Match report as Rangers beat Covid-hit Dundee United 1-0 at Ibrox; James Tavernier's second-half penalty proves to be the difference between the two teams; the champions extend their lead over Celtic in the Scottish Premiership standings to seven points
Sunday 19 December 2021 07:16, UK
James Tavernier's second-half penalty saw Rangers edge past a Covid-hit Dundee United 1-0 to extend their lead over Celtic in the Scottish Premiership standings to seven points.
The visitors were missing as many as six first-team regulars after an outbreak of Covid in midweek, but still managed to frustrate the champions until conceding a penalty for handball 19 minutes from time.
Tavernier stepped up to blast home the winner from the spot and despite Nicky Clark heading against the bar in stoppage time at the end of the game, Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side held on to move further ahead of Celtic in the race for the championship, albeit having played a game more than their city rivals.
The visitors arrived in Glasgow with severely depleted resources after an outbreak of Covid in midweek, meaning Tam Courts had to make six changes from the side that lost at home to Livingston last time out, including starts for teenage duo Archie Meekison and debutant Craig Moore.
Not that you would have known, though, after a spirited and resolute display from United, who reduced their hosts to several pot shots from distance before half-time, and it was they who actually had the better of the early chances.
A lethargic Rangers did gradually grow into the contest as the first period wore on, with Alfredo Morelos almost heading them ahead just before the break, only for backup goalkeeper Trevor Carson to get a fingertip to the Colombian's point-blank header.
It was largely more of the same after the break, with the home side huffing and puffing, but with little effect, that is until they finally made the breakthrough as the pressure grew.
Ianis Hagi had just been denied by an excellent close-range stop by Carson when Scott McMann inexcusably handled Tavernier's cross from the right, giving referee Alan Muir little choice but to point to the spot.
Tavernier made no mistake, hammering home the resulting penalty, although United very nearly spoilt their afternoon late on when Clark took advantage of some sloppy Rangers defending to glance a header from a low throw against the top of the bar with the previously unemployed Allan McGregor beaten.
Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst: "Happy with the points but not the performance. Out of the games I have coached, this is one of the less effective ones.
"We had to dig in deep to get the points but we did it and this week we will use to prepare really well for the last week before the winter break
"It was a difficult game, we saw a Dundee United team who did everything to give us a challenge which they did.
"Our performance wasn't the way I wanted the team to play, that's why we struggled to create chances.
"In the second half we created a little more danger and we had a couple of chances to score, and from a penalty, James is very good at it.
"I was happy to score but Dundee United kept pushing us to get it to 1-1.
"In the end, I was happy with the points - if not the performance."
Dundee Utd boss Tam Courts: "We actually have five confirmed Covid cases so of the players that missed out, five have positive Covid tests.
"I think for the most part it will probably be the middle of the week when they are back.
"Unless there are developments in the next 48 hours from a political perspective then we will have them back in the middle of the week.
"In the first half, there wasn't much in it. Rangers had the bulk of possession but we probably had the best of the half-chances.
"But in the second half when we hit the bar at the end I actually thought a draw would have been just rewards.
"We actually got a bit of live feedback during the game that it was a flailing arm so on the basis of probability it looked like it probably was a penalty.
"It is just something that you have got to accept.
"It is frustrating that has been what has separated the two teams because other than the bulk of possession, I thought our organisation and bravery was excellent and we actually had a couple of half-decent chances.
"So it is a bitter pill to swallow that it has been a penalty that has been the defining situation."
One sometimes wonders where Rangers may be without their influential and rock-solid skipper, who once again turned in another faultless display up and down their right flank to help his off-key side scrape past an under-strength Dundee United outfit at Ibrox.
With the pressure very much on, the skipper stepped up and kept his cool from the spot for this third league goal of the campaign, to go with a further 11 assists in just 16 top-flight encounters - impressive numbers from a midfield player, let alone a full-back.
Rangers host St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership on Boxing Day; kick-off 3pm. Dundee Utd host Hibernian on the same day and at the same time.
