Rangers drop two more points in Premiership title race
Rangers dropped another two points in the Premiership title race with a 1-1 draw at 10-man Dundee.
After losing 1-0 at home to Aberdeen at Ibrox in midweek, the visitors found themselves in trouble again when former Gers striker Kenny Miller scored after just nine minutes when he capitalised on a hesitant Ibrox rearguard to beat goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
That advantage was cancelled out in the 21st minute when Dundee defender Nathan Ralph was dismissed by referee Alan Muir for a foul on Daniel Candeias just outside the box and defender Andy Halliday fired in the resultant free-kick.
Rangers enjoyed the bulk of possession thereafter but their numerical superiority failed to pay off as Dundee defended stoutly for a well-deserved point that extended their unbeaten run to four games and lifted them off the bottom.
Steven Gerrard’s side moved into second place, two points behind Celtic, but they will have to improve immeasurably if they are to beat Rapid Vienna on Thursday night and secure a place in the Europa League knockout stages.
After the Dons defeat, it was all change for Gerrard who was without the services of leading scorer Alfredo Morelos and midfielder Scott Arfield through suspension. Halliday, Joe Worrall, Jordan Rossiter, Ryan Kent, Eros Grezda and Kyle Lafferty came back in the side.
Dundee defender Andrew Boyle was in for the injured centre-back Darren O’Dea while Miller, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Hamilton in midweek, led the line.
Almost inevitably, the veteran forward struck to break the deadlock.
A long ball from defender Ralph looked comfortable enough for Connor Goldson but the Ibrox defender failed to deal with it at the edge of his box and 38-year-old Miller pushed past him before knocking the ball beyond McGregor for his sixth goal in four games.
Rangers piled on immediate pressure in response and they received a numerical advantage when Ralph was sent packing by referee Muir for taking out Candeias as he was about to burst into the box, a decision that surprised many in the ground.
Dundee’s dismay was compounded when Halliday, with some assuredness, fired the free-kick high past Jack Hamilton to level. Seconds later at the other end, McGregor was forced to block a Miller shot after more indecision in the visiting defence.
The Govan side were on top however and in the 31st minute Lafferty had the ball in the net from a Kent cross but his celebrations were ended when the flag was raised for offside, another decision that appeared contentious.
Glenn Middleton replaced Kent for the start of the second half and after little improvement, Borna Barisic, back on the bench after a long injury lay-off, replaced Rossiter with Halliday moving into midfield. The visitors continued to dominate the ball but seemed to run out of ideas as they searched for a winner.
Ovie Ejaria replaced Halliday with 20 minutes remaining as Gerrard tried another route to three points. However, anxiety and frustration grew among the travelling support as their side’s struggle went on. Hamilton made a decent save from Ryan Jack’s drive but Rangers could not find a winner and their supporters let them know about it at the final whistle, which was celebrated by those in dark blue. PA
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So there we are. That was a lot of fun, especially in the first half but also in the second. Rangers played like a team who haven’t been coached, without method or composure, which suited Dundee down to the ground. They have things about which to think before Thursday’s European decider, while Dundee will feel they’ve a decent chance of staying up. Ta-ra.
That was a brilliant rearguard from Dundee, who defended with discipline, heart and steel. But Rangers were awful, especially in the second half. They had nearly 75 minutes to score once against the 10 men of the bottom side, and not only did they fail, they failed to make a single clear-cut chance in that passage; Hamilton, in the Dundee goal, barely had a save to make never mind a serious one. Dundee are off the bottom, above St Mirren on goal difference, while Rangers move up a spot too, into second ahead of Kilmarnock on goal difference.
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Full-time: Dundee 1-1 Rangers
Well!
90+3 min Dundee take the corner short, and waste not much time, but a bit of time, and Rangers ready themselves for one last mindless hump.
