FORMER Rangers midfielder Alex Rae believes Aberdeen don’t have as strong a squad as Rangers but the Dons’ winning mentality has given them the edge in the race for second.

Derek McInnes' side currently hold a three-point advantage over the Ibrox club in the runners-up spot, despite losing all three of their meetings with the Light Blues so far this season.

And Rae, who spent two seasons with the Gers during his playing career, has pinpointed mental strength and home form as the biggest issues for his former club after they fell to their sixth Ibrox defeat of the season against Hibernian last weekend.

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When asked on the Ladbrokes Team of the Month show if the Dons had a stronger squad than Rangers, he said: “No, I wouldn’t say that. I think what they have is a winning mentality.

“If you look at Aberdeen’s home record as well it’s phenomenal.

“Compared to Rangers, theirs has been really, really poor.

“It’s not acceptable. Particularly at Ibrox as it’s always been a fortress.

“Whereas Aberdeen have just bounced back brilliantly with three wins on the bounce and it just puts more pressure onto Rangers.”

Rangers brought in five new players during the January transfer window and Rae is confident that the Light Blues will find another gear once the new-look squad has settled.

“I think you are going to see more of Rangers,” he said.

“One of the key things is these guys have not been playing, Russell Martin’s not played since the beginning of the season, Jamie Murphy’s not been playing either, so I think once you get them up to speed Rangers can really kick on.”