An own goal early in the game set Rangers on their way but they failed to capitalise on that in the first half and United soon hit back. But in a sensational second half performance, Flo netted a hat-trick and Ronald de Boer and Neil McCann also scored.
The Light Blue legions taking the road and the miles to Dundee would no doubt have heard the news of Celtic’s win over Aberdeen at Parkhead and that expected victory put Rangers in a must-win situation.
But it was always gong to be easier said than done considering Dundee United proved a bit of a bogey side for Rangers last season. Alex Smith’s rejuvenated team knocked the Light Blues out of the Scottish Cup at Tannadice last season and then inflicted another defeat on them a short time later at Ibrox.
There was confidence in the camp, however, following the boost of Lorenzo Amoruso signing a new contract and the Italian returning from injury to take his place alongside Craig Moore in the heart of defence.
And Dick Advocaat’s side made the perfect start in their bid to end that miserable run against the Tangerines when they took the lead after only two minutes of play in this live Sky television encounter.
And, although the opener will go down as an own goal, the credit must go to Tore Andre Flo. Ronald de Boer played a lovely pass to send the Norwegian in the clear and he beat David McCracken before firing a dangerous ball across the six-yard box which Jamie Buchan turned into his own net.
Advcoaat’s men made a bright start and moments later they could have doubled their lead when Neil McCann passed up a golden opportunity. The winger played a neat one-two with Flo which left him with only Paul Gallacher to beat but he somehow fired his close-range shot wide of goal.
After that early spell United started to get themselves back into the game and were soon the dominant side. They had plenty of possession without creating any real chances but you always felt an equaliser was on the cards.
And sure enough, 12 minutes before half-time the home side were level. David Partridge ran down the left wing and Fernando Ricksen failed to stop him getting the cross in which Jim McIntyre met perfectly on the edge of the box and it sneaked into Stefan Klos’s left-hand corner.
Three minutes before the break the Light Blues had a chance to restore their lead. Ricksen drilled a ball across the face of goal, Gallacher spilled it and it fell to the feet of Flo but McCracken made a vital block to deflect the striker’s shot over the bar.
From the resulting corner, Rangers had the ball in the back of the net when Ricksen curled it into the top corner. The travelling fans were in ecstasy but their joy was shortlived with referee Willie Young chopping it off for pushing inside the box.
Advcoaat didn’t make any changes in personnel at the half-time interval but he did make a tactical switch that ended up turning the game. The Dutchman moved Latapy from the right side of midfield into the ‘in the hole’ position behind Flo and Ronald de Boer.
It was a move that paid off almost immediately with the Gers regaining their lead four minutes into the second half and the little Trinidadian at the heart of the goal. He played a neat pass to Ronald de Boer inside the box and his shot cannoned off the post but Flo was on hand to roll the ball into the empty net from about two yards.
In similar circumstances a fortnight ago, Rangers dropped two points when they failed to kill Hearts off by throwing away a 2-1 lead. But they weren’t going to make the same mistake again and with 25 minutes left they extended their lead.
McCann whipped in a good cross from the left and De Boer was on hand to coolly flick the ball beyond Gallacher and virtually put the game beyond doubt. But there was still more to come from Rangers. Plenty more.
In the 72nd minute the Light Blues made it 4-1 with a goal that was made in Holland and finished in Norway. De Boer played the ball to Bert Konterman on the right and he floated in a lovely cross which Flo stabbed home.
Nine minutes before the end Flo made it 5-1 and completed his first hat-trick in Light Blue since joining from Chelsea when he converted a Latapy pass. He was later taken off and replaced by Andre Kanchelskis with a standing ovation from the travelling fans his reward for a great performance.
In the final minute Ricksen should have made it six but Gallacher somehow managed to stop his point-blank effort from going into the back of the net but McCann did make it half-a-dozen with a goal in injury time.
It was a sizzling performance from Rangers and couldn’t have come at a better time ahead of next week’s Old Firm game.
DUNDEE UNITED: Gallacher, Wright, Easton, Miller, Lilley, Buchan (O’Brien 63), Griffin, Hamilton (Thompson 67), Partridge, McIntyre, McCracken Subs (not used): Combe (gk), Aljofree, Carson
RANGERS: Klos, Ricksen, Moore, Amoruso, Numan, Ferguson, Flo (Kanchelskis 85), McCann, De Boer (Lovenkrands 76), Konterman, Latapy Subs (not used): Christiansen (gk), Vidmar, Hughes
Attendance: 11,117
Referee: Willie Young
Man of the match: Is there anyone else? Hat-trick hero Tore Andre Flo.
Moment of the match: The standing ovation for Flo, a sign that the Norwegian might finally have done enough to win over any doubters.