Extended highlights of Dundee Utd v Rangers and the best of Saturday’s games in the Scottish Premiership..
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00:30After their defeat to Celtic, the questions continue to swirl around Rangers, just how
00:44much of a title challenge will they muster this season?
00:47Philippe Clement's side in fourth place at the start of today, behind Celtic, Aberdeen
00:52and today's opponents, Dundee United.
00:54Jim Goodwin's side full of hope after an unbeaten start to the league season, how will it unfold
00:59today here at Tanadise?
01:00Commentary comes from Michael Stewart and Liam McLeod.
01:03The players are very comfortable, they've been involved in some really difficult games
01:08up to now, had some really good performances and some great results off the back of it
01:12and we're hoping for a similar outcome here today.
01:15It's going to be a very physical one, a lot of duels, a lot of fights against a team who
01:21comes out of a positive dynamic of course and a really good start to the season.
01:29Well Rangers walk out at Tanadise under the most incredible strain after just four Premiership
01:34matches this season, already they're staring up at a yawning eight point gap between themselves
01:40and 100% Celtic and Aberdeen, and today they come to the only other unbeaten Premiership
01:46side out with those two, who are quite impervious to the Ibrox side's troubles.
01:52Dundee United are unbeaten in eight matches since losing to Championship leaders Falkirk
01:57in their league cup group opener, it's their best run as a top-flight side since 2013.
02:04The United are unchanged for the third successive game as they chase a fourth win in the bounce,
02:09St Mirren, St Johnston and Hearts have all been beaten in their last three in what's
02:14been a relatively seamless return to the top table.
02:20Vaclav Cerny is a notable absentee for Rangers, he did play for the Czech Republic against
02:25Ukraine in the Nations League during the week, Oscar Cortes does return to boost his
02:32Rangers career, he'll hope to finally get that up and running, Dowland Lawrence come
02:37in to the side with Sterling on the bench, Matondo's out injured, Nadeem Bayrami is on
02:42the bench.
02:46Huge pressure on the shoulders of Philippe Clément as he goes up against Jim Goodwin
02:50this afternoon.
02:51And the winner of the Colossus, Ron Yates.
03:11A fantastic moment of remembrance there for Ron Yates, who was at Dundee United at the
03:16start of his career, and he passed away on the 6th of this month at the age of 86, he
03:21was perhaps most notable for his time at Liverpool.
03:33A really good ball by Tabernier, the howl from the Rangers supporters for a penalty
03:37against Dessers.
03:40He's asking the question.
03:42You can see he gets the wrong side of Adegboyega, there's never enough of that for a penalty
03:49kick.
03:50Serio Dessers just falls to the ground far too easily.
03:55VAR today's Greg Aitken, he's one of the officials who focuses on that alone, but no
04:00penalty.
04:12Going forward for Cortes, Dessers fights Lawrence, he's worked it really well, and Tom Lawrence
04:19scores.
04:21It's an early lead and it's exactly what Rangers needed today.
04:26They've waltzed their way through the Tangerine defence, and Lawrence has the finishing touch.
04:35Rangers lead in the City of Discovery.
04:38And it's just a wee release of that pressure there.
04:42A wonderful moment from Tom Lawrence, he just walks right through the heart of the Tangerine
04:48defence, great footwork there, and a lovely dink over the goalkeeper.
04:54As soon as he picks it up here he's the wrong side of the midfield, they can't get back.
04:59It's a great finish from Lawrence, I don't know whether it's just he ricochets it himself,
05:04I think the defender just comes off Graham's boot, back on to Tom Lawrence and right into
05:10his path.
05:12That is a delightful finish though from the Welshman.
05:15Cortes, Diamondi, Lawrence out wide for Chefty, stabbed away by Graham, the hero at Tyne Castle
05:39last time out.
05:41Chefty, it's a delicate ball, Desirs is there, can't get anything on it.
05:50Worrying times for United this.
06:01Here come Rangers again, Chefty, it's a good ball, no takers though.
06:06This is his brightest Rangers have been all season.
06:11It is, but it's really poor defending, Winkett's a woundscape, he's just sleeping with the
06:171-2 that gets played, Chefty gets in behind him, acres of space to throw that ball across
06:23the face of the goal.
06:36Yes, Dowell hits it, Walton's not convincing, he gathers eventually.
06:44Yeah, it wasn't too convincing was it?
06:47Not a bad ball from Cavani in a dangerous area, Rangers pick a second ball up, Dill's
06:52able to get the strike away but Walton, he sees it all the way.
