Smith - yet to win at Pittodrie in second spell.

By Gareth Friel

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	2pts Aberdeen v Rangers draw at 27/10 (bet365)	Gers have poor record at Pittodrie and low on confidence.

Just three points separate the top four sides in the SPL after almost a third of the season - who would have predicted that in August?

Rangers are on top on 25 points with Celtic one further back and both Hibs and Dundee Utd (who have a game in hand) two behind on 22.

There's little doubt that the Old Firm are more vulnerable than they have been in some time and that is backed up by the fact they have not both won on the same weekend since August.

And you wouldn't be betting on them to buck that trend this weekend, with Rangers facing a trip to Aberdeen, a place where they have struggled in recent seasons.

In their last eight visits to Pittodrie, Rangers have been beaten on four occasions and won just once - that was in December 2006 during Paul Le Guen's ill-fated reign.

In the five games since, Rangers have managed just two goals so the Dons will be in confident mood ahead of this one even though they've not been at their best recently.

Several managers have talked about the "fear factor" surrounding the Old Firm disappearing in the last year or so and Aberdeen will certainly have a go.

It's also worth noting that Walter Smith failed to win a league game against Motherwell at Fir Park in Mark McGhee's two seasons there before his move to Pittodrie.

Rangers need to win to restore confidence after the 2-0 defeat to Stuttgart in midweek, especially with trips to Dundee United, Hibs and Celtic coming up in the next six weeks.

But Aberdeen went to Ibrox earlier in the season and came away with a 0-0 so there's little to suggest Rangers can get a vital victory here.

McGhee's men have only won one of their last eight games (four have been drawn) but performances haven't been bad, and a 1-1 draw at Motherwell last week having played the last 23 minutes with ten men was a decent effort.

The Dons always lift their game against Rangers and we fancy them to get something on Saturday - but having scored only ten goals in 12 games, we'll back the draw at 27/10 (bet365) rather than a home win.

The 4/1 on a home win and the 23/10 available on the Dons 'draw no bet' are tempting but the draw looks the best option here.