Dundee Utd 0
Rangers 4
League (SPL)

Match Report

United went down to a heavy 4-0 defeat to Rangers but in truth that was half of the story. Unbelievably they finished the match with eight men as Kovacevic, Dillon and Gomis were all given straight red cards that all resulted in penalties for the visitors. Steven Whittaker scored from two of them and missed the final one towards the end of the game. Jelavic and Lafferty were the other scorers on a miserable night for the hosts. Despite injury and suspension respectively to both regular full backs Watson and Dillon, United still lined up with a very experienced defence. Kenneth and Severin started in the centre with Dillon and Kovacevic, playing for the first time since last season's cup final, making up the back four. In addition, the Robertsons, David and Scott returned in midfield with prince Buaben and Craig Conway dropping to the bench.

The game sparked into life after 15 minutes when Steven Naismith had the ball in the net, but the striker had deliberately handled and was booked for the offence. Five minutes later the visitors were ahead. Lafferty tested Dusan Pernis from the edge of the penalty area, the ball spilled to Naismith and after a challenge from Kovacevic the referee awarded a spot kick. The United defender was then harshly sent off. To make matters worse, Steven Whittaker sent Pernis the wrong way to give Rangers the lead. Midway through the half Jelavic spurned a great chance to double the lead, shooting wide from close range. With the extra man advantage, Walter Smith's men looked to kill the game before the break but twice Pemis denied them. Firstly, he brilliantly saved a Naismith header. Then on the stroke of half time, tipped a Lafferty effort over to keep United in the game.

With that man advantage Rangers always looked the more likely and just before the hour mark the game was over as a contest. Whittaker took advantage of a slack United pass and put Jelavic through. However, he was brought down by Dillon but despite the offence looking just outside the box, the referee awarded another penalty kick and dismissed Dillon. Steven Whittaker once again sent Pernis the wrong way and doubled the lead. From then on the game was played in the United half and after a great save from Pernis from a Steve Davis shot, Nikica Jelavic scored a third from close range with still 20 minutes remaining. Two minutes later, United incredibly were reduced to eight men and Rangers awarded a third penalty. Bougherra lofted the ball into the box and when Diouf went down after a nudge from Gomis the referee again pointed to the spot and showed a United man a red card. This time Steven Whittaker blasted over to keep the score at 3-0. United understandably showed very little in an attacking sense but they did battle to the end and lost only one further goal when Kyle Lafferty shot home from 20 yards to round off the scoring. In the dying minutes Davis fired over and Pernis made another fantastic save from a Bougherra free kick.