Dundee Utd1–2Rangers

For the second year running our fixture with Rangers as this time of year was as much about weather as football. If you recall a year previously the match was played in torrential rain with a howling gale. On this occasion the rain was substituted by blizzard conditions, particularly in the first half. Manager Jim McLean made two changes side which had lost at Dunfermline with Dave Bowman and Michael O'Neill dropping out to be replaced by John Clark, starting a match for the first time this season, and Mixu Paatelainen. Our start to the match was more than encouraging. Christian Dailly pushed the ball into John Clark's path and his shot was flicked home by Darren Jackson via a post after only seven minutes play. Three minutes later we might well have gone further ahead as a cross by Mixu Paatelainen from the left and John Clark from the right in quick succession found no takers in the middle. Unfortunately, Rangers got back on level terms in the 18th minute when Mo Johnston dispossessed Miodrag Krivokapic and ran to beat Alan Main. The visitors were spurred on by this and Alan Main had to react quickly to hold a Hateley flick from a Walters cross in the 33rd minute. When the blizzard conditions were perhaps at their most intense Mark Walters conjured some magical foot-work before chipping Alan Main.

Apart from an early spell of pressure at the start of the second half when Walters again threatened, Rangers played a containing aame in the second half. Billy McKinlay hit a 35 yarder which Woods saved low down at his right hand post, as we found it difficult to break down a resolute Ibrox rearguard. Consequently, we slumped to our third home defeat of the season, but this was Rangers first point against us this season and we remained the only side to have defeated them in the league, having done that in both previous encounters.