06:56And misjudged there by United, it was Holt and Rangers trying to profit, Cortez's efforts
07:02riled onto by Walton.
07:05That was a good quick break, you see Holt trying to intercept, he couldn't get there,
07:09nice footwork from Lawrence to release Cortez.
07:13That was a good quick break, you see Holt trying to intercept, he couldn't get there,
07:17nice footwork from Lawrence to release Cortez.
07:31United, one of three teams without defeating the Premiership this season, but Rangers threatening
07:36to obliterate that record today.
07:39Might well have been brought by his own man, Dessars from Lawrence, he was looking for
07:42his second.
07:45Yeah, probably was, but it wasn't a great shot from Lawrence, he should have done better.
07:52And the club captain is coming on, Ross Docherty replacing Kevin Holt.
08:01Here come Rangers, looking to make that change inconsequential, but that's...
08:05Going well past in the end, from Cortez.
08:10I've got to say, I think Ademir Higues handled that situation pretty well, he's 1v1'd.
08:25It's completely van der Sarnde, Sibbelt was waiting, but Cortez...
08:30No hands to the pump there, and then Barron's been caught very late,
08:34and the card's coming out again here, Malakoyega.
08:37And I don't think this time, like all, they can have any complaints,
08:41the Rangers fans want this to be red.
08:46Well.
08:47There's a lot of noise around it, the Rangers players are not happy,
08:50but it certainly just looks like a clear yellow card, he slides down past,
08:54he's low, he's got...
08:57A fair bit of pace as he's diving in there.
09:01It's a yellow card every day of the week, it's clumsy from Ademir Higues.
09:06You can see it, but he catches across...
09:09I mean, it's never a red card.
09:11Absolute nonsense if they produce a red card for that.
09:15He catches, and it's minimal contact, by the way, across the toes.
09:23But it looks as though the yellow will stand on this occasion.
09:27Greg Aitken, the video assistant, is happy with Don Robertson's decision.
09:40There's Dessars, looking for a second here in stoppage time,
09:44and Walton keeps him out.
09:48The United defence just seem to stop.
09:50Well, I mean, Dessars can talk about a push as much as he wants,
09:53he's onside, but this sums up Cyril Dessars perfectly.
09:58Lacking conviction.
09:59I mean, look at the strike in the end.
10:01He barely makes contact with the ball.
10:03That should be 2-0, and that changes the game massively.
10:11One last chance for Rangers here before the break.
10:20He nodded away, and Don Robertson blows for half-time.
10:23Tom Lawrence is the Rangers hero, seven minutes in.
10:38Tom Lawrence started like a train in the first half.
10:42A great ball by Diomondi, though.
10:45You'd imagine that would be the best from Philippe Clément,
10:47would it be?
10:48Try and rediscover the opening 20-25 minutes of the first half,
10:51the start of the second.
10:53Yeah, this is a really nice, bright opening from the Rangers,
10:56but just that final ball from Diomondi.
11:09Down nears cross.
11:11Chance for Lawrence.
11:13Comfortable take for Walton, and he's right at him.
11:18Clément comes out to Rostov-on-Don, just gets dispossessed,
11:23and a very tame shot there from Tom Lawrence.
11:30Now they're sand it.
11:32It's done well.
11:36It is done well, but Dunzery need to start peppering the box.
11:40Getting the ball in, and it's Chepinowski.
11:44He shoots!
11:45He's not far away!
11:47He's taken a deflection as well.
11:50Going by his reaction, without it, it might have been gone in.
11:54Well, you'd think so, but you've just got to see who it's deflected off,
11:57because you're wondering whether it's deflected it closer to the goal, perhaps.
12:03That is what's happened, it's gone nowhere near.
12:06But, listen to the crowd.
12:09You know, the excitement, anticipation, is better from Chepinowski.
12:13He's driving it to the Rangers' defence, he's looking to get a shot away.
12:18That's as close as United have come to scoring this afternoon.
12:25And it comes.
12:26Butlin gets something on to it.
12:29And it lasts well.
12:30Last.
12:32In the end.
12:34It all comes to nothing for Dundee United.
12:48Go on, Dundee!
12:50Go on, Dundee!
12:54Well, the ball was kicked today, and the Rangers found themselves
12:56eight points behind the top two.
12:59United in here, the whistle hasn't gone.
13:06Well, in that position, in that bit of play, you see Tavernier is infield.
13:11Kieran Dill was the one that was over on the right-hand side,
13:13and because of the loose play from Zouta,
13:16they were able to counter quickly into that right-back area.
13:29Lawrence.