90+2 min Tavenier looks to dip inside Kallman, but Kallman reads him and tackles. Then Dundee nash down the other end with a four v three, spread wide to Curran! But his low cross is imprecise, and kicked behind for a corner!
90+1 min Every throw in is bing greeted with cheers by the home crowd now, and Miller wins one off Grezda to wild enthusiasms.
90 min There’ll be three added minutes.
89 min Jack finds Tavernier, whose touch is heavy. But Dundee are entrenched now, so Rangers get a chance to build the play once more, Tavernier crossing ... and this time the ball isn’t cleared properly! Will it drop to Lafferty? He takes a touch, but Kerr is there with a perfectly timed intervention, crunching the man and himself! Brilliant stuff.
88 min I can’t stress enough how poor Rangers have been today. In the first half, they were wanton when they needed to be patient, and in the second they’re shown no quality, imagination or drive.
87 min Dundee are nearly there and bring on Spence for Woods.
86 min Gerrard’s punitive changes really did the business, aye. In the end, you need to have faith in your best players - one poor performance is not good enough reason to make five unenforced changes, especially when you don’t have that strong a squad.
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84 min Dundee get some time in the Rangers half and Barisic passes straight to Curran, who finds Kallman inside the box; for a second he looks to have found a shooting lane, but Worrall is there to block.
84 min On the touchline.
Gerrard. pic.twitter.com/VwZgsrCJ1a
— Fino. (@Fino76) March 22, 2015
82 min Grezda finds a little bit of space down the right and looks to cut back a cross - now there’s a thing. It still picks out a defender but at least, for one brief, shining moment, it looked like it might not.
81 min However: Rangers are good at late goals.
80 min The problem with Rangers is how slowly they move the ball, how few of their players have tried to run at and commit defenders, and how frequently they cross high. All of these things have made defending the draw a pretty easy task for Dundee, who’ve even done so with no out-ball.
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79 min This really is abject from Rangers. Tavernier makes room for the cross but he’s right by the corner flag and Hamilton who, amazingly, is allowed to use his hands, catches easily.
77 min This is Moyes United v Fulham territory. Barisic crosses, Kerr concedes the corner, and Hamilton has the ball again.
76 min Change for Dundee: Kallman replaces Miller K.
75 min Again Candeias crosses from the right and the ball bobbles around the edge of the box before Jack picks it up and shifts, looking for a shooting lane; he drives, but Hamilton is there.
74 min Barisic again finds space and sticks a ball into space for Middleton, bur Kerr is over to tackle. Dundee look as likely scorers as Rangers now, breaking quickly and in numbers. They make nothing of the opportunity which founders with McGowan, but still: they’re attacking space and Rangers are attacking crowds.
72 min Hamilton “pings” a “diag” to McGowan, who transfers ball into box, and Miller K forces a corner ... only for Kamara to concede a free-kick.
72 min Another Tavernier corner, another Hamilton claim. He’s not had a single save to make.
71 min Rangers have played with a serious lack of nous and ideas. They do not look like a team which knows what it’s doing, or has been thought about how to beat 10 men.
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70 min Final change for Rangers, Ejaria replacing Halliday.
69 min Excellent from Barisic, snapping over a fine cross that McGowan heads away; Grezda then thrashes the loose ball miles over the bar.
68 min Dundee get the ball into the Rangers half for the first time in time, and win a free-kick which Kusunga sticks into the box from almost halfway. It’s easily cleared and Rangers counter with Cadeias and Grezda but Miller C is there.
66 min Candeias, pumps a cross high into the Yes City air, and Hamilton claims it easily.
65 min Rangers have had 87% possession this half, but are losing 1-0 on shots.
63 min Barisic curls in yet another cross and Kunsunga heads it away, then Kerr blocks one. I wonder if Rangers might stick another man up front given the way they’re playing - wide, cross, wide, cross.
62 min Dundee get that one away but Candeias finds space to drive in a further cross which yields a further corner. Again, Dundee - via the immense Kusunga - get it away.
