Rangers had striker Lee McCulloch sent off and missed the chance to go level on points with leaders Celtic after a 1-1 draw at Aberdeen yesterday.

Charlie Adam put Rangers ahead on the half hour mark but lost McCulloch eight minutes later after a melee. Lee Miller equalised for Aberdeen in first half stoppage time.

Champions Celtic, who drew 1-1 with Hibernian on Saturday, lead Rangers by two points but the Ibrox side have two games in hand.

Adam broke the deadlock when he ran in at the back post to meet McCulloch's low cross and drill a five-metre shot back past goalkeeper Jamie Langfield.

But the first half erupted following flying tackles by Rangers defender Alan Hutton and Aberdeen's Chris Clark. Hutton scythed down Clark from behind, but the fierce, revenge tackle from the Aberdeen midfielder sparked more angry exchanges. Referee Kenny Clark eventually dismissed McCulloch for leaping into Aberdeen captain Scott Severin.

Aberdeen soon equalised when Miller headed home from a few metres after Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor palmed out a low cross from Richie Byrne.

Celtic needed a late goal from substitute Jiri Jarosik to salvage a 1-1 home draw with managerless Hibernian on Saturday.

The visitors surprised the champions in the 20th minute when David Murphy scored with a fierce shot that went in off the underside of the bar.

Jarosik replaced Italian midfielder Massimo Donati after 64 minutes and the Czech sidefooted the equaliser 14 minutes later.

Elsewhere, Hearts lost 3-2 at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle after a late goal by Graham Bayne.

Motherwell crashed 3-0 at home to Falkirk while St Mirren drew 0-0 with Kilmarnock and bottom club Gretna won 2-1 at Dundee United.