13:30Oh, he's trying to repeat the trick here, and he's not far away.
13:36It's almost a carbon copy of that run that found himself
13:39in the goalkeeping in the first half.
13:41Well, very direct again.
13:42It looked as if he was just trying to slip it into Diomondi at one point.
13:45Gets a wee fortunate ricochet back into his path,
13:48and he almost finds the top corner.
13:58Stevenson.
14:03Trying to take on Jeff Day.
14:05Got him off last.
14:06It is a corner.
14:07It's a corner.
14:13Plenty of big men in there.
14:15As you said earlier, Rangers have defended these pretty well so far.
14:19But it's not far away, really.
14:22Ross Graham.
14:25Scored against Rangers.
14:27Into that goal a few seasons ago.
14:30See, it's one of the few occasions where they've actually been able to get
14:34the first contact.
14:37Here come Rangers.
14:38Lawrence galloping forward.
14:39Can seal it!
14:41Walton saves brilliantly!
14:43That's a huge save.
14:44You're saying he's not had much to do.
14:46That's a big moment there.
14:48Let's see.
14:49It's absolutely horrific.
14:51What's he going to do?
14:52He's going to grab it?
14:53He's going to grab it.
14:54He's going to grab it.
14:55He's got the ball.
14:56He's got the ball.
14:57He's got the ball.
14:59He's got the ball.
15:00He's got the ball.
15:01He's got the ball.
15:02He's got the ball.
15:03He's got the ball.
15:04See, absolutely horrific defending from Dundee United.
15:09Tom Lawrence running through.
15:14Just a little bit stretched perhaps, but that's a great save.
15:20Rangers go one more goal, seals the points.
15:29Almost caught Dundee United by surprise with that opening 20 minutes.
15:35Corner was good.
15:38Splash-wide Igemane.
15:43Good run right across the face there, Igemane.
15:47Come on!
16:01Woltz in the middle.
16:02It's beaten away by Butland.
16:05And Ripa towards goal by Doherty.
16:09Well, the Rangers keeper has died on a cross, but I don't think he needs to.
16:15It's comfortably wide in the end.
16:26And that's it.
16:27It is a huge win for Rangers, you have to say.
16:31For their manager.
16:33Given the two weeks they've just stewed over since the Derby defeated Celtic Park.
16:38Tom Lawrence's early goals and up in the end to win the game.
16:43A game you felt they had to win, even this early in the season.
16:48As they get back to within five points of Celtic and Aberdeen at the top.
16:52And move into third.
16:53It's Dundee United's first league defeat of the season.
16:57It just did not do enough to threaten Rangers today though.
17:03Despite a better second half showing by Jim Goodwin's side.
17:06It finishes here at Tanneryce Park.
17:08Dundee United nil, Rangers one.
17:13Jim, you cut a fairly frustrated figure when you walked by me at full time there.
17:16Just what was annoying you or bothering you particularly?
17:19I think we're just all frustrated that the unbeaten run that we've been on prior to today.
17:24Has came to an end this afternoon.
17:27I don't have too many arguments about the end result to be honest.
17:30I think Rangers created two or three really good goal scoring opportunities.
17:38Whereas unfortunately from our own point of view, we didn't really create anything.
17:41You know, Trapanowski's had a shot deflected by the post for a corner.
17:45And there was another one where he's kind of broken behind Tavernier.
17:49The ball just wouldn't sit down nicely for him to allow him to go and get the shot off.
17:54So yeah, I think in terms of the second half, I thought we were a lot better.
17:59And I thought we actually penned Rangers back for large periods of that.
18:02But for all the possession that we had in the second half.
18:05The frustrating thing is that we just didn't create anything of real worth.
18:10It's a big result because it's a hard place to come.
18:12And Dundee United showed that the last couple of weeks.
18:15So after an international break also where a lot of players leave the club.
18:20And you don't have many training moments.
18:22It's always dangerous to come to places like this.
18:25And the players did a really good job.
18:29And it's a deserved victory.
18:31And in terms of what the team did as a whole today.
18:33Is there anything particular that satisfies the manager?
18:37Keeping clean sheets is so massive, so important.
18:40But the most satisfying is that we have a lot of new players.
18:44So some are a few weeks here.
18:47Some a few days.
18:50So it's important to get this integration as fast as possible.
18:53That we can keep growing and becoming better as a team.
18:57But it needs time to gel the team together.
19:00To let them understand what they need to do together.
19:02So it's very important also to win these games.
19:06And also the way we did.
19:08And the most positive point I think was also that it felt like a home game.
