Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox

It seemed Rangers might coast away after that early opener and early pressure but it hasn't quite materialised.

They deserve the lead but Dundee stuck to their guns and have exerted some pressure of their own in the final third at times without overly testing Jack Butland.

Encouraging signs for Tony Docherty, though, as they remain in this cup tie.

Dessers might have added his second on two occasions after great work to create space but Trevor Carson was equal to it.

If Rangers get that second you'd expect that to be that.

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More from Hearts boss Steven Naismith on his future: "Every game we lose, pressure builds. I've been in the game long enough to understand that. A club like Hearts, this run of form is a really poor run.

"I genuinely believe the players are still working really hard. What we worked on all week, we saw for 60 minutes.

"I've said that if I feel I've lost the players or the players had lost what we are wanting, I'd walk away, but I don't think we are at that point. Small parts of the game are costing us but I'm definitely up for the fight.

"In these moments, you learn a lot. We can put a good run of form together. I fully believe I can [turn it around]. I wouldn't be here if I didn't.

"It's a thing you don't get now is time. There's no better club for me to be at. But I understand fans' opinions are going to be strong, we heard that today. The club are understanding. They'll make the right decisions at the right time."

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Hearts head coach Steven Naismith tells BBC Scotland he is "disappointed" with his team's performance as they lost their eighth consecutive game in all competitions.

"It was two set-plays that cost us in of setting up [their] chances," he told BBC Scotland. "In the final third we were not clinical enough. The start of the game, the way we played for 55-60 minutes, was good. We were the better team and we showed our intent, but we need to get something from that.

"In the other box, it's split-second decisions and not getting the better of your one-v-one duels that ultimately gives up the chances. They're poor goals to lose. Where we are sitting, it just adds pressure.

"In the second half, we didn't do what we did in the first half that got us into the final third. We became safe. St Mirren gained control of the game and we fizzled out with a whimper."

Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland is still yet to find the net this season, with Naismith hoping his team-mates can repay the forward for his "help" in past seasons.

"There is low confidence with the forwards," he adds. "We are creating good chances and opportunities, but we've not got that calmness.

"Lawrence [Shankland], for two seasons, has had a very high bar. The pressure of that will keep coming, so when he has a bad run of form, everyone is going to question it. As a striker, he will bounce back.

"There are others on the pitch who can help him out in these moments. He did that for others last season. Now, he maybe needs others to help him in this moment."

Who wants some reaction from Steven Naismith after his Hearts side slumped to an eighth straight defeat at St Mirren?

Here it comes...

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland at Pittodrie

The scoreline certainly doesn't flatter Aberdeen, who have utterly dominated this half.

The Dons have played some good stuff, with a real high intensity that their League 2 visitors have struggled to deal with.

The only negative for the hosts is that they haven't scored more - one thing that is for certain is that they should have.

The 450 Spartans fans have had little to cheer so far, and you get the feeling that if the second half continues along the same lines as the first, then you don't really see that changing.

Cyriel Dessers' close-range effort gives Rangers the lead at half-time.

It could, maybe should be more for the hosts on their return to Ibrox, but some good goalkeeping and poor finishing means the tie remains in the balance.

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Another chance for Cyriel Dessers, but Dundee keeper Trevor Carson tips the striker's acrobatic effort over the bar.

It's been total domination from Aberdeen.

Pape Habib Gueye and Kevin Nisbet have them in control, and it could easily have been more.

Spartans have battled throughout but the League 2 outfit have just been outclassed so far.

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Rangers continue to push for a second goal, but Cyriel Dessers' effort from the edge of the box is blocked and Nedim Bajrami then curls an effort miles off target.

Aberdeen should really be out of sight.

Jamie McGrath is played in down the left and his cross finds Pape Habib Gueye.

He miscues his shot, and when it falls to Sivert Heltne Nilsen the Norwegian blazes over the bar.

Leighton Clarkson lines up a free-kick and bends it around the outside of the Spartans wall, but it doesn't curl enough and hits the side of the net.

Ian Murray
Former Rangers defender on BBC Sportsound

That's a fantastic opportunity for goal number two. He will be disappointed not to score.

Good save from the goalkeeper, but it shows how quickly Rangers can do that transition from deep in their own box to being one-v-one with the goalkeeper within seconds.

Cyriel Dessers does superbly to skip past Antonio Portales on the edge of the box, but can't beat Trevor Carson in the Dundee goal.

Aberdeen midfielder Sivert Heltne Nilsen loves a scoop .

He's produced another one to put Leighton Clarkson away in the box, but the midfielder side-foots a tame effort straight at Blair Carswell.

Nilsen then catches Jamie Dishington late and gets a deserved yellow card.

Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen captain on BBC Sportsound

It's still all about Aberdeen. Constant possession, constant chapping at the door.

But you've got to hand it to Spartans, they are well organised and have spent most of the time in their own defensive third - but they've done that relatively well.

Spartans have only managed 25% of possession so far, understandably.

They're struggling with Aberdeen's press, so they can't even get their heads up to try to find striker Blair Henderson.

What they are doing, though, is hanging in there at the moment.

Rory Loy
Former Dundee striker on BBC Sportsound

It's difficult for Dundee because Rangers came out the traps flying.

I think Adewumi and Tiffoney are key. The need to work back the way and put in the hard yards. The goal comes from that.

When they have the ball, they need to be braver and go higher - to try and Murray, as well as Cameron - to keep some possession in Rangers' half instead of just running backwards.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland at Pittodrie

There was a moment there when Spartans' Cammy Russell picked the ball up, but he was immediately enveloped by a red swarm before Ante Palaversa won it back for the home side.

That sums up how the half has gone so far in what has been high energy stuff from the Dons.

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