thomson cross into the path of Sasa Papac in front of goal but Langfield managed to clear the danger before the full-back could pull the trigger.

Rangers introduced Jean-Claude Darcheville with 15 minutes to go and, bizarrely, Miller was almost off the pitch before realising it was actually Novo who was making way for the Frenchman.

McGregor then required treatment in the Rangers goal following a collision with Mackie as Aberdeen also went in search of the winner.

Miller was eventually replaced by Beasley, who had the ball in the back of the net in the closing stages – but the offside flag was wrongly raised and both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.