MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
A solid performance, dogged defending and a wonder strike from Barry Robson gained a much needed point at Ibrox. Barry Robson's free kick, a contender for goal of the season in the 88th minute cancelled out Nacho Novo's opener.
Missing from the United line-up was Jason Scotland who did not shake off his injury. His fellow striker from Trinidad, Collin Samuel was listed in the team along with James Grady. Jim McIntyre dropped down to the bench which also included former Rangers man Paul Ritchie and youngsters Ross Gardiner and David Robertson. Peter Lovenkrands failed a fitness test for Rangers during the pre match warm up and therefore his place was taken by former Dundee man, Nacho Novo.
United almost fell behind after only two minutes. Dado Prso, who looked dangerous all afternoon saw his header come back off the post. Rangers continued to press but found the United defence in a very determined mood. Nacho Novo had two shots blocked by Mark Wilson and the hard working Collin Samuel. Paul Jarvie was also in top form and during the first half handled everything that Rangers threw at him. United made their first decent chance after 15 minutes when Barry Robson swung in a great free kick which unfortunately no one could get their head to. Towards the end of the half Rangers again almost took the lead. A powerful shot from Novo was superbly parried by Jarvie. The ball then spun towards the goal and the young United keeper did well to scoop the ball away to safety before it crossed the line.
The second half was a totally different game with United coming far more into the match with their share of attacks. Collin Samuel was the first to try but his powerful shot was blocked by Boumsong. Mark Wilson then also had a shot charged down by the Frenchman. On the hour mark Samuel was the first man to be booked for a foul on Novo on the edge of his own box. The United defence again dealt perfectly with the resulting free kick. After 68 minutes Rangers did take the lead. Novo skipped past two United defenders and from 18 yards out he lashed the ball into the top right hand corner of the net. He was then cautioned by the referee for over celebrating. Ian McCall replaced both front men, Grady and Samuel, both of whom had ran themselves into the ground with Jim McIntyre and Karim Kerkar.
Former United man Steven Thomson almost doubled Rangers lead after 72 minutes when from a Burke cross his header went inches wide. From that point United went all out for an equaliser. Mark Wilson had a free kick saved by Klos before Kerkar's run and pass was unlucky to land just behind Billy Dodds. Kerkar was looking more and more influential, and with four minutes left he supplied a great cross to Derek McInnes who shot just over the crossbar. With one minute left United forced two free kicks on the edge of the Rangers box. The first one from Barry Robson was charged down by the defence. He was not to be denied the second time following a foul on Kerkar. His 25 yard curling shot flew into the net and left Stefan Klos with absolutely no chance. The shell-shocked Ibrox side went straight on the hunt for an immediate response and the crowd went wild when referee Conroy waved on a strong penalty claim.
Summary - A great team performance and an even better result following a troubled few weeks. With the effort put in by the players United got exactly what they deserved from this match and with the confidence gained from this result there is no reason why they can't start climbing the league.
Man of the match - There are so many contenders for this as each player in the team gave his all. Due to his heroics between the posts and keeping United in the game in the first half the award goes to Paul Jarvie.
Rangers: Klos, Ricksen, Boumsong, Andrews, Arveladze (Thomson 54), Prso, Malcolm, Khizanishvilli, Burke (Namouchi 86), Vignal, Novo
Subs not used : Smith, Hughes, Ball, McLean
Dundee United: Jarvie, Wilson, McCracken, McInnes, Archibald, Brebner, Samuel (McIntyre 72), Robson, Dodds, Grady (Kerkar 79), Innes
Subs not used: Hirschfeld, Duff, Ritchie, Gardiner, Robertson
Referee - Steve Conroy
Attendance - 46,796
Click here for the full match report by Gareth Scott.
Missing from the United line-up was Jason Scotland who did not shake off his injury. His fellow striker from Trinidad, Collin Samuel was listed in the team along with James Grady. Jim McIntyre dropped down to the bench which also included former Rangers man Paul Ritchie and youngsters Ross Gardiner and David Robertson. Peter Lovenkrands failed a fitness test for Rangers during the pre match warm up and therefore his place was taken by former Dundee man, Nacho Novo.
United almost fell behind after only two minutes. Dado Prso, who looked dangerous all afternoon saw his header come back off the post. Rangers continued to press but found the United defence in a very determined mood. Nacho Novo had two shots blocked by Mark Wilson and the hard working Collin Samuel. Paul Jarvie was also in top form and during the first half handled everything that Rangers threw at him. United made their first decent chance after 15 minutes when Barry Robson swung in a great free kick which unfortunately no one could get their head to. Towards the end of the half Rangers again almost took the lead. A powerful shot from Novo was superbly parried by Jarvie. The ball then spun towards the goal and the young United keeper did well to scoop the ball away to safety before it crossed the line.
The second half was a totally different game with United coming far more into the match with their share of attacks. Collin Samuel was the first to try but his powerful shot was blocked by Boumsong. Mark Wilson then also had a shot charged down by the Frenchman. On the hour mark Samuel was the first man to be booked for a foul on Novo on the edge of his own box. The United defence again dealt perfectly with the resulting free kick. After 68 minutes Rangers did take the lead. Novo skipped past two United defenders and from 18 yards out he lashed the ball into the top right hand corner of the net. He was then cautioned by the referee for over celebrating. Ian McCall replaced both front men, Grady and Samuel, both of whom had ran themselves into the ground with Jim McIntyre and Karim Kerkar.
Former United man Steven Thomson almost doubled Rangers lead after 72 minutes when from a Burke cross his header went inches wide. From that point United went all out for an equaliser. Mark Wilson had a free kick saved by Klos before Kerkar's run and pass was unlucky to land just behind Billy Dodds. Kerkar was looking more and more influential, and with four minutes left he supplied a great cross to Derek McInnes who shot just over the crossbar. With one minute left United forced two free kicks on the edge of the Rangers box. The first one from Barry Robson was charged down by the defence. He was not to be denied the second time following a foul on Kerkar. His 25 yard curling shot flew into the net and left Stefan Klos with absolutely no chance. The shell-shocked Ibrox side went straight on the hunt for an immediate response and the crowd went wild when referee Conroy waved on a strong penalty claim.
Summary - A great team performance and an even better result following a troubled few weeks. With the effort put in by the players United got exactly what they deserved from this match and with the confidence gained from this result there is no reason why they can't start climbing the league.
Man of the match - There are so many contenders for this as each player in the team gave his all. Due to his heroics between the posts and keeping United in the game in the first half the award goes to Paul Jarvie.
Rangers: Klos, Ricksen, Boumsong, Andrews, Arveladze (Thomson 54), Prso, Malcolm, Khizanishvilli, Burke (Namouchi 86), Vignal, Novo
Subs not used : Smith, Hughes, Ball, McLean
Dundee United: Jarvie, Wilson, McCracken, McInnes, Archibald, Brebner, Samuel (McIntyre 72), Robson, Dodds, Grady (Kerkar 79), Innes
Subs not used: Hirschfeld, Duff, Ritchie, Gardiner, Robertson
Referee - Steve Conroy
Attendance - 46,796
Click here for the full match report by Gareth Scott.
