The visitors were made to work exceptionally hard for the victory and no doubt heaved a huge sigh of relief at the final whistle after Marvin Andrews and Fernando Ricksen grabbed the goals.
Ahead of the game both sides were desperate for maximum points, albeit for different reasons with Dundee fighting relegation and Rangers obviously looking to extend their advantage at the top of table.
After slipping up against Inverness last weekend Alex McLeish demanded a reaction from his players, but the home team performed well and at times things just weren’t happening for Rangers.
Big Eck’s side were matched in every department by a keen, energetic Dens Park side but in the end fortunately proved to have that slight edge in front of goal.
Gers started reasonably brightly, with seven minutes on the clock Nacho Novo and Gregory Vignal linked well to carve out their first opportunity.
The ex-Dundee man dummied Ricksen’s pass to the Frenchman, who then returned the favour by finding Novo on the right side of the penalty area.
No one could meet his low drilled cross, however, and it rolled out for a goal kick.
The Light Blues opted for a more physical line-up – swapping Thomas Buffel and Bojan Djordjic from last week’s line-up for Michael Ball and Bob Malcolm.
These changes allowed Gers flexibility during the game and Alex McLeish’s side were able to switch from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 when needed.
The majority of opportunities in the opening period were merely half chances, with Rangers failing to register a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.
With a quarter of the game gone Gary Brady tried his luck with half volley on the edge of the area, but it flew wide of Waterreus’ goal.
On the half hour mark Gregory Vignal carved out a decent chance when he broke into the Dundee box, but over ran the ball when Barry Ferguson and Nacho Novo were both unmarked in the middle screaming for the pass.
A minute later Dado Prso, who as always put in a power of work decent shift up front, felt he should have had a penalty, but instead Ian Brines handed out a yellow card to the Croatian for diving.
Five minutes later Sotirios Kyrgiakos joined his team mate in the book, this time for persistent fouling.
Just before the Greek international received his booking though Dundee had a great chance to go ahead.
Neil Barrett ghosted into the box to nip in between Kyrgiakos and Andrews and was just a hair’s bridth away from heading Macdonald’s cross home.
Nacho Novo, desperate to repeat his scoring exploits from the last visit to Dens Park when he bagged a brace, tried his luck in the 40th minute but his low shot bobbled wide of Soutar’s goal.
Three minutes later Gers won their first corner of the match but it was easily defended by the home side.
There’s no doubt a few harsh words were exchanged at half time and Rangers came out of the traps quickly at the restart.
In the 51st minute Mo Ross crossed for Novo, but the Spaniard miss-kicked and Souter collected.
Barry Ferguson was next to try his luck but had a shot blocked after good work by Vignal, before Prso also had an attempt cleared.
Just after the hour mark Michael Ball then floated a free kick into the box and Kyrgiakos rose above everyone to get his header in but nodded his effort into the ground.
Both sides kept pressing, sensing that whoever scored first would take victory and with 11 minutes remaining the visitors finally stepped up a gear.
Within 60 seconds Dado Prso had a header well saved by Soutar, before substitute Thomas Buffel did brilliantly to volley Vignal’s corss goalward, but his effort was tipped over the bar.
The resultant corner was cleared for another flag kick and from this set piece Marvin Andrews put the Light Blues ahead.
The T&T internationalist met Ricksen’s cross to send an unstoppable bullet header into the net.
In the 83rd minute Fernando Ricksen then made the points safe when he fired Prso’s cut back home for 2-0.
One minor concern for Rangers was the substitution of Marvin Andrews, following a collision with Steve Lovell.
The defender seemed to pick up a knee injury but despite wanting to play on, the medical staff decided not to take any unnecessary risks.
DUNDEE: 4-5-1: Soutar; Kitamirike, Wilkie, Mann, Macdonald; McManus (Robertson 74), Barret, Brady (Sutton 85), Smith, Lovell (Conway 90); Caballero
SUBS: Dubourdeau, Sancho, Cereira
RANGERS: 4-4-2: Waterreus; Ross, Andrews (Thompson 87), Kyrgiakos, Ball; Ricksen, Malcolm (Buffel 59), Ferguson, Vignal; Prso, Novo (McCormack 90)
SUBS: Smith, Rae, Namouchi, Burke
BOOKINGS: Prso 31, Krygiakos 36
REFEREE: Ian Brines
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Marvin Andrews