The Dark Blues were beaten 3-0 by Rangers at Dens Park this afternoon. Nico Raskin and Mikey Moore gave Rangers a 2-0 lead after only quarter of an hour. Dundee kept working hard but never threatened to stage a comeback and Rangers saw out the rest of the game comfortably with Djeidi Gassama adding a third goal at the end.
There were three changes to the Dee starting eleven today. Luke Graham, Emile Acquah and Tony Yogane came in for Clark Robertson, who was injured, and Simon Murray and Joe Westley, who were both on the bench.
Dundee started brightly with Tony Yogane giving the Rangers defence problems with his direct running. A good run through the middle ended with a foul 33 yards from goal. Ethan Hamilton smashed a ferocious rising free kick and Jack Butland did well to turn the ball over the bar.
The Dark Blues’ promising opening disintegrated when Rangers won a corner with their first serious attack. Nico RASKIN was left unnmarked to head James Tavernier’s delivery past Jon McCracken from six yards out in the ninth minute.
The gift of an easy opening goal shook Dundee and injected confidence into Rangers who took charge. Five minutes later it was 2-0, and again it was all too easy. Mikey MOORE advanced from midfield, played a neat exchange of passes and got the break of the ball on the edge of the penalty area. He took full advantage and buried a low shot into the corner.
The Dark Blues wilted in response to the double setback and for 10 minutes. Rangers had the game all their own way. All Dundee could do was hang on, trying to stop the visitors extending their lead.
Gradually Dundee worked their way back into the game, but without impressing or threatening a fightback. At least they were able to get the ball up the pitch again and bring the Rangers defence into action. The Dark Blues were now playing with four at the back. Ryan Astley moved to right back and Drey Wright was operating as an advanced midfielder.
Ten minutes from half time Rangers had the ball in the net again when Dundee couldn’t clear a corner. Danilo’s shot was well saved by McCracken but Moore netted the loose ball. After a VAR check and a delay of four minutes referee Matthew MacDermid ruled that Mohamed Diomande had been offside and interfering with McCracken’s view of the original shot.
With a two goal lead against a Dundee team struggling to create any goal threat Rangers had a comfortable second half. The Dark Blues were competitive between the penalty areas, but could do nothing in attack. Time and again Dundee worked their way into good positions but could never find a good ball into the penalty area. The delivery from wide areas throughout the second half was never good enough.
When Rangers came forward they were always much the more dangerous side. Substitute Thelo Aasgaard forced a good save from McCracken with a 25 yard shot. McCracken saved well again from Djeidi Gassami and was relieved wen the rebound ricocheted off Moore and back into his gloves.
McCracken’s best save came following a corner taken short by Rangers. Raskin was again left unmarked but the Dee keeper pulled off a superb full length save.
Simon Murray and Yan Dhanda came on for Emile Acquah and Drey Wright after an hour. Dhanda offered some more flency in midfield, and Murray extra energy up front, but it made little real difference. Promising attacks always petered out and Rangers were far more likely to score again than to concede a goal.
As the game entered added time Rangers finally scored the third goal that had been on the cards all through the second half. Djeidi GASSAMA cut in from the left and curled a fine shot round McCracken from 18 yards.
The Dark Blues were well beaten today. Just like last week it was disappointing to see the game slip so quickly away from Dundee as soon as the opposition attacked them with serious intent. It was particularly frustrating that a crucial goal was conceded far too easily from a corner.
There was plenty of effort from the Dee, particularly in central midfield from Ethan Hamilton and Paul Digby, but there was never anything close to an end product. Dundee simply lack the attacking quality to save a game once they are two goals behind. The outcome was as good as settled within 15 minutes when Rangers scored their second goal.
Dundee 3-4-3
Jon McCracken
Ryan Astley, Billy Koumetio, Luke Graham
Drey Wright (Yan Dhanda 59), Paul Digby (c), Ethan Hamilton, Imari Samuels
Cameron Congreve, Emile Acquah (Simon Murray 59), Tony Yogane (Charlie Reilly 81)
Unused substitutes: Kieran O’Hara (gk), Ethan Ingram, Aaron Donnelly, Ash Hay, Joe Westley, Callum Jones.
Booked: none.
Rangers 4-2-3-1
Butland
Tavernier, Souttar, Cornelius (Bajrami 81), Meghoma
Raskin, Diomande (Barron at half time)
Moore (Antman 67), Danilo (Aasgaard at half time), Gassama
Miovski (Chermiti at half time)
Unused substitutes: Kelly (gk), Djiga, Aarons, Cameron.
Goals: Raskin (9), Moore (14), Gassama (90).
Booked: Raskin (foul on Yogane).
Attendance: 8,562.
Referee: Matthew MacDermid. Assistants: Ross Macleod, Scott Anderson. VAR: Kevin Clancy. Assistant VAR: Duncan Nicolson.
Report: James Christie.
