DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
Ten-man Dundee United lost out to Rangers by a solitary goal in this afternoon's early kick-off.
Kyle Lafferty headed in from close range bang on the hour mark, and that was enough to take all three points. But it could have been a different story had United been given a penalty mid-way through the opening forty-five.
With the television cameras present and a large home support eager to see their team win for the first time at home this season, the game sparked to life on the quarter hour mark with a flurry of chances at either end of the park. The first opportunity fell to Kyle Lafferty, who flicked the ball on to his left foot inside the box, but the Northern Irishman's effort was easily saved by Pernis after some neat build-up.
Fresh from his crucial goal for Scotland midweek, Steven Naismith had a chance to put Rangers ahead seconds later. Fortunately for the home fans, the striker wasn't able to continue that rich vein of form and blasted well over the bar after Greg Wylde's cross took a wicked deflection and bounced awkwardly in the United box.
Danny Swanson then had a go from long-range, which McGregor was able to parry over the bar for a corner and United had a strong penalty claim turned down shortly after when Swanson collided with Goian in the visitors' box. Swanson had knocked the ball past Goian, who left his leg out and gave the winger nowhere to go. United boss Peter Houston felt it was a "stonewall" penalty, and was bitterly disappointed Swanson picked up a booking for the incident.
Garry Kenneth twice headed close from corner kicks, but despite leaping well to win the ball on both occasions, he couldn't force a save from the Rangers 'keeper.
After competing well for 30 minutes, United's chances of taking anything from the game looked bleak when Johnny Russell was given a straight red card for squaring up to Kirk Broadfoot. Russell was clearly frustrated after the Rangers defender went down easily to win a free-kick and, although there was nothing in the way of contact, the referee was left with little choice but to flash his red card at the United striker for aggressively gesturing towards Broadfoot. Bouyed by their man advantage, Rangers had the lion's share of chances for
the remainder of the game.
Just before the interval, Edu flicked the ball over the United defence finding Naismith in space. But he dragged his left-footed shot across the goal.
It was all square at half time, and United were well worth that result after creating some decent chances and holding their own against a Rangers side yet to taste defeat in their domestic campaign.
But in the second half it was constant pressure from Ally McCoist's side.
A brace of chances fell to Lafferty in the second half, and he converted the second in what would turn out to be the only goal of the game. His first effort was well saved by Pernis, but the 'keeper could do little to stop the second chance as Lafferty headed back across goal from six yards to nestle the ball in the corner of the net.
Steven Davis forced a terrific save from Pernis moments later with a pinpoint downward header inside the box, and the former Fulham man looked certain to have sealed victory for Rangers on 68 minutes when he coolly slotted the ball past the United 'keeper. But the shot bounced off both posts and the home side were somehow able to scramble the ball clear.
United had two corners deep in stoppage time but failed to trouble McGregor, and Swanson's 25 yard shot 12 minutes before the full time whistle was the closest United came to grabbing a hard fought equaliser.
United: Pernis, Gunning, Kenneth, Dixon, Watson, Rankin, Flood, Swanson, Robertson, Dalla Valle (Dow 71) Russell
Rangers: McGregor, Wylde (McKay 83), Broadfoot, Manuel Ortiz, Goian, Bocanegra, Whittaker, Davis, Edu (McCulloch 75), Lafferty, Naismith.
Kyle Lafferty headed in from close range bang on the hour mark, and that was enough to take all three points. But it could have been a different story had United been given a penalty mid-way through the opening forty-five.
With the television cameras present and a large home support eager to see their team win for the first time at home this season, the game sparked to life on the quarter hour mark with a flurry of chances at either end of the park. The first opportunity fell to Kyle Lafferty, who flicked the ball on to his left foot inside the box, but the Northern Irishman's effort was easily saved by Pernis after some neat build-up.
Fresh from his crucial goal for Scotland midweek, Steven Naismith had a chance to put Rangers ahead seconds later. Fortunately for the home fans, the striker wasn't able to continue that rich vein of form and blasted well over the bar after Greg Wylde's cross took a wicked deflection and bounced awkwardly in the United box.
Danny Swanson then had a go from long-range, which McGregor was able to parry over the bar for a corner and United had a strong penalty claim turned down shortly after when Swanson collided with Goian in the visitors' box. Swanson had knocked the ball past Goian, who left his leg out and gave the winger nowhere to go. United boss Peter Houston felt it was a "stonewall" penalty, and was bitterly disappointed Swanson picked up a booking for the incident.
Garry Kenneth twice headed close from corner kicks, but despite leaping well to win the ball on both occasions, he couldn't force a save from the Rangers 'keeper.
After competing well for 30 minutes, United's chances of taking anything from the game looked bleak when Johnny Russell was given a straight red card for squaring up to Kirk Broadfoot. Russell was clearly frustrated after the Rangers defender went down easily to win a free-kick and, although there was nothing in the way of contact, the referee was left with little choice but to flash his red card at the United striker for aggressively gesturing towards Broadfoot. Bouyed by their man advantage, Rangers had the lion's share of chances for
the remainder of the game.
Just before the interval, Edu flicked the ball over the United defence finding Naismith in space. But he dragged his left-footed shot across the goal.
It was all square at half time, and United were well worth that result after creating some decent chances and holding their own against a Rangers side yet to taste defeat in their domestic campaign.
But in the second half it was constant pressure from Ally McCoist's side.
A brace of chances fell to Lafferty in the second half, and he converted the second in what would turn out to be the only goal of the game. His first effort was well saved by Pernis, but the 'keeper could do little to stop the second chance as Lafferty headed back across goal from six yards to nestle the ball in the corner of the net.
Steven Davis forced a terrific save from Pernis moments later with a pinpoint downward header inside the box, and the former Fulham man looked certain to have sealed victory for Rangers on 68 minutes when he coolly slotted the ball past the United 'keeper. But the shot bounced off both posts and the home side were somehow able to scramble the ball clear.
United had two corners deep in stoppage time but failed to trouble McGregor, and Swanson's 25 yard shot 12 minutes before the full time whistle was the closest United came to grabbing a hard fought equaliser.
United: Pernis, Gunning, Kenneth, Dixon, Watson, Rankin, Flood, Swanson, Robertson, Dalla Valle (Dow 71) Russell
Rangers: McGregor, Wylde (McKay 83), Broadfoot, Manuel Ortiz, Goian, Bocanegra, Whittaker, Davis, Edu (McCulloch 75), Lafferty, Naismith.
