Dundee United 3 (Scotland 2 {58, 90}, Dodds 1)
Rangers 3 (Thompson 2 {5, 13 Pen}, Namouchi 43)
Attendance 8,339
Manager Alex McLeish made one change from the side
that had defeated Partick Thistle with Stephen Hughes
replacing the injured Mikel Arteta against opponents
who fielded no fewer than four ex-Rangers players in
Charlie Miller, Derek McInnes, Barry Robson and Billy
Dodds. For the first time in seven years Rangers
fielded six Scots in their starting line-up.
The home side, who have not finished in the top six
since finishing third in Season 1996-97, had not lost
on their own patch since 22 November, and somehow
managed to maintain that run against all the odds.
United got off to a stunning start inside forty
seconds when Billy Dodds swept the ball home at the
far post from a Mark Wilson free-kick with ‘Gers
goalkeeper Allan McGregor at fault.
Rangers responded immediately with Frank De Boer’s
header from a Michael Ball free-kick coming back off
an upright.
The equaliser was delayed just three minutes more
however – Steven Thompson, back on his old hunting
ground, sweeping a Chris Burke cross into the net. The
Ranger was then yellow-carded for gesturing to his old
fans.
The Ibrox men took the lead in thirteen minutes when
Thompson converted a penalty after David McCracken had
swept the feet from Stephen Hughes.
Rangers were well on top at this stage, and might have
increased their lead six minutes later when Michael
Mols hit the post from a Burke cross, but the popular
Dutchman left the field soon afterwards, suffering
from injury, to be replaced by Hamed Namouchi.
United were extremely fortunate not to be reduced to
ten men in 33 minutes when Alan Archibald committed a
shocking tackle on Burke with a deliberate body-check.
Referee Dougie McDonald awarded a foul, but incredibly
contented himself with a quiet word with the defender
when the only correct decision ought to have been a
red card.
Two minutes later Hughes saw his 25-yard shot from a
Burke pass deflected over.
There was another incredible refereeing decision in 42
minutes when Burke, playing a one-two with Namouchi,
was cynically fouled by Derek McInnes, yet Dougie
McDonald incredibly waved play on – presumably aware
that the award of a free-kick must have meant a second
yellow card for the United Captain.
Rangers provided the perfect answer sixty seconds
later however when a long pass from Frank De Boer
released Namouchi clean through on goal. Paul
Gallacher parried the substitute’s first effort, but
the French Tunisian seized on the rebound to put the
Light Blues 3-1 ahead at the interval.
Tannadice Boss Ian McCall acknowledged the reality of
his captain’s situation by replacing him with Jason
Scotland during the break – a move that would have a
profound impact on the game.
It was still all Rangers as the second-half unfolded,
Thompson playing a one-two with Namouchi before firing
a twenty-yard volley just over.
The visitors suffered yet another serious injury blow
when Gavin Rae was stretchered off with a knee injury
in 52 minutes, to be replaced by Paulo Vanoli.
Six minutes later United reduced the deficit when
slackness in the Ibrox defence allowed Scotland to net
from an Andy McLaren head-flick.
The home side were right back in the game now – indeed
Andy McLaren might have levelled the scoreline in 66
minutes when he headed wide from a Mark Wilson cross.
Rangers had fallen out of the game, yet might have
made it 4-2 sixty seconds later when Vanoli’s 25-yard
shot was held by Gallacher at the second attempt.
Thompson might have completed his hat-trick in 73
minutes when he blasted a Michael Ball pass well over,
but immediately afterwards Ball, apparently groggy,
was replaced by Maurice Ross.
Paul Gallacher again denied Rangers the clincher with
eight minutes remaining, blocking a Fernando Ricksen
drive from Thompson’s cross with his legs.
Scotland was inches away with a twenty-yard drive from
a Mark Kerr cross in 86 minutes as play raged from
end-to-end, then with two minutes left on the clock
Vanoli headed wide from a Burke cross with the goal at
his mercy.
Deep into injury time, Rangers’ defensive frailties
were punished to the full when Frank De Boer’s sliced
clearance allowed Wilson to send over a cross that
Robson miss-headed straight into the path of Scotland
who rifled the ball home for the equaliser.
There were shameful scenes at the end with Ian McCall
inciting the Rangers' fans with provocative gestures.
DUNDEE UNITED Gallacher; Wilson, McCracken, Innes,
Archibald; Kerr, Miller, McInnes (Scotland 45),
Robson; Dodds, McLaren (Samuel 78)
UNUSED SUBS Jarvie, Duff, Easton
RANGERS McGregor; Hutton, F. De Boer, Khizanishvili,
Ball (Ross 74); Ricksen, Rae (Vanoli 52), Hughes,
Burke; Mols (Namouchi 25), Thompson
UNUSED SUBS Robinson, McCormack
REFEREE Dougie McDonald