Rangers' lead at the Scottish Premier League summit looks ever more precarious as Dundee made their point in style to secure an unexpected but well-earned draw at Tannadice.
The result means Rangers, who earlier this year were an imposing 13 points clear of Celtic, are now only four ahead and due to face their Old Firm rivals at Parkhead in a fortnight.
With the fixture moved to Dundee United's home while Dens Park is rebuilt, Rangers' support occupied three sides of the ground, but they were silenced by Iain Anderson's 23rd-minute header.
That lead was against the run of play, but ironically once Rangers equalised through Tony Vidmar's 49th-minute goal, Dundee were more of a match for the Glasgow giants and even outplayed them at times.
Dick Advocaat's men seemed to be missing their customary fluency, perhaps still shaken by recent league defeats to both St Johnstone and Dundee United which have re-ignited the title race.
Colin Hendry will be restored to the Scotland international captaincy tomorrow, but there was no place for him in the Rangers starting line-up as the visitors opted for a three-man back-line.
Rangers were the dominant force from the outset but with their first genuine chance of the contest, Dundee moved ahead when Steven Boyack, sold earlier this term by Rangers for £25,000, made the Ibrox outfit pay.
He created time and space for himself on the right before floating a precise cross for Anderson whose free header defeated Stefan Klos in the Rangers goal.
James Grady might have doubled that lead had he reacted better to an Anderson through-ball, but Rangers recovered their composure and swiftly resumed their onslaught.
Dundee were again in debt to their keeper Douglas for retaining their lead until the interval as first he blocked a Rod Wallace with his legs then diverted to safety Johansson's follow-up.
Rangers wanted more than a point, but in truth never did quite enough to make that happen and their nerve is now certain to be tested as an uneven season approaches its climax.
Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Irvine, Anderson, Grady, Maddison, Coyne (Falconer 73), McSkimming, Miller, Rae, Boyack. Subs Not Used: McInally, Strachan, Tweed, Langfield. Goals: Anderson 23.
Rangers: Klos, Porrini, Amoruso, Kanchelskis (Hendry 79), Van Bronckhorst, Albertz, Wallace, McCann, Johansson (Amato 65), Vidmar, Reyna (McInnes 80). Subs Not Used: Brown, McKnight. Booked: Reyna. Goals: Vidmar 49.
Referee: J Rowbotham (Kirkcaldy).
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