Rangers 1
Dundee Utd 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

United made three changes from their previous game, one of them positional. Fleming replaced Robinson at right-half, with Sturrock coming in at inside-right. Addison replaced Payne at centre-forward, with Payne moving onto the bench. Rangers were unchanged from the side that beat St Mirren 3-2.

Rangers got off to a solid start when Miller sent the ball through to Russell on the wing, the inside right took the ball infield and released it to McLean on the edge of the penalty area. Russell moved in to collect the one-two, but miskicked the ball and it ran out of play for a goal kick. The Rangers fans were complaining a few minutes later when Narey looked to have pushed Derek Johnstone as he went for the ball in the United penalty area, but the referee waved play on. After nine minutes Jardine made a fine run infield but his shot was just wide of the left-hand post. In the 20th minute and against the run of play, United took the lead. Narey dispossessed Forsyth on the wing and he moved forward, sending a high ball just in front of Billy Kirkwood. He ran on with only the keeper to beat and this he did with a high shot beyond the advancing McCloy. Ranger responded and from a McLean corner, Jardine headed to Johnstone who would have scored had it not been for the head of Kopel saving on the line. As the game reached half-time, Johnstone had another penalty claim. The big striker felt he was impeded as he rose to head the ball, but shouts were waved away.

McAlpine had to look sharp in the early action of the second half when he sprung to save from a Johnstone header. Then a clever pass from Russell to McLean led to the winger crossing to the feet of Parlane, but the centre's shot hit the goalie's legs. At the other end a cross to an onrushing Fleming was perfectly met with the head and brought a great save from McCloy.Johnstone was next to come close when he volleyed wide from a Russell flick. Gordon Smith then went close for Rangers when he swerved a shot from the edge of the box that narrowly missed the post. With just eight minutes remaining, Smith made a run at the United defence, played in Russell, who in turn struck the ball at McAlpine. The keeper failed to hold it and Alex MacDonald ran in to tap it home. At this point it was all Rangers and in the last minute, United replaced Sturrock with Payne to see out some time. It worked and the match ended all square.