ANY encouragement Celtic fans may derive from the wound inflicted on Rangers in the 2-2 draw at Aberdeen should be tempered by the realisation that the champions tend to be very quick healers. There was certainly an uncharacteristic vulnerability about the Ibrox side which, if continued, would strengthen their great rivals' belief that they can yet snatch the Premier Division title.

With the Old Firm double feature next on the schedule - in the Scottish Cup on Thursday and in the league 10 days later, both matches at Celtic Park - Rangers could hardly face a more stringent examination of their powers of recovery. They are now only five points ahead of Celtic in the league. The absence of the injured Richard Gough at Pittodrie left the normally reliable central defensive system looking more like a shredded central nervous system.

And the subdued performance of Brian Laudrup, captain for the day, deprived Rangers of most of, their usual menace. Laudrup still managed to score the opening goal and deliver the free kick from which Craig Moore headed the equaliser after Aberdeen had scored through Antoine Kombouare and Jamie Buchan.

But Laudrup's overall contribution was below the normal standard, confirming a long-held impression that, without the injured Gascoigne, and with Laudrup off colour, Rangers' capacity for inflicting damage is seriously reduced.

In fact, there was a collective dishevelment about the visitors. Unusually stiff-jointed and woolly-headed, they frequently looked like men who had to get through a day's work with a terrible hangover. Aberdeen took advantage of the situation to regain some of their lost pride.

They have still won only one match in their last 15, but their boldness and tenacity in this game hinted at a revival. With six players under 20 involved, it is easy to see where the manager, Roy Aitken, is investing his hopes. The experience the novices go through in this trying season could be the making of them.

Celtic reduced Rangers' lead to five points with a comfortable 2-0 victory at home to Hearts. Jorge Cadete and Paolo di Canio were once again the scorers of marvellous goals, although the manager, Tommy Burns, would be most gratified by the performance of Andreas Thom, the German mid-fielder who has been harassed by injury through the season.

With Paul McStay a serious doubt for the first game against Rangers, Thom could once again become an important item. He has yet to shine in Old Firm matches - Celtic have not won any of the nine which have been played since Thom signed in 1995 - so a telling contribution is overdue.