61 min Barisic hammers a cross into Curran’s dress circle, and he goes down before funnelling back to defend the resultant corer.
60 min The game looks more like what you’d expect now, with Rangers moving the ball and Dundee staying compact. I can’t think of a single clear-cut chance they’ve conceded since they were pegged back.
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58 min Miller K lofts a pass over the top and again, Goldson is away tae Falkirk. Miller C chases onto it and snaps a cross-shot wide.
57 min Another change for Rangers: Barisic replaces Rossiter. He goes into defence and Halliday moves forward.
56 min Dundee are struggling to get out now, and Jack skims a pass out to Grezda on the right. He tries to dribble inside, but the ball bounces up and clips Boyle’s hand; there’s an appeal for a penalty, but the ref says naw.
55 min Tavernier charges through midfield and has Candeias outside him and open but instead looks to lick a pass through to Lafferty inside him ... and Kusunga intercepts.
54 min Jack runs at McGowan and goes past him, inadvertently following through with studs onto instep. The ref smiles upon him, keeping cards in pocket.
53 min Rangers win another corner, this time down the left, and Tavernier spanks it in only for Boyle to thunk it away.
51 min Nice from Tavernier, jinking inside, but Woods own’t buy his dummy, winning the ball and feeing Kamara. So Tavernier pulls him back to halt the counter, and the lack of card upsets the locals.
50 min Rangers are away to Rapid Vienna on Thursday night, a game they need to win unless Spartak Moscow, already eliminated, beat Villarreal. You’d think that they’d let the ball do the work in this one, but they’re still pounding about like it’s them with 10 trying to equalise an imbalance of quality.
49 min Another cross from Middleton, this time headed clear by Kusunga.
48 min Jack strides through midfield and spreads left to Middleton. There’s not much movement in the box but he crosses anyway, remonstrating when nothing good comes of it.
46 min Simple shank over the top from Miller C, and Goldson contrives to get caught underneath it as Miller K arrives on the scene. He can’t make anything of it, but Rangers are very shaky in defence.
46 min We go again! Gerrard makes a change, replacing Kent with Middleton.
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The players are back with us...
I’ve heard this so now you have to.
Some half-time reading:
Half-time: Dundee 1-1 Rangers
That was an really engrossing first half. Dundee are playing with spirit and enterprise, while Rangers are getting the ball forward so quickly that they’re not seeing as much of it as you’d expect. The second half should be a belter - see you in a second.
45+1 min Candeias sticks a ball towards the line for Tavernier, who pounds after it to jab out a cross which Lafferty fancies only for his own man - Rossiter I think - to take it away from him.
45 min There’ll be one added minute.
43 min Dundee are right in this for as long as Rangers play like this.
41 min A “coming together”! Lovely! Lafferty gets wide, lunging at Woods then throwing a minor kick at Kusunga ... who gets in his face and puts brow to brow. Lafferty pushes slightly, and both are booked, though I’m not certain what the Dundee player did to deserve that.
39 min Curran has been impressive so far, and he links with Miller C to win a corner. Rangers are basically making no use of the extra man, allowing the game to flow at pace instead of moving the ball quickly and cleverly while monopolising possession. Is Steven Gerrard their manager by any chance?
38 min Lafferty goes to ground looking to tackle Kerr and there’s brief hint of stooshie as Kusunga and various others come over, but the ref intervenes. Still, enough to whet the appetite for later.
36 min Tell you what, Dundee haven’t retreated since going down a man down and at the back, Rangers look as secure as the pound.
35 min Curran intercepts a pass and stamps on the gas, nashing into the Rangers box, doing Worrall for pace and looking to pick out Miller with a low cross. It doesn’t quite reach him but still, great run and this is terrific stuff.
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32 min Tavernier, who’s played well so far, coaxes a fine pass into Jack, screeching away at inside-right. He squares for Lafferty to tap home ... and the flag goes up. I’m not at all sure about that one as he was behind the ball, but it’s not easy being a linesman unless you’ve got bionic eyes.
