There was respite for the Light Blues at Tannadice.
With a 1-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice, Rangers provided some much-needed relief amidst turbulent times thanks to an early strike from Tom Lawrence. After Celtic defeated the Gers 3-0 at Parkhead before the international break, the team responded with a goal in the seventh minute from the returning midfielder, who had the opportunity to add more to his score.
But as the match progressed, Rangers' hold on the game loosened, and the recently promoted home team was unable to find a way to even the score and suffered their first William Hill Premiership loss of the year. At the Ibrox club, things are hard these days. Due to health concerns, John Bennett resigned from his position as chairman on Saturday. The team is currently looking for a CEO, a director of football, and an academy director. But the tense win for Philippe Clement's team, which moved them above United into third place, will help to lessen the darkness and sadness that permeates the Govan club.
With some anxiety, the Gers fans approached the game and the team news. Oscar Cortes, the wide player, made an unexpected return from injury, although Kieran Dowell, the midfielder, and Lawrence were also included. Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Nedim Bajrami, the new additions, are expected to start from the bench. For the fourth consecutive game, United started the match unchanged and with confidence, leading their opponents by one point at the kickoff. Following a minute of applause to the recently deceased former Dundee United and Liverpool defender Ron Yeats, it was the visiting team who swiftly gained control.
Lawrence appeared to have it all easy when he received a pass from Cyriel Dessers, who had just had his penalty claims denied after being tackled by Emmanuel Adegboyega inside the box. He swept past Declan Gallagher, a defender for United, and then lifted the ball over Jack Walton with confidence from eight yards out. Walton, the custodian, had to cope with respectable efforts from Dowell and Cortes before Dessers unintentionally stopped a drive that was headed towards the goal from Lawrence.
By the time United manager Jim Goodwin sent on midfielder Ross Docherty in the 35th minute to gain additional momentum in the match, the match had evened out, even though the Gers' keeper Jack Butland had not yet been put to the test. Adegboyega was sent a red card by referee Don Robertson for a harsh tackle on Connor Barron. The Gers faithful were furious as they saw Walton stop Dessers' angled drive just before halftime.
The second half was delayed to allow the smoke from flares lit by Rangers supporters to disperse, and Bajrami, the 25-year-old forward from Albania, took Cortes' place. The Govan side survived the corner as United started the second half with greater attacking intent. In the 55th minute, Kristijan Trapanovski's effort from the edge of the box bounced off Connor Barron's back and almost missed Butland's left-hand post.
Following Dessers' substitution for Moroccan attacker Hamza Igamane, Rangers exploded forward, and Lawrence, who had once again gotten past Gallagher, narrowly missed the crossbar with a curling effort from inside the box. A Will Ferry corner found Ross Graham, who headed it narrowly past the post as United threatened once again. Dujon Sterling replaced Dowell, and Nicolas Raskin replaced Mohamed Diomande, all before Walton made a vital save on a drive by Lawrence. Rangers' will to win the game proved too strong for United, despite their best efforts to even the score.
