Rangers 3
Dundee Utd 0
League (SPL)

Match Report

Dundee United succumbed to a second half treble from Rangers today at Ibrox. Despite having the best of the match for much of the first half and possibly considering themselves unfortunate not to be ahead at half time, the second half was a different matter for United as Rangers took the points through goals from Buffel, Thompson and Lovenkrands.

United lined up with Stillie in goal behind the defensive quartet of Archibald, Ritchie, McCracken and Wilson. In midfield Samuel and Fernandez flanked the middle three of Duff, Kerr and Robson. McIntyre was the sole striker in an attacking 4-5-1 formation.

The first twenty minutes were largely dominated by United and Collin Samuel was causing major concerns for the Rangers defence and indeed almost put United ahead twice in quick succession. First an impressive run down the right by Samuel ended with his cross being deflected just over the Rangers crossbar for a corner. Then, just a minute later, Robson’s cross was flicked out of the hands of Waterreus by Andrews and the ball dropped at Samuel’s feet. The pacey striker’s shot was deflected wide for another corner as the United pressure mounted. In the 22nd minute a Wilson shot was parried to Samuel 5 yards out but the Assistant Referee raised the flag to dampen any Arab excitement. The substitution of Cameron for Samuel due to injury in 36 minutes had a pivotal impact on the game.

Seven minutes before half time Rangers came to life and would have gone ahead had it not been for a great save from Stillie and a heroic block from Ritchie with the goal gaping for the Rangers strikers.

United never came out in the same confident manner in which they started the first half and, as the game wore on, Rangers gradually started to dominate proceedings and have greater possession without ever looking like making a breakthrough. The introduction of ex United player Steven Thompson changed all that. Within ten minutes of coming on for the ineffective Novo, he had caused enough mayhem in the United area and Lovenkrands attempted a overhead kick which was turned in by Buffel at the back post. From this point, Rangers visibly grew in confidence and United’s confidence disappeared to a large extent. The second Rangers goal came in the 83 minute when Thompson nodded home Buffel’s cross home despite the presence of Ritchie. With 4 minutes left to play, Lovenkrands headed home a third goal to make it a highly unfair final score line for United.