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31 min But then Grezda, who’s looked impressive in his brief Rangers career, threads a reverse-pass through to Lafferty ... who goes too early and is flagged offside.
31 min A pause for breath.
29 min Tavernier swerves in the corner and Miller K heads clear before pay stops; Kusunga has headed Rossieter’s head. He looks fine.
28 min Rossiter goes down the left, steams past Miller K and crosses low, Boyle shanking behind for another corner.
27 min The game is really open considering one side are bottom and down to 10, and the other are looking to go top. Rangers are frenetic rather than controlled, and Jack goes down the right to stand up a cross that’s not near any of his mates.
25 min There was a teacher at my primary school called Ralph, who played piano and picked his nose, often at the same time. He was eventually fingered for making funny phone calls to a pupil; funny phone calls, what an era that was. Is anything more 1980s?
24 min This is extremely enjoyable, but I can’t help but think that a yellow would’ve sufficed for Ralph.
22 min Immediately, Dundee pump a long ball into the Rangers box, again it’s not defended properly, hitting Worrall, McgGregor and Goldson, before Miller K shoots against McGregor’s feet.
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WHAT A GOAL! Dundee 1-1 Rangers (Halliday, 21)
Halliday opens his body and places a left-foot punch over the wall and high into the net! A Rangers fan, he runs to the away support and points at his name.
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19 min Ralph is sent-off!
Grezda slides a square ball into Candeias, who collects ... and then Ralph powers into a challenge that upends him inside the D. No one really expected what happened next, and the red was the harsh side of fair, but he was very late...
19 min Rangers win a free-kickdown the left and Halliday pumps it high into the box - perhaps the wind nabbed it - and Worrall loops a header that Hamilton catches under the bar.
17 min This is a decent game now, both sides looking lively and aggressive.
15 min Grezda attacks down the left and Curran eases him off the ball once they’re inside the box. The Rangers fans want a penalty but the ref, up with play, appraises no such thing.
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15 min Calvin Miller races forward and Jack trips him; he’s booked.
14 min Tweets announcing goals for the opposition are the best tweets. You can taste the solemnity through the screen.
9' GOAL: Kenny Miller opens the scoring for Dundee. 1-0
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) December 9, 2018
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13 min Again Candeias is the outlet, this time found by Tavernier - Rangers are getting plenty of joy down their right - and his cross is dangerous again, but Boyle sees it away.
12 min Jack goes down the right and finds Candeias, who drives low and hard across the box, but behind some and in front of others.
11 min Steven Gerrard has a right coupon on, but what happened is what can happen when you change half of your back four.
GOAL! Dundee 1-0 Rangers (Miller K, 9)
So about those warning. A long hump puts Miller in a race with Halliday, who hesitates; nae bother, Goldson is coming across ... except he freezes, tries to get in between man and ball, falls, and Miller pokes no the stretch past a stranded McGregor. That’s a great piece of striking, and of course brings us the #classytouch of a #mutedcelebration.
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7 min Tavernier takes the corner to the near post and Candeias flicks it deftly, forcing Hamilton to punch over the bar. Halliday goes across to swing in a cross with his left foot and this time Hamilton catches well under pressure.
6 min Tavernier checks towards his own goal then turns and lifts a clever pass in behind for Lafferty, who has a yard on Kusunga. He holds him off then scuffs a shot that Hamilton ives to push behind.
5 min It’s been a slow start, Rangers with most of the ball but without the composure or zip to construct any decent situations.
3 min The cameras are at ankle height, which is somewhat strange, but we discern Tavernier sticking a ball down the right for Lafferty, whose low cross is kicked away.
2 min It’s a proper throwback, Dens Park, with it’s curved stands a bit like Goodison once had except in Dundee they’re down the sides.
1 min And away we go!
Here come the teams!
