Rangers slipped two points behind rivals Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership as Aberdeen produced a rousing comeback to snatch a draw at Pittodrie.

Having started the day just a single goal behind Celtic, Steven Gerrard's side let a two-goal lead slip to lose ground.

Goals from Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack had them cruising, before Jon Gallagher snatched one for Aberdeen. And Andrew Considine hauled them level as they emerged transformed after the break.

The point keeps Aberdeen in third place, though now just one point clear of Motherwell, with Rangers made to rue defensive lapses.

Alfredo Morelos had a claim for a penalty waved away by John Beaton as the referee instead awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, while both sides had chances to win it.

Aberdeen's Sam Cosgrove headed inches wide and Joe Lewis produced a superb save to stop James Tavernier's free-kick, as Rangers momentum stutters before Sunday's League Cup final with Celtic.

Transformed Aberdeen halt relentless Rangers

It still seems early to speak of pivotal nights in the title race, but such has been the sheer relentlessness of Rangers and Celtic this season, it is hard not view every dropped point as a crisis.

It was far from that for Rangers in the opening half-hour at Pittodrie, such was their total dominance, which makes the result all the more disappointing.

The home side were chasing shadows, as the interchanging of Rangers' midfield three left Aberdeen players looking round and pointing fingers, none more so than for Arfield's opener. Joe Aribo pressed Gallagher, stole the ball and slipped in the marauding James Tavernier, who picked out the unmarked Arfield, to finish cutely into the far corner.

The flaws of Aberdeen's man-marking system were exposed again for the second as Morelos dropped deep to pick up Jack's pass, which he flicked delightfully into the path of Ryan Kent. The former Liverpool winger gave it back to Morelos and, when Lewis fumbled his effort, Jack was there to tap the ball home.

The pace and incision from the visitors was brilliant, two goals scarcely reflective of the distance between the sides. And then, somehow, out of nowhere, Aberdeen were level.

It was the first time in the entire match they had managed to string a series of passes together, and it caught Rangers cold. Gallagher, who had an opening half-hour to forget, fired in after neat combination play by Sam Cosgrove and James Wilson.

The goal was transformational for Aberdeen, who suddenly got on top with more of the aggression and discipline which had proved successful in the meetings between the sides last term.

Cosgrove, who was lucky to stay on the pitch after almost reaching double figures for fouls, had an angled shot saved moments before the equaliser, which came thanks to a lapse in concentration by Rangers. The visitors failed to deal with a throw-in and, when Lewis Ferguson's cross fell to Cosgrove, his blocked shot wriggled to Considine to side-foot home and send the home crowd delirious.

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes changed shape and his team played with far greater intensity, forcing Rangers to move the ball quicker and quicker, which hastened mistakes and disrupted their rhythm.

Gerrard's side will feel aggrieved the trip on Morelos did not yield a spot-kick, but Cosgrove's header inches wide was the best chance either team had to snatch a winner, though Morelos had two other flash shots which Lewis saved.

Having been criticised heavily by fans after meekly losing 5-0 to Rangers in the sides' last meeting, then 4-0 to Celtic, Aberdeen's second-half resurgence will have restored some faith in the stands that this team has more to give and can compete with the Old Firm over 90 minutes.

As for Rangers, the two points dropped will rankle greatly with Gerrard, but the chance to win a first trophy for seven years on Sunday provides the perfect opportunity to quickly banish the disappointment.

Man of the match - Jon Gallagher

BBC Scotland's Tyrone Smith at Pittodrie

This was a tough decision in a classic game of two halves. But Gallagher edges it, which would have seemed ludicrous after the opening 37 minutes, where he looked well off the pace.

However, his goal transformed both him and the whole Aberdeen team. He was a totally different player after that, a buzz of energy, a menace, who was the catalyst for Aberdeen securing a precious point.

'It shuts a few people up' - reaction

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: "I needed to see that from my team. But it also shuts a few people up who questioned that.

"The reference point for our season so far has been the two Old Firm games; we go into tonight's game four points better off than we were in the league last year. But nobody wants to talk about that - the players are doing fine."

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard told Sky Sports: "When you go 2-0 up you expect your leaders on the pitch to manage the game better, first and foremost get to half-time 2-0 up. They scored at an important time, before half-time, and it seemed to flip the whole momentum of the game.

"It's a penalty [foul on Morelos], it's on the line the referee's close enough. I'm not sure if I'll get an explanation for it, but John Beaton's missed one there."