Dundee United 1 (Dalby 19) Rangers 3 (Diomande 36, Propper 49, Dessers 86)
Attendance 13,653
Rangers secured their first away victory of 2025, coming from behind to overcome third-placed Dundee United 3-1 at Tannadice with an impressive display of attacking football that must surely have silenced many of Philippe Clement’s critics.
Most Read on FollowFollow.com The FollowFollow.com Friday Preview – Hearts at Home Dessers Departs – A look back at Cyriel In The Eye Of The Storm – Rangers 0-0 Celtic
The one black mark on the day however was an astonishing decision by Referee Nick Walsh in the dying seconds to red card Mohamed Diomande following an incident with Kevin Holt, who appeared to be the more aggressive instigator, yet was only himself yellow-carded.
The Ibrox Boss made four enforced changes from Old Trafford with Clinton Nsiala, Ianis Hagi, Diomande and Cyriel Dessers introduced for Leon Balogun, Vaclav Cerny, Connor Barron and Ridvan Yilmaz – all added to the ever-growing injury-ravaged list.
Rangers were first to threaten in the opening minutes with a Diomande shot from all of thirty yards that was comfortably held by home ‘keeper Jack Walton.
United however were soon probing for an opener at the other end with Sam Dalby’s header following a corner striking an upright in the fifth minute.
Jack Butland was certainly the busier ’keeper in the opening exchanges – on the quarter-hour mark a cross from former Ranger Glenn Middleton found Luca Stephenson on the edge of the area, his shot producing a fine save from the ‘Gers ‘keeper.
The opening goal was merely delayed however – a long-throw from Will Ferry was not effectively dealt with by the visitors’ defence, enabling Dalby to prod the ball into the top corner of the net.
United were on top as the first-half progressed with the Ibrox men’s makeshift defence looking vulnerable, particularly at dead-ball situations.
Nevertheless out of the blue the scores were level on 36 minutes when following a Nico Raskin break down the right James Tavernier found Diomande who curled home a superb twenty-yarder.
Suddenly it was an entirely different game – and Rangers might even have been in front at the break when in quick succession Walton denied both Dessers and Nedim Bajrami.
Four minutes after the restart the Ibrox men did indeed have the lead when from a Hagi opening Robin Propper’s angled drive found the net with the aid of a deflection off Holt.
The visitors were now well on top – and Igamane came close to effectively sealing the win before the hour with a twenty-yard drive that was clawed away by Walton.
The Tannadice men were far from finished however with Dalby a constant threat, one 69th minute break down the left resulting in a cross that Raskin sliced against his own post.
Rangers remained in the driving seat however – and only an offside flag denied Dessers from a Bajrami opening as the clock ticked past the eighty-minute mark.
Philippe Clement made his first change of the afternoon on 85 minutes with Zak Lovelace introduced for Hagi – and the youngster made an instant impact when from his opening Dessers made it 3-1 with a superb angled drive that thundered into the net.
The points were sealed – and Diomande almost added a fourth when his effort from an Igamane lay-off struck an upright.
There only remained the injury time flare up remaining – and an outrageous decision by Nick Walsh to red card Diomande, the Ranger having been the target of considerable rough treatment from the opposition throughout the game.
Dundee United: Walton; Strain, Gallagher, Holt, Ferry; Fotheringham (Trapanovski 62), Stephenson (Florini 81), Sevelj, Middleton (Van der Sande 81); Dalby, Paton (Moult 62)
Unused Subs: Graham, Babunski, Adegboyega, Richards, Harding
Rangers: Butland; Tavernier, Propper, Nsiala, Jefte; Hagi (Lovelace 85), Diomande, Raskin. Bajrami (Nsio 88), Igamane; Dessers
Unused Subs: Lawrence, Rafael Fernandes, Kelly, King, McCausland, Rice, Curtis
Referee: Nick Walsh
BY ROBERT MCELROY