Rangers dropped seven out of nine points against the Arabs last season and couldn’t end their poor run against Gordon Chisholm’s side this afternoon.
Denied the services of Nacho Novo, Thomas Buffel and Steven Thompson through injury, Alex McLeish did have some good news with the return of Brahim Hemdani.
The French-Algerian was handed a starting berth on his debut and the travelling supporters were finally able to witness his much anticipated partnership with Barry Ferguson in the heart of midfield.
Chris Burke has been a real live wire since returning from injury and after four minutes made a driving run through the United defence to get a shot on goal, which although ultimately blocked signalled Gers’ early intent.
The Scotland under-21 international was at the heart of things again two minutes later when he collected Ricksen’s low cross on the edge of the opposition box, but had more time than he thought and snatched at his shot.
United weathered the early storm and tried to mount their own attack, unfairly in some cases as Barry Robson was booked for diving on the edge of the Rangers box after 10 minutes.
Within 60 seconds the former Ibrox youngster registered his side’s first effort on goal when he stabbed the ball towards Ronald Waterreus, but the Dutchman collected easily.
Desperate for the opening goal, the visitors continued to press and after Olivier Bernard’s corner was initially cleared, Hemdani floated the ball back into the box for Jeffers.
The former Arsenal striker rose above Paul Ritchie and United keeper Derek Stillie to head the ball goal-bound but Alan Archibald tracked the flight perfectly to head off the line.
Hemdani’s role of shielding the backline, allowed Barry Ferguson more freedom to break forward and his pass after 15 minutes found Prso on the right flank.
The Croatian’s low drive into the six-yard box was slightly behind the on-rushing Jeffers, but inch perfect for Lovenkrands although the Dane blasted over the bar under pressure from Archibald.
Nine minutes later the former Monaco man was provider again from the right and while Jeffers did brilliantly to control, once again his shot flew over the bar.
Still searching for his first top team strike for Gers Jeffers looked sharp and hungry, but just couldn’t find the target in the 28th minute after drilling Hemdani’s pass over.
With eight minutes of the first half remaining the Light Blues won a free kick inside the D after Ritchie fouled Burke.
Barry Ferguson stepped up and curled a fine effort over the wall but could only watch as it battered off the left-hand post and clear.
It was United who posed the biggest threat immediately after the restart with David Fernandez and Jim McIntyre both testing Waterreus but thankfully for Rangers he collected easily on each occasion.
Although the manager sent out an unchanged side for the second half he was forced into a change after 53 minutes when Franny Jeffers picked a knock and Federico Nieto came on as a replacement.
Just before the hour mark Lovenkrands ghosted in at the back post to volley Prso’s cross but his right-footed effort went just over the bar.
United had clearly addressed some issues during the half time break and were much better organised in the second period.
Hamed Namouchi came on to bolster the Light Blue attack but the visitors just seemed to lack any ideas how to break United down.
With 15 minutes remaining Prso broke into the box from the right and although his cut back was cleared, Lovenkrands drilled the rebound low off Canero for a corner, which eventually came to nothing.
Both sides turned up the heat in the final stages and after 84 minutes United should have gone ahead.
Ronald Waterreus came out of his area to head clear a long ball forward, but his weak effort only dropped as far as Robson 20-yards out.
The midfielder dribbled into the area, rounded the keeper – who was still on the edge of his box – and fired a sure goal had Rodriguez not headed clear on the line.
From the resultant corner Rangers broke up field and Prso’s fumbled shot was cleared by Ritchie on the United line.
To make matters worse for the visitors Sotirios Kyrgiakos was red carded in the 89th minute for his second bookable offence, after the first yellow card was picked up for kicking the ball away.
DUNDEE UNITED: Stillie; Wilson, McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, Canero, Kerr, Brebner, Robson, McIntyre (Miller 72), Fernandez (Samuel 72)
SUBS: Samson, McInnes, Duff, Kenneth, Cameron
BOOKINGS: Robson 10,
RANGERS: Waterreus; Ricksen, Rodriguez, Kyrgiakos, Bernard; Burke (Namouchi 62), Hemdani, Ferguson, Lovenkrands ( McCormack 77); Jeffers (Nieto 53), Prso
SUBS: Klos, Andrews, Murray, Lowing,
BOOKINGS: Kyrgiakos 38, 89
SENDING OFF: Kyrgiakos 89
REFEREE: Charlie Richmond
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Julien Rodriguez