title race this afternoon with a 3-1 win over Dundee
United at Ibrox - but it was a close run thing after
the Light Blues had taken an early two-goal lead in a
match surrounded in controversy.
Manager Walter Smith made three changes from Wednesday
with Sasa Papac, Christian Dailly, and Daniel Cousin
replacing Steve Davis, Jean-Claude Darcheville and
Kris Boyd.
A full house of 50,293 spectators provided an electric
atmosphere - and the 'Gers got off to the perfect
start in six minutes when Nacho Novo headed home a
Kevin Thomson free-kick.
Eight minutes later Daniel Grainger chopped down Barry
Ferguson but Referee Mike McCurry contented himself
with a lecture for the United player.
A wonder strike from Novo made it 2-0 in seventeen
minutes when he volleyed home an eighteen-yard shot
from a Cousin headflick.
Rangers were well on top - but they eased off, perhaps
understandably
so with one eye on Manchester - and United might have
reduced the deficit in forty minutes when Noel Hunt,
clean through, saw his shot blocked by Neil Alexander,
the loose ball being driven goalwards by David
Robertson only for David Weir to head off the line.
On the stroke of half-time, Mark de Vries broke
through only to see his drive beaten out by Alexander.
Rangers suffered an injury blow in 51 minutes when
Kevin Thomson limped off to be replaced by youngster
Dean Furman.
The game erupted in controversy three minutes later
when Hunt, through on goal, was denied with a
last-gasp tackle by Weir. United claimed a penalty,
but Mike McCurry waved play on.
Hunt took his anger at that decision out on Steven
Whittaker seconds later, going over the top in a
shocking tackle. It should have been a straight red
card, but the referee again contented himself with a
lecture.
Novo was inches away from a hat-trick on the hour when
he shot inches wide from a quickly taken Ferguson
free-kick.
Five minutes later Dailly struck the crossbar
following a Furman corner, nodded on by Cousin.
Danny Swanson saw a 25-yard shot deflected into the
net in 71 minutes, but the goal was disallowed for
offside against Dean Robertson who was directly in
Alexander's line of vision.
United halved Rangers lead four minutes later when De
Vries bulleted home a header from a Morgaro Gomis
cross.
Novo was scythed down by Swanson in 80 minutes, but
yet again the referee took no action.
Darcheville replaced Cousin four minutes later - and
the substitution paid dividends in the dying seconds
when Ferguson broke down the left, his low cross being
swept home by Darcheville.
Walter Smith celebrated wildly on the touchline, and
afterwards reflected:
"We started the game well. The two-goal cushion
affected us. United went for broke and I was pleased
to see the third goal go in. This was a big game for
both clubs, and our players demonstrated character."
A bitter Craig Levein protested:
"It's impossible to win here in important games. The
ref bottled the penalty decision."
At the end of the game the Rangers players thanked the
crowd for their support throughout the season.
Next stop Manchester...
RANGERS Alexander; Broadfoot, Weir, Cuellar, Papac;
Whittaker, Ferguson, Dailly, Thomson (Furman 51);
Novo, Cousin (Darcheville 84)
UNUSED SUBS Boyd, G. Smith, Beasley, Lennon, McMillan
DUNDEE UNITED Zaluska; Kovacevic (O'Brien 89), Dods,
Wilkie, Grainger; Flood (Swanson 65), Kerr, Robertson,
Gomis (Robb 84); Hunt, De Vries
UNUSED SUBS Daly, Camara, Dillon, Smith
REFEREE Mike McCurry
Attendance 50,293