Dundee went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat to defending champions Rangers at the Kilmac Stadium this afternoon. Christie Elliott gave the Dee an early lead which they deservedly retained until half time, despite a peculiar penalty awarded to Rangers, which James Tavernier missed. However, Aaron Ramsey equalised midway through the second half and Connor Goldson scored a late winner for Rangers.
Dundee made five changes from the team beaten by Rangers in the cup last Sunday. Ian Lawlor, Christie Elliott, Shaun Byrne, Declan McDaid and Zak Rudden started in the places of Harrison Sharp, Lee Ashcroft, Max Anderson, Niall McGinn and Danny Mullen. Ashcroft and Mullen were injured. The other three were named as substitutes. Rangers made three changes, bringing in Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield and John Lundstram for Jon McLaughlin, Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara, who were all on the bench.
The start was badly disrupted by Rangers fans staging a protest by throwing paper and tennis balls onto the pitch. The delays were particularly frustrating for the Dee who got off to a fast start taking the play to Rangers at every opportunity.
Despite the delays, the Dark Blues scored a beautifully worked goal after six minutes. Jordan Marshall took a quick throw in the Rangers half. Zak Rudden played a clever return pass and Marshall, despite looking as if he would be squeezed out of space, whipped a superb cross over the head of Allan McGregor. Christie ELLIOTT arrived on cue at the far post to net his first league goal for the Dee with a close range header.
Dundee’s encouraging start continued to cause problems for Rangers. Marshall delivered another dangerous cross that caused problems in Rangers’ goalmouth. Rudden’s through pass almost played McMullan in on goal, but McGregor managed to reach the ball first.
Rangers were sluggish and slack, offering nothing in the opening quarter of an hour. Gradually the defending champions stepped up their game without reaching their normal standards or looking remotely convincing. Alfredo Morelos headed wide from a Calvin Bassey cross, and Connor Goldson hooked a shot wide after Dundee couldn’t clear the second ball in following a corner.
Five minutes from half time referee Bobby Madden introduced a spot of dramatic mystery. Tavernier’s cross sailed out of play with Jordan McGhee and Morelos in the general neighborhood. Morelos complained to the referee, who decided that was worth a penalty and a yellow card for McGhee. Not even the BBC panel with the benefit of multiple replays could spot an offence.
Tavernier sent his spot-kick where justice dictated it belonged – high over the bar and deep into the Bob Shankly Stand, rather than the back of the net.
Rangers reorganised at half time, sending on Joe Aribo and Fashion Sakala for Filip Helander and Scott Arfield. The extra attacking options gave Rangers a far greater threat and they dominated the second half, putting the Dee under relentless pressure.
The Dark Blues lost Paul McGowan through injury early in the second half. Max Anderson came on and was welcomed to the action by a particularly robust foul from James Sands.
Dundee coped well with Rangers for the first quarter of an hour after the restart, but from the 60 minute mark the intensity of Rangers’ attacking increased and Ian Lawlor was called into repeated action after a surprisingly straightforward opening hour.
Lawlor beat away a Morelos header and within a minute had to make a great save from Aaron Ramsey’s diving header.
Rangers were awarded a dubious corner when the ball flew through the goalmouth. Tavernier took it and when the ball was knocked back to him he sent a cross to the far post. Lawlor saved the header from substitute Kemar Roofe, but RAMSEY followed up to bundle in the equaliser from a yard out after 64 minutes.
The pressure on the Dark Blues’ defence continued but the Dee stood up well to the onslaught. As the clock ticked past 80 minutes the Dee seemed to be holding out more comfortably and taking the ball up the park to Rangers’ penalty area at times.
However, as has happened so often, there was a sucker punch in store for the Dark Blue faithful.
Rangers broke upfield after a Dee attack and Connor Goldson followed the play. He dummied over a pass, letting the ball run to Roofe who mishit his shot horribly. The ball looped into the air and GOLDSON reacted quickly to hook it past Lawlor for the winner from eight yards.
There were seven minutes of injury time and Ryan Sweeneny moved into attack to try and force an equaliser. It wasn’t to be and the Dee were left frustrated, disappointed and without a point.
The game plan worked well in the first half with Dundee tight at the back, frustrating Rangers, and harrying the visitors’ midfield and defenders. The players worked hard and gave everything they could have done. Last week Rangers had it far too easy. Today their relief at finally overcoming the Dee was illustrated by the way they celebrated their late winner.
The Dark Blues are now four points adrift at the foot of the table, but there is still hope if they can show the character and effort in the remaining seven games that they displayed today.
Dundee FC 5-4-1
Lawlor
Elliott, Kerr, Sweeney, McGhee (c), Marshall
McMullan, Byrne, McGowan (Anderson 53)*, McDaid (McCowan 82)
Rudden (McGinn 71)
Unused subs: Sharp (gk), Mulligan, Robertson, Daley-Campbell, Ibsen Rossi-.-.
Goal: Elliott (6).
Booked: McGhee (?), Elliott (foul on Bassey), McDaid (leaving the pitch too slowly).
Rangers 4-3-3
McGregor
Tavernier (c), Goldson, Helander (Aribo at half time), Bassey
Lundstram, Arfield (Sakala at half time), Sands (Roofe 64)
Ramsey (Kamara 84), Morelos (Balogun 87), Kent
Unused subs: McLaughlin (gk), Jack, Diallo, Barisic.
Goals: Ramsey (64), Goldson (86).
Booked: Sands (foul on Anderson).
Attendance: 7,669.
Referee: Bobby Madden. Assistants: Daniel McFarlane, Sean Carr. Fourth Official: Craig Napier.
Report: James Christie.
