First Team
THE TANGERINE ARMY | PARTICK THISTLE (H)
27th April 2024
DUNDEE UNITED 0-2 RANGERS
4PM SUNDAY 8TH JANUARY 2023
CINCH PREMIERSHIP
TANNADICE PARK
Attendance: 12,599
Two goals inside 15 second-half minutes secured all three points for Rangers.
ONE CHANGE
Liam Fox made one change to the side that took all three points in Perth on Monday. Steven Fletcher, back from a knock, featured from the start in place of Tony Watt who made the bench in place of Mathew Cudjoe.
OPENING EXCHANGES
It was a quiet opening ten minutes. United again were the first to venture forward as Glenn Middleton got the better of James Tavernier down the left wing before whipping in a low cross which was cleared by the Rangers defence.
Both Ryan Kent and Antonio Colak had efforts for the visitors early on but were comfortably dealt with at the back.
ON THE FRONT FOOT
United had their best spell of the game just after the 20-minute mark.
Middleton picked out Kieran Freeman with a precise cross-field pass. The fullback worked a cross which was expertly brought down by Fletcher, but he couldn’t direct his half-volley on target.
Middleton was involved again minutes later, showing pace to pick up a diagonal ball down the Rangers right. He fizzed a cross in for Fletcher whose wicked first-time effort was deflected wide for a corner.
As the ball was recycled, Middleton fired another low ball towards goal from out wide, this time McLaughlin did enough to parry it away from danger.
There were chances at both ends just before the break. Ryan Kent hit a wayward effort over the bar after fashioning an opening with some tidy footwork just outside the United box.
At the other end, a neat one-two between Ian Harkes and Liam Smith found the United full-back racing forward. A touch to set himself opened up space but his cushioned effort was just wide of the post.
It was a first 45 in which United had the better of the chances, but couldn’t break the deadlock as the referee drew close to an entertaining first half.
A QUICK-FIRE BLOW
The Terrors will be disappointed with their opening to the second half, as just nine minutes after the restart Rangers found themselves a goal to the good.
Fashion Sakala burst through on goal and smashed a left-footed strike past Birighitti to break the deadlock.
Three minutes later, Tavernier surged forward and found Sakala inside the area with a clever pass. His shot was blocked by Birighitti but the rebound fell to Malik Tillman on the penalty spot and he fired through a number of bodies into the net.
It was a few minutes that ultimately killed the game for United as Rangers took control for the final half hour.
The away side did have chances for a third through Sakala and Morelos but couldn’t add to their lead.
Liam Fox responded with three changes in quick succession; Fletcher, Middleton and Sibbald replaced by Rory MacLeod, Tony Watt and Arnaud Djoum.
The closest United came to getting one back was through another quick a counter - but as the ball found Freeman inside the box he couldn't adjust his feet to get a shot away.
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
Liam Fox highlighted his disappointment as Rangers hit twice in a matter of minutes.
We were in the game in what was an end-to-end first half. We caused Rangers problems but i'm disappointed with the way we started the second half.
The two goals made it difficult for us.
Although there are positives to take from the first half, the game lasts 90 minutes not 45.
TEAMLINE
Starting XI: Birighitti, Smith, McMann, Fletcher (Watt 74'), Edwards (c), Sibbald (Djoum 67'), Middleton (MacLeod 74'), Behich, Levitt (Meekison 90'), Freeman, Harkes
Unused Subs: Eriksson, Mulgrew, Graham, Niskanen, Djoum, A.Sadat.
NEXT UP
The Tangerine Army are out en-mass once again next weekend as we travel to the capital to take on Hibernian.