19:13That our fans were amazing again today.
19:16And you felt again this synergy between the fans and the team.
19:20So we're looking much forward to go to Ibrox again.
19:24To feel this ten times more.
19:26Rangers get the three points.
19:28What do we make of all of that?
19:30Former Dundee United and Rangers striker Billy Dodds joins me now.
19:33Billy, in the end, Rangers deserved winners for you?
19:37You would have to say so.
19:39They started the game better.
19:41Created the better chances without getting a second goal.
19:45And managed the game better as well.
19:47So you would have to say they deserved the three points.
19:49Really interesting listening to Jim Goodwin after the match.
19:51Talking about how he felt.
19:53He didn't get it quite right in terms of tactics at the start.
19:56And you could see, couldn't you?
19:58In terms of how much joy Rangers were getting down the flanks especially.
20:01Yeah, two things out of that.
20:03Jim Goodwin, you can't blame him.
20:05Because he's had a good season so far.
20:07Starting with setting the full shape of the team.
20:09Trying to counter attack against a good team.
20:11Got a result against Hearts a few weeks ago doing it.
20:13But Rangers really took advantage of it.
20:15And got Tavernier up high down the side.
20:18And Jefty.
20:19And they were just getting easy deliveries into the box.
20:22Just not even great build up from the back.
20:24After case of Butland out to one of the centre-halves.
20:27They picked the full-back up who's high up and beyond the halfway line.
20:30And were just delivering it into the box.
20:32So Rangers got a lot of joy with that.
20:34Pinned Dundee United back early.
20:36And Dundee United had to tweak it right away.
20:38It was a really fast start from Rangers overall.
20:41And no doubting the star man on show today.
20:44Tom Lawrence really coming into his own for Rangers.
20:46And getting that, what would turn out to be the all-important goal.
20:49Yeah, and that was with him just being positive.
20:52Rangers fans want Lawrence to get beyond the striker a lot more than what he does.
20:55Sometimes he sits in that midfield.
20:57But he's come back from a lot of injuries.
21:00He's getting there fitness wise.
21:02And he got his goal today by being positive.
21:05He was a little bit fortunate with the ricochet.
21:07But when he got there he took it brilliantly.
21:09It was interesting listening to Jim Goodwin at the end of the match as well.
21:12Talking about how he admitted that he got his tactics formation wrong.
21:17And he tweaked it of course.
21:18Kevin Holt would come off.
21:21And United would immediately become much, much better.
21:24More effective.
21:26Just what do you make of the overall Dundee United performance, Billy?
21:29I think Jim, and he admitted it post-match that he was kicking himself for not having more of a goal.
21:34Maybe with Rangers, where they were, it was such a big game.
21:38A pivotal game for them.
21:39Even this early on in the season.
21:41And where they were mentally after the old firm.
21:43And maybe could have had a little bit more of a goal.
21:46But I can understand that.
21:48He's had results by playing in that counter-attack, as I said.
21:51And Rangers took advantage of that.
21:54They really got their full backs forward.
21:55It was basically, Jonathan, for Rangers.
21:57It was as easy as a centre-half getting it from Butland.
22:01Playing it wide.
22:02High up past the halfway line.
22:05And Tavenier, or Zhefti, put the delivery in the box.
22:09And it really pinned United in the early doors.
22:11Maybe could have had a goal, as you said, Dundee United.
22:13When he did.
22:14When he tweaked it.
22:15Goes to a back four.
22:16Sorted out that midfield.
22:18Things can even off a little bit.
22:19They just quelled Rangers.
22:20Didn't flip it, where they went and created loads of chances.
22:23But they quelled Rangers.
22:24And Rangers found it hard from there on in.
22:27Was it a missed opportunity from a Dundee United point of view today, Billy?
22:30I mean, they were unbeaten in the league going into this match.
22:34And obviously, in the end, no shots on target.
22:38That's got to be disappointing for Jim Goodwin as well.
22:41It probably is an opportunity miss.
22:43But you've also got to recognise that it's difficult against Rangers or Celtic
22:47to create loads of chances.
22:49They should have had one on target.
22:50Trapanovsky wanting the perfect chance when he should have just hit it from six yards
22:54with his left foot.
22:55And he didn't pull the trigger.
22:57And that was their best chance gone.
22:58But they were probably wanting to create more.
23:00They were in a good frame of mind and positive frame of mind going into this game.
23:04But you'll be disappointed that they didn't force Rangers on the back foot a little bit more.
23:09Rangers fans obviously hearing numbers at Tanadise and in full voice.