Today’s referee is Alan Muir. Assistant Referees are David Doig and Graham Chambers. Fourth Official is Greg Aitken. #thedee
— Dundee Football Club (@DundeeFC) December 9, 2018
Any relation to...
Todays match mascots are Harry Cargill, Norrie Hunter, Riley & Scarlett Fitchet, Macauley Lafferty, Charlie Lockhart and Becca Riddell #thedee
— Dundee Football Club (@DundeeFC) December 9, 2018
Jim McIntyre talks about making sure his team are hard to beat, then about the importance of confidence and creating chances for Miller, who is in form.
“A lot of things,” says Gerrard with a smirk when asked what they’ve resolved since midweek. He’s looking forward to seeing the team play today. He then says it was very easy to give an opportunity to players who were training well and if they weren’t getting it after a performance as poor as against Aberdeen, when were they getting a go? He’s asked if he’s addressed discipline and says he does it every game but says they mustn’t give the ref an opportunity to get his cards out.
Come on Sky, let’s have a montage...
Rangers have eight red cards this season, more than any other club in Europe. Strange, given how well-disciplined was their manager.
Looking again at that Rangers team, my guess is that they’ll be looking to get the ball wide as soon as they can and then put crosses in the box. My guess is that Dundee will be looking at their centre-forward to run channels.
BREAKING: Kenny Miller’s favorite books are the Harry Potters, and he’s read them all the way through on more than one occasion.
For those of a certain age, the first they knew of Dundee was this all-time great kit.
Neil McCann, sacked as Dundee manager two months ago, is giving an impassioned speech detailing why he thinks they will stay up, and namechecks Kamara as one he thinks will go on to play at a higher level.
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Rangers will miss Marlos Morelos today, their most likely source of a goal. He was sent-off in midweek, the club’s third red card in three games, and Scott Arfield is still suspended following his awful challenge on Zdenek Zlamal, the Hearts keeper.
Just 12 months ago, Dundee beat Rangers at Dens, and are now on a run of three without defeat. Given their midweek efforts - which included a hat-trick from some bloke called Kenny Miller - they’ll fancy themselves this afternoon.
So Dundee make one change from their midweek 4-0 away tousing of Hamilton; Darren O’Dea O’Dea is unavailable, so loanee Andy Boyle slots into the back four.
Rangers, meanwhile, make six alterations following defeat to Aberdeen; it’s scary stuff. Out go Flanagan, McAuley, Coulibaly, Ejaria, Middleton and Morelos; in come Worrall, Halliday, Kent, Rossiter, Grezda and Lafferty.
Teams!
Dundee (a brave 4-4-2): Hamilton, Kerr, Kusunga, Byole, Ralph; Curran, Woods, Kamara, Miller C; McGowan, Miller K. Subs: Parish, Nabi, Inniss, Kallman, Spence, Moore, Lambert.
Rangers (a warning of a 4-3-3): McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Worrall, Halliday; Jack, Rossiter, Kent; Grezda, Lafferty, Candeias. Subs: Foderingham, Katic, Barisic, McCrorie, Coulibaly, Ejaria, Middleton.
Preamble
“It’s a warning”, Steven Gerrard told his players recently when his exclusion of certain players came up for discussion during a press conference. He looked all tersely big and hard, of course, but in so doing inadvertently begged the question: “At what point, and will he ever, warn himself?”
That is not to say his job is in jeopardy, far from it. But such William Sizeable-Stanes behaviour could only remind us that Gerrard has no managerial pedigree, and that his playing career was based on talent and timing rather than cajoling and organising.
For now, though, he’s doing just about ok. Rangers were beaten by Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final, have an outside chance of qualifying from their Europa League group and are third in the league; a win today will take them second and a four-goal win will take them top. And in Dundee, they face opponents who are good value for their bottom of the league status, with 11 defeats in 15 games.
They’d better perform ... or else.
Kick-off: 1.30pm GMT
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