Ange Postecoglou reckons the title race will be tight this season in Scotland and performances like this from Rangers do not do much to dispel that theory from Celtic’s new manager. Still missing is the ruthless, relentless swagger of last season when they cantered home 25 points ahead of their...
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Ange Postecoglou reckons the title race will be tight this season in Scotland and performances like this from Rangers do not do much to dispel that theory from Celtic’s new manager. Still missing is the ruthless, relentless swagger of last season when they cantered home 25 points ahead of their toiling rivals. Steven Gerrard said beforehand that he still feels there’s more to come from his side and this display will not have changed his mind.
Rangers made a meal of what should have been a routine win at bottom-club Dundee. Ahead through a fine early goal from Joe Aribo, they should have put the home side to the sword but instead conceded a second-half penalty that would have seen them drop two precious points had goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, who conceded it by felling Paul McMullan, not also saved it.
McLaughlin was perhaps fortunate not to be sent off, referee Bobby Madden deeming a yellow card sufficient punishment, but Jason Cummings’ effort may well have been saved by whoever replaced him in any case as it was far from a perfect penalty. Frustration got the better of James McPake, Dundee’s manager, at the final whistle and he received a red card from Madden, presumably for arguing that McLaughlin deserved one.
Cummings had come on for Leigh Griffiths in the first half, the on-loan Celtic striker’s departure cheered as loudly by the Rangers fans as their own side’s goal after the latest controversy surrounding him dominated the build-up. Griffiths was charged by Police Scotland in relation to “culpable and reckless” conduct after apparently kicking a smoke bomb towards a stand of fans during his side’s League Cup quarter-final defeat by St Johnstone on Wednesday. He apologised on Thursday, yet was charged after he arrived for training on Friday.
It was Dundee’s first home league meeting with Rangers since a 1-1 draw in December 2018. The two before that, in 2017, both ended in victories for them. Yet current form was more relevant. McPake’s side have still to win in the league this season and have also gone five games without a goal.
Dundee’s start was aggressive, with McMullan dribbling straight at the heart of the Rangers defence after Griffiths, to a din of derogatory chanting, touched kick-off back to him.
How Griffiths would have loved to have scored in front of the baying Rangers fans when a corner broke towards him at the back post, but the chance was gone before he could adjust his feet. Jordan McGhee, captain with Charlie Adam still injured, did meet Liam Fontaine’s cross but put his header straight at McLaughlin.
Gerrard rested veterans Allan McGregor and Steven Davis before Thursday’s Europa League match away to Sparta Prague but Kemar Roofe had already turned sharply in Dundee’s box and come close with his shot before Rangers went ahead in the 16th minute.
It was a well-worked goal, with Alfredo Morelos taking a pass from James Tavernier and reversing it deftly into Dundee’s box for Aribo to run onto, pick his spot and tuck the ball into the far corner with some panache.
The Rangers supporters broke off from taunting Griffiths, to launch into “Here we go, 10 in a row”, although only briefly. He did put a volley on target with his weaker right foot after a McMullan free-kick broke back out to him at the edge of the box but then shot tamely straight at McLaughlin with his preferred left after McGhee was too slow in passing to him in space inside the Rangers box.
That was his lot as he soon suffered what looked like yet another calf strain and was replaced by Cummings in the 38th minute, although the baiting continued until the break anyway. The whole Griffiths pantomime rather camouflaged the fact that Rangers hadn’t really looked like adding to Aribo’s goal.
An equaliser was not beyond Dundee but eluded them as Ryan Sweeney headed another set piece on target at the start of the second half and then Max Anderson failed to take enough care with his pass through to Cummings after robbing Calvin Bassey of possession in a promising position inside the Rangers half. Jordan Marshall was booked for a blatant shirt pull on Tavernier after Rangers’ captain breezed past him and Sweeney made a good block from Roofe from the free kick that followed it before Morelos won a corner that Adam Legzdins pawed away and also saved a subsequent shot from John Lundstram.
Then came that golden chance for Dundee to pull level. McMullan, Dundee’s best player, sped onto a long diagonal in behind Connor Goldson before being brought down by McLaughlin.
It was a penalty but not a red card for the Rangers goalkeeper, something that became pertinent as he saved Cummings’ poorly-struck penalty low to his left then gathered the loose ball at the second attempt. It felt like Dundee had blown their best opportunity to pull level and so it proved as Rangers survived for a win that sees them stay top, although they’re still a long way short of last season’s standards.