RANGERS rang in the New Year with another precious victory that sent them into the winter break still top of the league.
The good cheer was further boosted with news that Aberdeen had held Celtic to a 1-1 draw to extend Rangers lead to three points as the league goes into cold storage for three weeks.
Last year was a great year for Alex McLeish’s side but they will be hoping that 2003 can bring even further success.
Dundee had first-footed Rangers on the back of five games without a win and having lost six of their last eight matches at Ibrox.
They were not greatly troubled in the opening minutes, however, with a Michael Mols shot that was deflected wide and a Peter Lovenkrands drive that was easily held by Julian Speroni the Light Blues’ best efforts.
Speroni was then called upon to make a good save at the feet of Ronald de Boer before Rangers finally made the breakthrough.
De Boer swung over the cross and Mols knocked it down for Barry Ferguson to sweep a shot past the goalkeeper for his 14th goal of the season.
The lead was to last all of two minutes, however, when Fabian Caballero’s cross made its way to the back post where Steve Lovell, unmarked, slipped the ball past Stefan Klos.
Rangers continued to have the bulk of the pressure without looking overly convincing although the flow of the game was not helped by some pernickity officiating from referee Tom Brown.
With Dundee bravely playing three up front, the Light Blues pushed forward to exploit the extra space and Mols shot wide again before de Boer missed an open goal after Lovenkrands had charged down a goal kick.
The Dutchman atoned for his error just before the break, however, when he converted Lovenkrands’ cross past Speroni to give Rangers a half-time lead.
The second half started with the home side again in the ascendancy and the crowd were further boosted by news that Aberdeen had carved out an equaliser against Celtic.
With possession still not leading to too many clear-cut goalscoring chances, Thompson was pushed on around the hour mark to make his debut and to pose an extra attacking threat.
The former Dundee United man almost had an immediate impact when he poked a ball through for Lovenkrands to run in on the goalkeeper.
The Dane, however, could not apply the finish with the ball cannoning off Speroni’s legs to safety as the Rangers fans groaned in frustration.
With the score still only 2-1 the agitation was understandable and Dundee brought on the nippy Nacho Novo as they sought out another equaliser.
Only the agility of Klos denied Lovell from close range before Thompson sent an ambitious soaring drive into the stands as he looked for his first Rangers goal.
With nine minutes remaining his prayers were answered. Fellow sub Steven McLean sent de Boer pelting down the right and his cross was tapped in by Thompson to his obvious delight and to start the new year in perfect style.
RANGERS: Klos; Ross, Muscat, Moore, Amoruso; Malcolm, Ferguson(c), Caniggia (Thompson 61); de Boer; Mols (Maclean 79), Lovenkrands (Nerlinger 84)
Subs not used: McGregor, Gibson
Booked: None
DUNDEE: Speroni; Smith, Mackay, Hernandez, Mair, Khizanishvili, Rae, Brady (Novo 68), Milne, Caballero, Lovell (Robertson 82)
Subs not used: Soutar, Beith, Robb
Booked: None
Referee: Tom Brown
Attendance: 49,112
Man of Match: Barry Ferguson