Rangers failed to get the win they desperately wanted to honour Walter Smith as they were forced to fight back from two goals down to earn a point against Aberdeen .
It was an emotionally charged night at Ibrox as Smith was remembered just 24 hours after his passing.
But while they did their legendary boss proud with the tribute, they couldn’t get the three points they wanted as they drew their third consecutive home league game in another title slip-up and Celtic closed the gap to two points at the top.
If the mood was sombre in the home camp after a minute’s silence then Aberdeen wasted no time in going about their business.
They hadn’t scored a league goal at Ibrox in almost three years but incredible netted two inside an eight-minute spell in the the first quarter of an hour.
It was an astonishing start as Christian Ramirez and Scott Brown - playing as a makeshift centre half - both netted with headers for an injury-ravaged team who had won just once in 11 games going into this.
With his side on the ropes, Gerrard needed a response and he got one before the break when Alfredo Morelos netted his 101st goal in his 200th appearance.
And skipper James Tavernier earned a point with 10 minutes left from the penalty spot with his 50th goal for the club in what was a debatable decision.
After a difficult build up to the game, Gerrard admitted the loss of Smith had even influenced his team selection.
Allan McGregor and Steven Davis are the only members of the current squad who played under the legendary boss.
They joined skipper Tavernier hours before kick off to lay a wreath on behalf of the players and veteran pair were left on the bench for this one.
Focus was always going to be key and Gers lost it as they conceded yet another sloppy goal to fall behind.
They tried to play it out from the back but the Dons pressured John Lundstram to win the ball in the danger area which led to Ryan Hedges crossing for Ramirez to head home from close range.
And it went from bad to worse for the home side as they were hit with a quick one-two when the Reds grabbed a quickfire second.
The scorer was the last man the light blue legions would have wanted to be celebrating in front of them at Ibrox as Celtic legend Brown got away from Tavernier to send a diving header beyond Jon McLaughlin.
It was an astonishing opening and the goal was celebrated all the across the M8 by Celtic fans who were enjoying an early two-goal lead themselves at Hibs.
Rattled Rangers needed a response and they got it with Morelos heading home Tavernier’s perfectly floated free kick. Game on!
And they could have been level before the break but for an excellent Joe Lewis save to keep out Goldson’s header.
After failing to find a way to goal in the first 15 minutes of the second half, Scott Arfield replaced Lundstram while Marley Watkins came on for Ramirez for the Reds.
With the clock ticking down and nerves on the rise Gers hauled themselves level after they were awarded a penalty.
Former Ibrox stopper David Bates nudged Fashion Sakala and John Beaton had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Tavernier stepped up to send the ball beyond Lewis but Dons boss Glass was adamant it wasn't a penalty.
Here’s three talking points from an emotional night at Ibrox:
Emotional Overwhelm?
It’s difficult to gauge how much of an impact events on the eve of this game had on the Rangers squad.
Steven Gerrard hinted beforehand his team selection was even influenced by it as Allan McGregor and Steven Davis - who both played under Walter Smith - were benched.
The crowd did Smith proud with a banner unveiled before kick off and a standing ovation on the 73rd minute but the players might have been affected by the emotion of the occasion.
'We want to go and give a performance for Walter and his family to all be proud of.'
Disappointed Dons
Everything was against Aberdeen ahead of a trip to a ground where they have such a miserable record over the years.
They had a depleted squad, were on the back of a run of just one win in 11 games and of course faced an occasion that was likely to motivate their hosts.
But they handled all of those things and Stephen Glass deserves credit at the way he and his team has responded since that dismal defeat to Dundee at Dens Park.
He has more than justified Dave Cormack’s backing of him in that BBC radio interview despite blowing their two-goal lead.
Slow starters
Rangers have now conceded the first goal on EIGHT occasions this season and Steven Gerrard has to address that.
The contrast in defensive play between last season and this season is startling and it could cost them in this campaign.
It took until the end of November to concede a total of eight goals and three of those came in one game against Benfica.
There was little they could do about the St Mirren wonder strike at the weekend but it was a different story here as they conceded first again.
Contract rebel Connor Goldson, not for the first time this season wasn’t too clever but John Lundstram was probably more culpable in that Dons opener.
