Rangers 1
Dundee Utd 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Pre-match predictions that United were lambs to the slaughter against a Rangers side buoyant following their 7-2 win in Vladikavkaz proved wildly inaccurate with United only failing to come away with at least a point because of one instance of Paul Gascoigne magic. United, in fact had the best chance of the game in the first half. Owen Coyle's free-kick from the left was met by Andy McLaren with his head at the near post, but the header drifted past the stranded Andy Goram's left hand post. A Charlie Miller shot ten minutes from the interval was the first shot on target, and Andy McLaren replied instantly with a shot which had Goram at full stretch. Had Mark Perry, right in front of goal, made contact with an Armand Benneker header on the stroke of half-time, United would have gone in ahead.

Rangers started the second half with a flourish but after an initial burst, the Tannadice rearguard soon had them in check. The game appeared to be drifting to a goalless draw when Paul Gascoigne made his first and effectively only major contribution to the game. He collected a return pass just inside the box, twisted and turned before curling the ball round the outstretched arms of Ally Maxwell for a superb goal. Gordon Durie missed a penalty after being brought down by Armand Benneker in the last minute with Ally Maxwell saving his former colleague's half-hit shot. That was to be justice, however, as even a single goal defeat was less than United's efforts deserved.