Dundee went down to a 5-0 defeat from an impressive Rangers team in tonight’s Premiership match at the Scot Foam Stadium. Ryan Jack gave Rangers an early lead. Danilo made it two early in the secod half and Rangers ran away with the game with late goals from Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers and a James Tavernier penalty.
There were three changes to the Dee’s starting eleven. Ricki Lamie, Scott Tiffoney and Amadou Bakayoko came in for Jordan McGhee, Lyall Cameron and Zak Rudden, who were all on the bench.
After the delayed kick off the game had barely started before it was stopped by smoke from the away end that set off fire alarms. It took quarter of an hour for that to be cleared.
When the match eventually restarted Rangers scored within three minutes. They had already threatened with a dangerous attack down the right of the Dee defence that ended with Sima sidefooting a shot well wide. Rangers immediately tried the same route again. Leon Balogun broke forward and sent Danilo in at an angle. Trevor Carson spilled the low shot and Ryan JACK couldn’t fail to score.
The early goal, at almost 9 o’clock, put Rangers in control and Dundee struggled to get into the game. For the most part Rangers were content to play at a relaxed pace and pick their moments to attack.
Nevertheless, Rangers did create good chances on a regular basis. Sam Lammers shot into the side netting from Scott Wright’s cross. Trevor Carson made two good close range saves, from Danilo and a few minutes later from Abdallah Sima.
Dundee’s only promising attack in the first half came when Owen Beck raced into the penalty area only to be stopped by an impeccably timed last ditch tackle by Connor Goldson.
Two features of the first half were the lack of support for Amadou Bakayoko, and Rangers fondness for targetting the right of the Dee defence. At half time Tony Docherty therefore made two changes. Cammy Kerr came on for Rickie Lamie, with Antonio Portales moving to central defence, and Zak Rudden replaced Scott Tiffoney.
Disappointingly, just as in the first half, Dundee conceded soon after the restart. Danilo had already wasted a great chance with a wild finish after racing through the middle, but he made amends two minutes later at the end of a fast and ruthless attack. Wright turned infield and found Sima, who instantly switched the ball into the path of DANILO. This time the striker crashed a shot high past Carson from 12 yards.
The second goal ended Dundee’s hopes of getting anything from the match. There was only one chance for the Dark Blues all night, shortly after the second goal. Luke McCowan’s 35 yard shot took a deflection. Jack Butland recovered well to block and then pulled off a fine save from Bakayoko’s follow up.
From then on it was simply a matter of whether Rangers would add to their lead. Dundee were pinned back for long spells, defending desperately to keep the score down.
After 74 minutes Rangers finally broke through with the best goal of the night. Sam LAMMERS picked up the ball 22 yards from goal and smashed a shot into Carson’s top corner.
The fourth goal was embarrassing for referee Kevin Clancy. Dundee were attacking and the referee gifted Rangers possession by backing into McCowan and blocking him from taking a pass. Rangers broke upfield and substitute Cyriel DESSERS ran clear to score.
As the game ticked over into stoppage time the referee was asked to review VAR for a possible penalty to Rangers. Lyall Cameron had been on the field for five minutes and stood on James Tavernier’s foot as he tried to clear on the edge of the penalty area. The spot kick was duly awarded and TAVERNIER shot high into the net.
This was a miserable night for a Dark Blue team who never managed to get their game going against opponents in impressive form. The defence, which has been so solid lately, was hesitant, error prone and constantly caught out by through balls. The midfield could never hold the ball for long enough to set up attacks, and the forwards had nothing to work with.
Dundee have made a good start to this Premiership campaign but tonight they were well beaten. The players now have to pick themselves up, learn the hard lessons, and move on.
Dundee FC 4-5-1
Carson
Portales, Shaughnessy (c), Lamie (Kerr at half time), Donnelly
Tiffoney (Rudden at half time), Sylla, Boateng (Howley 71), McCowan (Cameron 85), Beck
Bakayoko (Pineda 78)
Unused substitutes: Legzdins (gk), McGhee, Reilly, Robertson.
Booked: Sylla (foul on Wright), Shaughnessy (foul on Danilo), Rudden (foul on Balogun), Cameron (foul on Tavernier).
Rangers 4-2-3-1
Butland
Tavernier (c), Goldson, Balogun, Yilmaz
Lundstram, Jack (Cifuentes 76)
Lammers, Sima (Cantwell 60), Wright (McAusland 85)
Danilo (Dessers 76)
Unused substitutes: McRorie (gk), Dowell, Sterling, Barisic, King.
Goals: Jack (5), Danilo (51), Lammers (74), Dessers (82), Tavernier (90+1 pen).
Booked: Balogun (foul on Tiffoney).
Referee: Kevin Clancy. Assistants: Calum Spence, Drew Kirkland. Fourth Official: Peter Stuart. VAR: Gavin Duncan. Assistant VAR: Jonathan Bell.
Attendance: 8,970.
Report: James Christie.
