Dundee Utd 0
Rangers 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

We suffered our first League defeat of the season against a Rangers side that played impressively, particularly in the second half, although it took a late goal by lain Ferguson to finally translate Rangers' pressure into some kind of tangible reward.

There was a blow for us after only four minutes when Jim Mclnally limped off. The early stages of the match proved to be a tactical battle with the midfield area a congested area. The first opening of any kind came in the 21st minute. Dave Bowman's long clearance out of defence found Kevin Gallacher in space, but Butcher chased back to block Kevin's shot.

Injury brought substitutions for both sides. Cooper replacing Nisbet and Raphael Meade replacing Mixu Paatelainen. Play became slightly more enterprising but neither keeper was seriously troubled. As halftime approached, however, Rangers indicated their growing threat producing a series of corners, but the score-sheet remained blank at the interval.

The second half opened relatively quietiy, but after an hour or so Rangers began to dominate, with lan Durrant and Mark Walters orchestrating things. Durrant hammered the ball over from a good position in the 63rd minute.

An even better chance fell to Durrant in the 68th minute after some Walters magic on the right, but he shot over after Billy Thomson had diverted Walter's cross into his path. Two minutes later Cooper drove straight at Billy Thomson.

At the other end Dave Bowman hit a 30 yarder which slithered towards goal but Woods got down to save at the far post. The minutes were ticking away and we looked like taking a point until Cooper sent over a cross to the far post and Ian Ferguson headed the winner, which was hardly undeserved. Even then we almost equalised when Ian Redford's chip from the edge of the box went fractionally over the bar.

In an exciting finale McCoist got through on Billy Thomson, but the United keeper brilliantly parried his shot to safety.