Dundee U 1 – 2 Rangers

The Rangers’ impressive season continued as they strengthened their grip on top spot in the Scottish Premiership with a 2-1 win at Dundee United.

Steven Gerrard’s team took the lead in the 26th minute with an impressive James Tavernier free-kick, but seven minutes later, with a volley from Liam Smith (33), stopped them.

The visitors regained their lead just before half-time when Connor Goldson headed in a free kick from Tavernier and despite the Rangers’ best efforts in the second half, it turned out to be enough to seal all three points at Tannadice Park.

With the victory, the Rangers, who remain unbeaten in the league, move 15 points ahead of Hibernian in second place and 16 points ahead of Celtic, third, who have three games in hand and face Kilmarnock on Sunday for the afternoon.

Dundee United meanwhile remain sixth after their seventh defeat of the season.

The impressive form of the Rangers continues …

The last time the teams met in September, Micky Mellon tried to go head to head with the Rangers and paid a heavy price when his Tangerines fell 4-0 at Ibrox. This time, the United manager had learned his lesson and took a more cautious approach.

However, it was the hosts who threatened the first match first. Goldson missed Adrian Sporle’s corner kick, while defensive teammate Leon Balogun had to lunge off Mark Connolly’s blow. The rebound fell on Mark Reynolds, but Steven Davis blocked the line before Kemar Roofe finally cleared the danger.

Alfredo Morelos was charging shortly thereafter, driving forward from the middle of the road before drilling wide. But the Colombian, who received a yellow card, could have received his marching orders in the 12th minute after his elbow struck Connolly’s face.

There was another close escape for the visitors when Allan McGregor and Balogun collided as they ran to get to Ian Harkes’ long ball before Marc McNulty. However, with the pair spread out and the goal empty, Smith could only shoot from afar.

The visitors were beginning to look light on the ideas, but then their captain came up with another moment of brilliance in the 26th minute. Connolly’s trip on Roofe was 30 yards from goal, but Tavernier found the whip to make a shooting bow. free over the wall and pass Benjamin Siegrist for a sensational first goal.

United responded with a well-worked goal seven minutes later, when Mellon’s side became the first Scottish team since Motherwell in September to score against Gerrard’s side. Harkes sent the ball out for Robson. Barisic only had his eyes on McNulty when he entered the center and missed Smith who scuttled behind him to shoot the ball from the far post.

The Rangers again took the lead a minute before halftime when Tavernier again produced a great moment. Tackled by Sporle, it was the captain’s set pieces that found Goldson as the defender moved to the front post to hit his head.

Another speculative shot from Morelos jumped wide as Goldson fumbled from six yards as the Rangers dominated the opening stages of the second period.

Morelos has not scored a goal in the league for nearly three months and let another great opportunity to break his drought slip away when the ball got stuck under his feet when Roofe’s chip found him in the area, with Siegrist running from his line to suffocate. .

Another outdoor hit turned out to be his last appearance when Gerrard introduced Cedric Itten. The Swiss forward almost had an immediate impact by stepping over the goalkeeper before setting up Scott Arfield, but Connolly avoided the third with his punt from the goal line.

Man of the match – James Tavernier

Tavernier again underscored his player of the year credentials with another goal and an assist at Tannadice Park.

It was his 17th goal of the season in all competitions and the 13th goal for the right-back this season.

Chief of the Rangers Steven Gerrard to Sky Sports:

“Her form is exactly where we want her. She has been sensational since the first game of the season. Again, she comes in with an assist and a goal. The goal is world class. It doesn’t matter who you are or who you are.” play, if you can hit a free kick like that in the top corner with that amount of drop and speed, it’s a world class moment. And he comes back in style with the second goal. “

Aberdeen Manager Derek McInnes speaking to Sky Sports as part of coverage of the match:

“It’s easy to say that [he’s going to be difficult to stop for the player of the season award]. If he continues in this line of form, it will be difficult to stop him, especially as a defense that contributes as much as he does. The free throw is the ultimate appeal, no matter which league you look at. It’s a fantastic ending.

“For the Rangers, over the years, he has become a very important player. I know his own support has vilified him for lack of defense, but the Rangers are attacking a lot, especially this season, and he is a much of it. “

Whats Next?

Dundee United will return to action in the Scottish Premiership next Saturday when they travel to Hibernian at 3pm.

Meanwhile, the Rangers face the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday at St Mirren (start at 8pm) against host Motherwell on Saturday; start 3pm.

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