Match Report: Dundee 0-1 Rangers

RANGERS earned a hard-fought three points at Dens Park this afternoon, coming out 1-0 winners over Dundee.

A moment of first-half magic from Alfredo Morelos and Joe Aribo with the latter grabbing his second of the season proved to be the difference between the two sides to keep the Light Blues top of the Scottish Premiership.

Boss Gerrard named two changes to his XI - from the team which defeated Livingston in the Premier Sports Cup in midweek, in came James Tavernier for his 300th club appearance and Ianis Hagi, who took the place of Nathan Patterson and Scott Wright.

That meant it was a back five of Jon McLaughlin in goal with Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun and Calvin Bassey in front of him.

John Lundstram, Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara were in midfield, while up front, Hagi and Kemar Roofe supported Alfredo Morelos.

The home side ban the game with possession and Paul McMullan had to be stopped in his tracks by Balogun as he charged for goal straight from the kick-off, before, after being cleared wide, Leigh Griffiths got his head to a cross which drifted well wide.

At the other end, a lengthy spell of Gers possession in and around the home box ended with Tavernier blasting one over on the half-volley at the back post, while Roofe sent one just wide on the turn as the Light Blues again turned the heat up in an advanced area.

McLaughlin had to be alive to clutch a decent headed effort from Jordan McGhee, but the pressure was increasing by the minute in front of the Dundee goal, and finally it told with Joe Aribo netting his second of the season on 17 minutes.

Rangers were playing some superb, intricate football, and with his back to goal, Alfredo Morelos played a wonderful flick into the path of the onrushing Aribo who retained composure to lift the ball over ‘keeper Adam Legzdins in the Dundee net.

It was just the start the visitors were after, and they continues to press for a second, albeit, Dundee always carried a threat going forward with McLaughlin holding onto two rather tame Griffiths efforts.

Roofe showed super skill to bring a Bassey ball under control at the edge of the area before volleying for goal and bringing a smart stop out of Legzdins, while Goldson was denied by a fine home block on the end of a Tavernier corner.

Into the second half, and again after withstanding some early home pressure, Gers again began to enjoy some good territory around the Dundee box, with Legzdins making a fine stop to deny Lundstram net a curling effort from the edge of the area.

Then on 59 minutes, Dundee were awarded a penalty. – McMullan wriggled away from Goldson to go in on McLaughlin, with the goalkeeper bringing him down inside the area. Up stepped Jason Cummings to take the kick, with McLaughlin making a super stop with his feet to deny the former Gers striker.

Gers settled after that and saw plenty of the ball, with each of Fashion Jr, Scott Wright and Juninho Bacuna being introduced by the manager.

And without creating too much themselves, the Light Blues did well to deny the home side from anything clear-cut in front of goal in what remained of the match.

For Gers, their focus will now be on the Europa League, and a hugely exciting trip to Prague in midweek to take on Sparta. RANGERS: McLaughlin; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Bassey; Lundstram, Kamara, Aribo; Roofe (Bacuna, 81) Hagi (Wright, 73), Morelos (Fashion Jr, 66).

SUBS: McGregor, Davis, Patterson, Barisic.

DUNDEE: Legzdins, Fontaine, Sweeney, Ashcroft, Kerr, Anderson (McGowan, 64), Byrne (Jakubiak, 73), McGhee, Marshall, McMullan, Griffiths (Cummings, 38).

SUBS: McCowan, Panter, Lawlor, Sheridan.

REFEREE: Bobby Madden

ATTENDANCE: 8574

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