First Team

MATCH REPORT | RANGERS HIT TWO AT IBROX

1st April 2023

RANGERS 2
DUNDEE UNITED 0
3PM SATURDAY 1ST APRIL
CINCH PREMIERSHIP
IBROX PARK

Two Malik Tillman strikes either side of half-time sealed all three points for Rangers in Govan.   

THE TEAM TALK

Kieran Freeman for Liam Smith was the only change Jim Goodwin made to the starting eleven that drew with St Mirren prior to the international break. 

END TO END 

The hosts had the first sighting at goal after just three minutes. Breaking down the left was Borna Barisic who delivered a curling cross into the danger area. It was dealt with by Ryan Edwards who headed clear but only as far as Ryan Jack, but the Scotland midfielder skewed his volley well wide of the target. 

United had a flash at goal just one minute later. A clever combination on the 18-yard line between Aziz Behich and Steven Fletcher fashioned an opening for our number nine, but he shot wide of Allan McGregor’s right-hand post. 

The end-to-end swing continued in the following minutes. 

A chance fell for James Tavernier in the eighth minute as a cross missed everyone before finding him at the back post. However, Mark Birighitti got down to smartly block his fiercely struck effort from rippling the net. 

United countered through Pawlett who cleverly jinked his way past several blue shirts. It looked like a certain opening for the Terrors but his cut-back was diverted wide for a corner. John Lundstram was in the way to clear any danger from Jamie McGrath's out-swinging delivery. 

Rangers went close to an opener through Alfredo Morelos who headed just wide before Ryan Kent dragged a shot past the post. 


A BLOW FOR PAWLETT

After an impressive display in the opening twenty minutes, Pawlett’s game was over after he pulled up off the ball. He was replaced by Kai Fotheringham as United looked to continue pressing. 

In the aftermath, a dangerous Rangers counter found Morelos racing down the right before firing a low shot at goal. Birighitti got down to save but couldn’t hold it - Malik Tillman then went down easily in search of a spot-kick but Don Robertson waved the claims away. 


A WHISKER AWAY

United’s best chance came through Sibbald’s ferocious effort in the 35th minute. 

The midfielder drove inside from the right before firing a shot in search of the top corner that flew just past the post. 

RANGERS AHEAD

A well-worked move had Rangers in front on 38 minutes. 

Connor Goldson picked out Todd Cantwell with a line-breaking threaded ball, and a clever cushioned pass round the corner found Tillman in space inside the box. The midfielder set himself and fired low beyond Birighitti to give the hosts the lead. 

QUICK FLASHES

Following the restart, there were flurries of activity at both ends. 

A loose pass was picked up by McGrath but he couldn’t get enough purchase on his half-volley to trouble McGregor in the Rangers' net. 

Some clever one-touch football in and around the United box then opened up space for Rangers, but Ayina stood strong to sweep the ball away from danger.  


TWO FOR TILLMAN

Ten minutes after the break, Tillman was on the scoresheet once more - allowed too much time and space inside the box before firing past Birighitti.

Kent had the chance to make it three from another Rangers counter, but he blasted high and wide from 12 yards out. 


RANGERS CHANCES

It was a second half in which United failed to gather any real momentum in the search of an equaliser.

Birighitti came up with two smart stops to deny Morelos in quick succession, before an excellent block from Ayina kept Kent at bay as Rangers pushed for a third. 


FINAL THROW OF THE DICE

United made three attacking substitutions in the final fifteen minutes as we looked to get back in the game. There was certainly more energy in the forward areas, with Ilmari Niskanen and Sadat Anaku offering added pace as United looked to get in behind.

Substitute Mathew Cudjoe had our last chance of the second half, but his deflected effort landed comfortably in the hands of McGregor. 

POST-MATCH THOUGHTS

 


TEAMLINE

Starting XI: Birighitti, McMann (76’ Niskanen), Pawlett (21’ Fotheringham), Fletcher (76’ A.Sadat), Edwards, Sibbald, Behich (81’ Cudjoe), McGrath, Freeman, Harkes, Ayina 

Unused subs: Newman, Graham, Djoum, Thomson, O'Donnell 


NEXT UP

We’re back at Tannadice on Easter Sunday, taking on Hibernian in a 12-noon kick-off. 

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