Dundee Utd 2
Rangers 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

With United looking to close the four point gap with third placed Rangers, Jim McLean's only change from the line-up that defeated Airdrie was with Derek Stark swapping places with Iain Phillip in the starting eleven, with Phillip dropping to the bench.

The Tangerines had a number of attempts as they dominated the early stages against the wind, and took the lead in the 19th minute with a goal that the Sporting Post described as 'A real gold-plated, chateau-bottled humdinger of a goal!". Frank Kopel slid the ball into the path of Billy Kirkwood, who smacked a 20 yard shot low past the stranded Peter McCloy. Soon afterwards, Davie Dodds had a chance but McCloy saved well from his close-in shot. Rangers then looked to have equalised when John MacDonald finished well after controlling a long wind-assisted kick-out by McCloy, but a discussion between referee Brian McGinlay had his linesman saw the goal disallowed for handball. Eamonn Bannon was then heavily involved, firstly seeing his shot marvellously saved by McCloy, then clearing a Gregor Stevens effort off the line soon afterwards. The equaliser came minutes later, when John MacDonald nodded over Hamish McAlpine after Stark had failed to deal with a Willie Johnston cross.

Now with the wind at their backs, United were stung into action by that equaliser, and had the ball in the net immediately on the resumption of play, but it was chalked off. In the 57th minute United took the lead once more. Bannon thundered in a fearsome free-kick which slid under McCloy' sbody but stopped short of the line, and the ever alert Davie Dodds knocked it home despite close attention from Johnston. Eight minutes from the end, Gregor Stevens, who had been booked in the first half for a foul on McAlpine, was sent off after being booked again for something that was said to the referee.

The 2-1 victory meant that United were now just two points behind Rangers, but the Glasgow side still had a game in hand.