Rangers led through Arthur Numan’s strike in 24 minutes but Leon Mike equalised in 55 minutes and then Darren Mackie headed the Dons in front in 73 minutes.
It took a penalty from Ferguson to rescue a point after Ricksen was brought down by Philip McGuire, but this was a distinctly black day for Alex McLeish and his team.
The inclusion of Russell Latapy was perhaps a surprise, given the traditionally combative nature of this fixture and the fact that he had not started a game for Rangers this season.
However, the little man’s passing ability and his quick feet were ideally suited to this occasion as Rangers largely dominated possession and proved to be a yard too quick for The Dons. Things were to change in the second half, though.
It was at Pittodrie that Latapy made his SPL debut for Rangers and he fitted into the side with some ease. Indeed it was with some ease that Rangers controlled the game.
The only surprise was that they only had one goal to their credit by the time Stuart Dougal brought the first half proceedings to a halt.
Michael Mols should have netted on a couple of occasions while Shota Arveladze also got into some excellent positions but took the wrong option and Barry Ferguson also had chances but fluffed them.
Mols could have given Rangers the lead as early as the sixth minute when Arveladze played him in from the left side but he slipped as he went to meet the ball and David Preece was able to save. Had the Dutchman stayed on his feet it was a certain goal.
Preece made a decent save from Shota’s header a minute later then in eight minutes Ferguson got far too much elevation on his left foot shot after Mols had flicked Bob Malcolm’s pass into his path and the ball flew harmlessly over the top.
Latapy then tested the Dons keeper in 14 minutes with a decent left foot shot but Preece was more than equal to it.
Rangers were totally in control of the game, but they spurned another excellent opportunity in 22 minutes. Fernando Ricksen played a lovely ball forward for Ronald de Boer who only had Preece to beat but sipped at the vital moment.
Finally they got the goal their play deserved in 24 minutes. Fittingly it was scored by Arthur Numan who was celebrating the milestone of 100 SPL matches as a Rangers player.
Arveladze started the move with a crisp pass to the left touchline where de Boer picked it up. He moved forward and fed Numan who fired a shot with the outside of his left foot which flew into the left corner.
Only the smart thinking of Philip McGuire prevented Aberdeen from going two behind when he got his head in the way of Arveladze’s header in 31 minutes and diverted the ball over for a corner.
And then three minutes before half-time the precision of Ricksen opened up the Dons again when he sent Mols clear in the inside left channel. Again he looked odds on to score but Preece showed great awareness to race from his line and managed to deflect Mols’ shot for a corner.
Rangers were miles ahead in terms of possession and chances created but crucially they were only one up and they were made to pay for their missed chances 10 minutes into the second half.
There was more purpose about Aberdeen’s play in the early moments of the second half and Darren Young almost gave them the leveller with a fantastic right foot strike from a tight angle but Stefan Klos made a superb save, throwing himself to his left to concede a corner.
It only delayed the equaliser, however. Eric Deloumeaux whipped the corner over from the left and Leon Mike was unmarked at the back post as he powered a header into the right corner of the net.
Rangers were rattled but there was worse to come when the Dons roared into a 2-1 lead in 73 minutes and suddenly the unbeaten domestic record looked in real jeopardy.
Again, the Rangers defending was dodgy as Kevin Rutkiewicz crossed from he right and Darren Mackie had all the time and space in the world to direct a downward header into the right corner of the net.
Alex McLeish immediately sent on Neil McCann for Mols to try and rescue the situation and the winger almost had an immediate impact with a cross in 75 minutes with Arveladze met well with his head but Preece was equal to it.
However, within two minutes Rangers found an equaliser as a result of some positive play from Ricksen. The Dutchman burst into the box and was clearly tripped by McGuire.
Skipper Barry Ferguson stepped up to take the responsibility in a pressurised situation and coolly slotted the spotkick to level things up.
It has to be said that Aberdeen looked more likely to win the game as Rangers seemed clueless up front. Indeed Klos made a superb block to deny Dons’ top man Deloumeaux in the final seconds.
Rangers will undoubtedly rue the missed chances of the first half but feel relieved that they at least managed to salvage a point.
ABEREEN: Preece; Rutkiewicz, Anderson, McGuire, McAllister; Bisconti (Tiernan 39), Deloumeaux, Darren Young, Derek Young; Mackie, Mike (Michie 79).
Subs not used: Esson (gk), Thornley, Bilio.
Bookings: Deloumeaux (68) Thornley (81)
RANGERS: Klos; Ross, Malcolm, Konterman, Numan; Ricksen, Ferguson, Latapy; Mols (McCann 74), de Boer, Arveladze,
Subs not used: McGregor (gk), Nerlinger, Dodds, Hughes.
Bookings: Ferguson (83) Klos (90)
Ref: Stuart Dougal
Att: 14,915.
Man of the Match: Stefan Klos