10-man Rangers ‘stick together’ to beat Dundee-ZoomTech News

Philippe Clement says his Rangers facet are “rising week by week” as they moved to inside 5 factors of Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic with a snug comeback win over Dundee regardless of enjoying the second half with 10 males.

A James Tavernier penalty and a thundering Abdallah Sima header had Rangers comfy earlier than Jose Cifuentes was despatched off for a stamp.

The packed Ibrox stands endured some nervous moments after the break, however seventh-placed Dundee hardly ever seemed like avoiding a sixteenth consecutive defeat at Ibrox.

It means Rangers head into their Europa League decider in opposition to Actual Betis, then the Viaplay Cup ultimate in opposition to Aberdeen, on the again of 13 unbeaten video games, 12 beneath new supervisor Philippe Clement.

“Everybody sees in the previous couple of weeks this workforce sticking collectively in each sense,” Clement mentioned. “Gamers coming in, enjoying out of place and doing a job for the workforce.

“You may also see the bodily ranges of the gamers rising. We have to get extra gamers match and we have to proceed to work, but when the mentality stays like this then we’ll take extra factors.”

Clement had rested stalwart centre-back Conor Goldson and rising winger Ryan McCausland as he mentioned it will be as much as others to guage whether or not or not he was proper to make three adjustments over and above the 2 pressured by accidents.

It seemed like he might need to justify his determination when an excellent low dive from Jack Butland denied Lyall Cameron and, from the ensuing nook, the ball fell to Bakayoko for the striker to coolly slot previous the Rangers goalkeeper.

The specter of a primary Dundee win at Ibrox since 2001 was, nonetheless, rapidly extinguished.

A lot-maligned striker Dessers had been handed a begin and responded with a scientific strike earlier than Tavernier slotted one other penalty, disputed by Dundee, after Aaron Donnelly had pulled Sima’s shirt.

Luke McCowan missed likelihood to attract Dundee degree earlier than Sima bulleted dwelling a Tavernier nook for the on-loan Brighton & Hove Albion ahead’s fourth purpose in three video games.

Dundee’s Joe Shaughnessy and Rangers’ Todd Cantwell each had targets dominated out for fouls within the build-up and an action-packed first half closed with Cifuentes being despatched off for a stamp on Bakayoko.

Until Rangers are profitable in any attraction, he would miss subsequent Sunday’s League Cup ultimate.

Cameron was denied by a last-ditch problem as Dundee did not make their man benefit inform, whereas substitute Dujon Sterling was denied a fourth purpose for the hosts by the face of the far publish.

Participant of the match – Abdallah Sima (Rangers)

Clement gamble pays off; stats miserable for Dundee – evaluation

Earlier than kick-off, Clement lamented the loss by harm of Danilo and Tom Lawrence because it additional limits his capacity to relaxation gamers throughout a busy schedule of 12 video games in 37 days.

The Belgian however took the gamble of giving Goldson a uncommon relaxation and, regardless of moments of frailty and the self-inflicted wound of a purple card, he can breathe straightforward.

Excluding penalties, Dundee had gone into the sport having scored 9 targets from set-pieces within the Premiership this season – three greater than some other facet – and it once more proved to be an Achilles heel for Rangers.

Regardless of persevering with the worrying pattern of conceding first, Clement’s Rangers have averaged extra factors per recreation than any facet within the Premiership since his first top-flight match in cost in October.

Having been thumped 5-0 within the reverse fixture at Dens Park, this was all the time going to be an uphill battle for Dundee even when they did arrive unbeaten in three away from dwelling.

They’ve now misplaced eight in a row in opposition to Rangers – an combination of 22-2 – and supervisor Tony Docherty shall be telling his gamers to rapidly transfer on to extra winnable video games.

What they mentioned

Rangers supervisor Philippe Clement: “Whoever is enjoying, whoever is available in, all people’s working exhausting for the workforce. Increasingly gamers are competing – we will want all people on Thursday, on Sunday and the weeks after.

“It is a deserved victory. Even with 10, we have been the workforce that created the most effective possibilities within the second half. The workforce is rising to grow to be a workforce, to have the fitting mentality, to do the fitting issues collectively.”

Dundee supervisor Tony Docherty: “I’ve sympathy for Kevin Clancy. He no alternative to offer the penalty after the picture he was proven on the VAR display screen, however I believe the 2 gamers had a maintain of each other.

“Disappointment is the over-riding feeling. We began the sport properly, we gained territory. They then equalise – I believe it was an unforced error from us, however the recreation turns when Rangers get awarded a penalty and I believe we may have completed a bit extra within the second half.”

What’s subsequent?

Rangers conclude the Europa League group stage away to Actual Betis on Thursday (20:00 GMT) earlier than dealing with Aberdeen within the Viaplay Cup ultimate on 17 December, whereas Dundee journey to face Ross County on Saturday (15:00).