Rangers 2
Dundee Utd 0
League (SPL)

Match Report

A second half equaliser from Lee Wilkie was enough to earn United a point in a scrappy encounter at Tannadice. Former United man Eric Odhhiambo had the Caley Jags ahead at the break in a game that also saw the visitors reduced to ten men when Russell Duncan brought down Danny Swanson in a goal scoring position.

After the disappointment of the Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Hamilton, Craig Levein made three changes for the visit of Inverness. New man Paul Caddis and Paul Dixon replaced Sean Dillon and Danny Grainger in defence and there was a starting place for Fran Sandaza who came in for Warren Feeney.

United started the game much the brighter of the two sides and they were unlucky not to be ahead in the opening minutes when Esson made a fine save from Prince Buaben. Following a spell of sustained United pressure, they fell behind on the 16 minute mark when Odhiambo stole in behind the United defence and headed home a Doug Imrie cross. United’s reply was instant and they should have been level when Daly headed a Conway cross into the path of Wilkie but the ball was cleared for a corner. Just after the half hour mark there was a huge shout for a penalty when Djebi-Zadi pulled back Sandaza but referee Craig Thomson controversially waved play on. Towards the end of the half Caley had a fine chance to double their lead but Zaluska did well to thwart Imrie.

In the early stages of the second period it was the visitors who looked the more likely to add to their advantage and on two occasions Doug Imrie had shots that just missed the target. With 20 minutes of the match remaining, the game burst in to life again. Swanson won the ball on the half way line and homed in on goal. As he made his way past the final defender into a goal scoring position Russell Duncan upended the United man and the Caley defender was shown a straight red card. From then on it was all United and finally, with 10 minutes left, United drew level when Shala flicked on a cross and Lee Wilkie managed to bundle the ball home. United threw all they could at the ten men and Danny Swanson was unlucky with several balls into the penalty area. In the end the visitors held on and they were the happier of the two teams when the referee blew the final whistle.