RANGERS got everything they wanted out of today’s Ibrox clash with Dundee United – a good performance, minutes in the legs of players who haven’t perhaps featured much lately, four Academy players in the side and, most importantly, all three points.
As Gers build towards May 18 and the UEFA Europa League final that Ibrox was still celebrating reaching right through this afternoon’s match, a James Tavernier penalty and Amad’s first Gers goal was to be the difference between the two sides.
From the team which made history by defeating RB Leipzig on Thursday, manager Gio van Bronckhorst named seven changes to his XI.
That meant it was a back five of Jon McLaughlin in goal with James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Leon King for a first start and Borna Barisic.
James Sands, Steven Davis and Aaron Ramsey were in the middle of the park, with Fashion Jr, Scott Arfield and Scott Wright up front.
Rangers could perhaps have been forgiven for feeling the effects of their incredible efforts on Thursday night, but in the Ibrox sunshine, they made a lightning start.
Wonderful play from Ramsey put Davis away down the right, and his cross found Fashion Jr at the back post. He then cut the ball back for Arfield, who was so close to rubber stamping the new contract he signed yesterday with a goal inside two minutes.
Benjamin Siegrist in the United goal made a fine save from Fashion Jr when he wriggled clear of Liam Smith on the right, before the goalkeeper made an even better stop to deny Arfield when he was put in on goal by Davis following a lovely one-two.
Fashion Jr was next to come close, doing well to turn Ryan Edwards in the area before eventually firing wide, while Ramsey hit a post albeit he was flagged offside.
It was goalless at the break, but Gers kept plugging away after and took the lead 10 minutes into the second half from the penalty spot.
It was a super move leading up to the award of the kick, with Ramsey chipping a sublime ball over the United defence for Fashion Jr to bring down, but before he could shoot, he was taken out by goalkeeper Siegrist.
James Tavernier stepped up to take, and despite the ‘keeper going the right way, the captain’s spot kick was perfectly inside the post for his 17th goal of the season.
Edwards then made a fine block to deny Fashion Jr when he was set up by sub Amad, while Amad himself had a curling effort drift just wide from outside the area.
The 65th minute saw Academy players Charlie McCann, debutant Adam Devine and Alex Lowry, fresh from agreeing a new contract until 2025 yesterday, come on in place of Barisic, Tavernier and Arfield.
A stunning Lowry ball put Fashion Jr in for a blocked shot, before Fashion Jr turned provider for the second goal of the afternoon on 78 minutes.
Gers turned the ball over in midfield and Fashion Jr went scampering away through the middle. He played a neat ball into the path of Amad to lift the ball superbly over Siegrist and into the back of the net for 2-0 and the points.
It’s on now to Ross County back here at Ibrox on Wednesday night.
RANGERS: McLaughlin, Tavernier (Devine, 65), Goldson, King, Barisic (McCann, 65), Sands, Davis, Ramsey (Kamara, 79), Wright (Amad, 45), Fashion Jr, Arfield (Lowry, 65).
SUBS: McCrorie, Bassey, Lundstram, Kent.
DUNDEE UNITED: Siegrist, Smith, Sporle, Mulgrew, Edwards, Meekison, Levitt, Neilson (McDonald, 45), Graham (McMann, 72), Watt (Niskanen, 72), Anim.
SUBS: Eriksson, Clark, Freeman, Mochrie, Thomson, O’Donnell.
REFEREE: Steven MacLean
ATTENDANCE: 49,340.
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