23:14Philippe Clement, speaking afterwards, talking about the only thing that was really missing
23:18was a second goal for his side.
23:20I mean, they did have some opportunities.
23:22Lawrence, on another day, might have had a hat-trick.
23:25Yes, you knew the way the game would pan out if Rangers didn't get a second goal.
23:29It would have been tense and nervous towards the end.
23:31It was, but I think you've got to also be honest that they deserved the three points
23:35and they created the better chances.
23:37Lawrence, as you said, with his one-on-one.
23:39And then he also had a great chance where he bent it just over the crossbar.
23:43But again, that was him being positive.
23:45It's the best I've seen him play for a wee while in a number 10 role.
23:48He needs to do that more consistently and regularly.
23:50What were the big positives overall, would you say, from a Rangers point of view today, Billy?
23:55I mean, it was a 1-0 victory, a narrow away victory.
23:59But for you, in terms of the other positives, what would you take from today?
24:03Boy, the way they managed the game.
24:05Because Al came here today, he was looking to see how they handled it mentally.
24:09That was the biggest thing for me.
24:11And they did that.
24:12They had to start well to try and take the pressure off themselves.
24:15And then when they didn't get the second goal, they had to overcome that
24:18by managing the game and seeing it out.
24:20So that's all mentally handling football matches.
24:23And they did that pretty well today.
24:25And even this early in the season, that was such a pivotal game for Rangers
24:29when they're trying to chase down Celtic.
24:31If they didn't get three points today, it didn't matter how they got it,
24:34because they could have been seven or eight points behind Celtic.
24:36Now they're only five, and they're in a better position to chip away at them.
24:40Yeah, I mean, that is a massive thing, the reaction from Rangers
24:44after that old firm defeat to Celtic.
24:46They get the win today.
24:48But everybody thinks about the title race, Billy.
24:51And when they look at this Rangers performance today,
24:53I mean, just how credible do you see them as title challengers this season?
24:58On the evidence of what I've seen, I don't think they'll have enough this season.
25:02But they have got to try and close the gap
25:04and make sure that they keep the pressure on Celtic as the season goes on.
25:08Not make it easy for them.
25:10Don't let it run into 10, 15 points of a difference
25:13and Celtic stroll to the league.
25:15I think they've got to just keep chipping away.
25:17Get their players they brought in fit.
25:19They have a lot of new players.
25:20They're going to have to get their best XI and get a regular starting XI
25:23or what he thinks his best XI are and go with that.
25:26Get a momentum going and try and win some games
25:28just to keep on Celtic's coattails.
25:30But that's easier said than done.
25:31I suppose the sun not shining on Dunedin United today in terms of the result.
25:35But they have to be happy with their start to the season.
25:37And I guess all thoughts now in terms of the League Cup
25:39against Motherwell for Park on Friday.
25:42And that's got to be something that Jim Goodwin is hugely excited about
25:45because obviously League Cup,
25:46something that they can look at as a tangible target.
25:49Again, this early in the season, it can define it, can't it?
25:53Because it started well with sitting third before the game today.
25:55Now they're fourth.
25:56But they get into that game and can really have a brilliant cup run.
26:01And this Rangers game gets forgotten about.
26:04Everything's positive as the season goes on.
26:06He's got plenty to work with.
26:07He has some good players, Jim Goodwin.
26:10He's got a good team together, a settled team
26:12that looks as if they can get the balance of defending properly
26:15and being a threat in attack.
26:16So reasons to be cheerful from the United point of view.
26:18Billy Dodds, thank you very much indeed.
26:20Tonight, the William Hill Premiership table looks like this.
26:24Celtic and Aberdeen are both level on maximum points in the Premiership.
26:2915 points apiece Celtic.
26:31Top of the table on goal difference.
26:33Rangers move into third place ahead of Dundee United.
26:37At the bottom, heart of Midlothian with just the one solitary point.
26:43Plenty more football on the way
26:45with the SWPL highlights on Monday night at 7 o'clock
26:48on the BBC Scotland channel.
26:50And there's live radio coverage of Celtic's Champions League adventure
26:54against Slovan Bratislava from 6 o'clock on BBC Radio Scotland Extra.
26:59Plus UEFA Champions League highlights on BBC One at 10.40 that night.
27:04Join me for Sportsound on Friday
27:07as League Cup gets geared up for action with Motherwell versus Dundee United.
27:15Far from a nightmare for Rangers
27:17as they puncture the Tangerine Dream start to the season.
27:20From all of us on the Sporting team, goodnight.
27:47CELTIC