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Malik Tillman fires in Rangers' second goal after Mark Birighitti had parried a Fashion Sakala shotRangers returned to within nine points of Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic after recovering from a sluggish first half to see off Dundee United.
The hosts were the better team before the break, but two goals in three minutes after the interval quelled their hopes of moving out of the relegation play-off place.
Fashion Sakala burst into the box and lashed high past Mark Birighitti to put Rangers ahead after 54 minutes, before Malik Tillman doubled the lead after the goalkeeper initially denied Sakala.
That was enough to earn Rangers manager Michael Beale a fifth win in his six games in charge, while United remain 11th - behind Motherwell on goal difference - after a first defeat in four.
Recovering from a slow start seems to be a recurring theme under Beale as his impressive start continues. Rangers certainly seem to like to give themselves a problem to solve despite their manager's pleas for a fast start.
United demonstrated early on why results have been coming for them since the World Cup break. Their tactics worked in that they restricted Rangers to very little, yet carried their own threat.
Steven Fletcher was instrumental in that and came close with a touch wide after a lovely delivery from Glenn Middleton.
Jon McLaughlin, in from the start in place of Allan McGregor, then had to get a fingertip on another threatening Middleton cross to avert a real opportunity.
The visitors just couldn't get going with a glaring lack of penetration.
A moment just before half-time proved pivotal. Liam Smith produced a lung-busting surge, regained possession, and then curled his effort a yard or so wide. It proved costly.
Alfredo Morelos replaced Antonio Colak at the break. Whether it was that, a hairdryer approach, change of tactics or something else we don't know. But Rangers were reinvented.
Sakala ought to have scored from a hanging Borna Barisic delivery. But he didn't have to wait long for his goal as he laid the ball off, surged into the box and finished emphatically from a narrow angle to break United.
Blood was sensed and the killer blow delivered swiftly. James Tavernier burst into the box and fed Sakala, whose shot was saved. The ball broke for Tillman to drive home, make another positive contribution and seal all three points.
From there, the Ibrox side largely cantered to another vital result.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Dundee Utd
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Birighitti
- 2Smith
- 12Edwards
- 3McMann
- 22FreemanBooked at 90mins
- 14SibbaldSubstituted forDjoumat 67'minutes
- 19LevittSubstituted forMeekisonat 90'minutes
- 16Behich
- 23Harkes
- 15MiddletonSubstituted forMacleodat 75'minutes
- 9FletcherSubstituted forWattat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Mulgrew
- 6Graham
- 7Niskanen
- 10Djoum
- 13Eriksson
- 17Meekison
- 20Anaku
- 32Watt
- 44Macleod
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 33McLaughlin
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 26Davies
- 31BarisicSubstituted forDevineat 90+1'minutes
- 8Jack
- 4Lundstram
- 30SakalaSubstituted forArfieldat 71'minutes
- 71TillmanSubstituted forRoofeat 78'minutes
- 14KentSubstituted forWrightat 90+1'minutes
- 9ColakSubstituted forMorelosat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 1McGregor
- 18Kamara
- 19Sands
- 20Morelos
- 23Wright
- 25Roofe
- 37Arfield
- 38King
- 44Devine
Live Text
Match ends, Dundee United 0, Rangers 2.
Second Half ends, Dundee United 0, Rangers 2.
Attempt saved. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Jack.
Substitution, Rangers. Adam Devine replaces Borna Barisic.
Substitution, Rangers. Scott Wright replaces Ryan Kent.
Foul by Alfredo Morelos (Rangers).
Kieran Freeman (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Dundee United. Archie Meekison replaces Dylan Levitt.
Kieran Freeman (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Borna Barisic (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kieran Freeman (Dundee United).
Attempt missed. Rory Macleod (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Arnaud Djoum following a fast break.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Ryan Edwards.
Attempt missed. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Kent with a through ball.
Offside, Rangers. Borna Barisic tries a through ball, but Kemar Roofe is caught offside.
Substitution, Rangers. Kemar Roofe replaces Malik Tillman.
Attempt blocked. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Arfield.
Substitution, Dundee United. Tony Watt replaces Steven Fletcher.
Substitution, Dundee United. Rory Macleod replaces Glenn Middleton.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Dundee United
Squad number1Player nameBirighitti
Squad number2Player nameSmith
Squad number12Player nameEdwards
Squad number3Player nameMcMann
Squad number22Player nameFreeman
Squad number14Player nameSibbald
Squad number19Player nameLevitt
Squad number16Player nameBehich
Squad number23Player nameHarkes
Squad number15Player nameMiddleton
Squad number9Player nameFletcher
Squad number10Player nameDjoum
Squad number17Player nameMeekison
Squad number32Player nameWatt
Squad number44Player nameMacleod
Rangers
Squad number33Player nameMcLaughlin
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number26Player nameDavies
Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Squad number8Player nameJack
Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Squad number30Player nameSakala
Squad number71Player nameTillman
Squad number14Player nameKent
Squad number9Player nameColak
Squad number20Player nameMorelos
Squad number23Player nameWright
Squad number25Player nameRoofe
Squad number37Player nameArfield
Squad number44Player nameDevine
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