Dundee Utd 1
Rangers 4
League (SPL)

Match Report

With David McCracken out with a hamstring injury, youngster Mark Wilson took his place while Billy Dodds and Jim Lauchlan returned to the bench.

In a lively opening half, Jim McIntyre fired straight at Klos in the fourth minute, forcing the German stopper to gather during a scramble. It was down to the Ibrox club to take the lead though in 10 minutes after a Peter Lovenkrands cross deceived Gary Bollan to allow Ronald de Boer to chest the ball and strike it past Paul Gallacher from ten yards. The Dutchman forced Gallacher into a save just three minutes later, preventing his second. The prevention was only temporary however as de Boer turned provider on 17 minutes for Shota Arveladze to head home from close range to make it 2-0. All the while, United struggled to make anything of the ball. With seven minutes of the half left, Arveladze shot well over the bar before United's first real chance since conceding - Mark Wilson cannoning a 25 yard effort off the crossbar. In stoppage time, however, a third came for Rangers. A threaded ball from Mikel Arteta reached de Boer and the striker slipped the ball under Gallacher from just a couple of yards.

Russell Latapy came close to scoring six minutes from the restart but the hands of Stefan Klos denied the midfielder's effort from thirty yards. Klos was in action again moments later, tipping a McIntyre shot over the bar from close range. With over an hour gone, United's pressure continued and on 65 minutes, Charlie Miller did well to run down the middle of the park before shooting wide. Things went bad to worse after that chance, as Shota Arveladze netted his second and Rangers' fourth of the afternoon. The result merely academic, United were able to score a consolation a minute later through Billy Dodds. The remaining quarter hour of the match played out with chances for both sides, but with no further goals.