First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
United pressed the game early and both Noel Hunt and Mark De Vries threatened in the opening five minutes. With the United midfield well on top, Morgaro Gomis and Willo Flood were heavily involved in all the build-up play while Mark Kerr and David Robertson were also breaking up possession nicely and starting moves off. The home team went on to take a deserved lead in the 38th minute when Christian Kalvenes slammed the ball in from close range after a Dods header from a Flood free kick was superbly saved by McGregor. The left back then hit the post with his first effort on the rebound before sparking jubilation amongst the United fans behind the goal with the decisive final touch. Having been second best throughout the half, the Glasgow side equalised on the stroke of half time through David Weir. Kris Boyd had appeared to go down very easily on the right wing leading to the free kick from which the central defender met the ball four yards out to bullet a header into the top corner.
In the 51st minute United were back in front following some more excellent build-up play. Robertson passed the ball out to Kalvenes on the left wing, and his dangerous cross evaded everyone and fell to Dillon at the opposite side of the area. Instead of drilling the ball back across goal, the Irishman delivered an exquisite lofted cross to the back post which was put on a plate for Hunt who headed home from barely two yards. Rangers did threaten ten minutes later when Novo worked some space well on the right wing and cut inside before crossing to Ferguson who was lurking at the back post. The Rangers captain angled a shot across goal from an acute angle which went narrowly wide of the right hand post. There was to be another setback for United in the 58th minute however as Rangers again drew level. It was Nacho Novo who beat the offside trap to run clear on goal before going round Zaluska and tapping into an empty net. In a game which was increasingly turning into a classic, the Tangerines again restored their lead in the 64th minute, this time through an unlikely source. Robertson fed the ball to Dillon down the right and his whipped cross was turned into the net virtually on the goal line by Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar. Unbelievably the lead was again short lived, this time a Flood pass back was short and Boyd nipped in to score past Zaluska. For the first time Rangers threatened to go in front when, after 73 minutes a Novo shot on the turn was spectacularly turned over the bar by Zaluska. Moments later Dillon then cleared a goal bound Novo header over the bar as United were put under real pressure for the first time. United survived the storm and then Gomis struck a left foot drive from around 15 yards which was heading for the far corner but for a deflection off a Rangers defender for a corner. Substitute Jon Daly then tested McGregor with a volley from long range but unfortunately it was straight at the visiting keeper. David Robertson then came desperately close to a winner when he headed towards goal from a Flood cross and would have found the net but for McGregor expertly turning round the post. There was one final chance for United when they were awarded a free kick on the right which Flood swung in to Kalvenes who unfortunately headed over meaning a share of the spoils.
Full Time Summary:
United will be disappointed to have only taken a point from a game in which they led three times. Apart from a flurry by Rangers in the middle of the second half, United had been the better team throughout and can take great heart from again more than matching Rangers.
Man of the Match:
The midfield quartet of Gomis, Kerr, Robertson and Flood all put in a great shift but the award goes to Christian Kalvenes who not only opened the scoring but was back and forward all afternoon on the left side barely putting a foot wrong.
United: Zaluska, Dillon, Kalvenes, Wilkie (C), Dods, Flood, Kerr, Hunt, Robertson, Gomis, De Vries (Daly 64). Subs Not Used: McLean, Grainger, O'Brien, Conway, Kovacevic, Buaben.
Rangers: McGregor, Weir, Papac, Ferguson (C), Thomson (Darcheville 74), Boyd (Naismith 88), Dailly, Cuellar, McCulloch, Whittaker. Subs Not Used: Alexander, Davis, Broadfoot, Lennon, McMillan.
Referee: Charlie Richmond
Attendance: 11214
Click here for the report by Ally Stewart.
In the 51st minute United were back in front following some more excellent build-up play. Robertson passed the ball out to Kalvenes on the left wing, and his dangerous cross evaded everyone and fell to Dillon at the opposite side of the area. Instead of drilling the ball back across goal, the Irishman delivered an exquisite lofted cross to the back post which was put on a plate for Hunt who headed home from barely two yards. Rangers did threaten ten minutes later when Novo worked some space well on the right wing and cut inside before crossing to Ferguson who was lurking at the back post. The Rangers captain angled a shot across goal from an acute angle which went narrowly wide of the right hand post. There was to be another setback for United in the 58th minute however as Rangers again drew level. It was Nacho Novo who beat the offside trap to run clear on goal before going round Zaluska and tapping into an empty net. In a game which was increasingly turning into a classic, the Tangerines again restored their lead in the 64th minute, this time through an unlikely source. Robertson fed the ball to Dillon down the right and his whipped cross was turned into the net virtually on the goal line by Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar. Unbelievably the lead was again short lived, this time a Flood pass back was short and Boyd nipped in to score past Zaluska. For the first time Rangers threatened to go in front when, after 73 minutes a Novo shot on the turn was spectacularly turned over the bar by Zaluska. Moments later Dillon then cleared a goal bound Novo header over the bar as United were put under real pressure for the first time. United survived the storm and then Gomis struck a left foot drive from around 15 yards which was heading for the far corner but for a deflection off a Rangers defender for a corner. Substitute Jon Daly then tested McGregor with a volley from long range but unfortunately it was straight at the visiting keeper. David Robertson then came desperately close to a winner when he headed towards goal from a Flood cross and would have found the net but for McGregor expertly turning round the post. There was one final chance for United when they were awarded a free kick on the right which Flood swung in to Kalvenes who unfortunately headed over meaning a share of the spoils.
Full Time Summary:
United will be disappointed to have only taken a point from a game in which they led three times. Apart from a flurry by Rangers in the middle of the second half, United had been the better team throughout and can take great heart from again more than matching Rangers.
Man of the Match:
The midfield quartet of Gomis, Kerr, Robertson and Flood all put in a great shift but the award goes to Christian Kalvenes who not only opened the scoring but was back and forward all afternoon on the left side barely putting a foot wrong.
United: Zaluska, Dillon, Kalvenes, Wilkie (C), Dods, Flood, Kerr, Hunt, Robertson, Gomis, De Vries (Daly 64). Subs Not Used: McLean, Grainger, O'Brien, Conway, Kovacevic, Buaben.
Rangers: McGregor, Weir, Papac, Ferguson (C), Thomson (Darcheville 74), Boyd (Naismith 88), Dailly, Cuellar, McCulloch, Whittaker. Subs Not Used: Alexander, Davis, Broadfoot, Lennon, McMillan.
Referee: Charlie Richmond
Attendance: 11214
Click here for the report by Ally Stewart.
