02 February 2005
Within 25 minutes the game appeared over. An early break-away from Rangers utilising the pace of Novo saw the Spaniard one on one with Colgan and he sidestepped the keeper and put the ball into the empty net. Rangers’ second goal came courtesy of the head of Prso from an Andrews’s free kick. Colgan appeared slow to react to the ball which nestled in the net via the left hand post.
From this point United battled manfully but, with Rangers in cruise control, the edge had been removed from the game. In the 42nd minute, referee Dallas adjudged Ritchie to have fouled Prso and awarded a penalty. Novo’s weak effort was saved by Colgan diving to his right. As the half ended, the whistler left the field to a crescendo of boos from the United end.
The United response at the start of the second half was what the support demanded and Jason Scotland pulled a goal back within the first five minutes. For the next ten minutes Rangers appeared rattled and after a McIntyre drive had hit both posts, Kerr went close with a crashing drive from 30 yards which was parried for a corner. As United went searching for an equaliser Rangers cruelly exploited the defensive frailties time and time again with Buffel, Ricksen, Thompson (2) and another from Novo completing the rout.
On a night few United fans will wish to remember, the outstanding performer in tangerine was Mark Kerr.
Rangers: Waterreus, Ross, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Ball, Ricksen, Alex Rae (Ferguson 69), Vignal, Novo, Prso (Thompson 75), Buffel.
Subs Not Used: Malcolm, Graeme Smith, Namouchi.
Goals: Novo 7, Prso 18, Buffel 67, Ricksen 77, Thompson 80, Novo 85, Thompson 88.
Dundee Utd: Colgan, Mair (Dodds 75), McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald (Duff 45), Wilson, McInnes (Scotland 45), Kerr, Robson, Crawford, McIntyre.
Subs Not Used: Grady, Bullock.
Booked: Kerr, Archibald.
Goals: Scotland 50.
Att: 25,622.
Ref: H Dallas
Read the full match report by Joe Rice
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