RANGERS dug out a potentially priceless three points at Dundee this afternoon as they grabbed a late winner after being behind at the break.
Christie Elliott’s early opener set the Light Blues back, but they roared back in the second half through Aaron Ramsey’s first goal for the club and a Connor Goldson winner four minutes from the end to take the three points back to Glasgow.
Manager van Bronckhorst named four changes to his team - from the XI which made it through to the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday night in Belgrade, Fil Helander, James Sands, Scott Arfield and Ramsey came into the XI.
They took the places of Leon Balogun, Ryan Jack, Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara.
That meant it was a back five of Allan McGregor in goal with captain James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Helander and Calvin Bassey in front of him.
John Lundstram was joined in the middle of the park by Sands and Arfield, while Ramsey and Ryan Kent played in support of Alfredo Morelos.
And with just six minutes on the clock, Gers were left with additional work to do as Dundee grabbed the lead – Jordan Marshall’s cross from the left being bundled home at the back post by Zak Rudden.
That was a setback for the Light Blues, and it almost a quarter of an hour had passed before they got their first real opportunity as Morelos got himself on the end of a teasing Bassey cross, but he could only nod wide of the target.
Goldson was then unfortunate to see a turn and volley slip past the post when Helander did well to get something on a Tavernier free-kick delivery before on 41 minutes, Gers were awarded a penalty.
Tavernier’s delivery from the right looked to be heading onto Morelos, but as he went to nod home, his run was blocked by Jordan McGhee .
Up-stepped Tavernier to take, but his sensational run from the spot was to come to an end as he sent his effort over the bar.
Ramsey was to send a further effort over the bar before the break, but Gers went into the interval needing a big response to turn the game around from the 1-0 deficit.
Van Bronckhorst replaced Helander and Arfield with Joe Aribo and Fashion Jr for the second half, and there was a brighter start from the Light Blues for the second half.
Twice Morelos was denied by goalkeeper Ian Lawlor, before he made a super save from a Ramsey diving header on the end of a Fashion Jr cross.
He denied Ramsey again as the Welshman took on an effort from distance, before he pushed an Aribo front-post effort behind for a corner.
All of a sudden, Rangers had a real head of steam up, and the door opened for them on 64 minutes to grab the equaliser.
Gers third sub, Kemar Roofe, did brilliantly to guide a Tavernier cross back across goal, and there at the back post for his first Rangers goal was Aaron Ramsey.
From there, they continued to press and press, and with four minutes remaining, they hit the front.
Skipper James Tavernier drove his side forward and found Roofe – Lawlor denied him, but following up - and who knows why he was there – was Connor Goldson to rifle home from close range.
There were seven minutes of added time at the end – but Gers saw them out brilliantly, with Allan McGregor untroubled in that time.
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Helander, Bassey, Lundstram, Sands, Arfield, Ramsey (Balogun, 87), Kent, Morelos (Kamara,87)
SUBS: McLaughlin, Jack, Aribo, Barisic, Amad, Roofe, Fashion Jr.
DUNDEE: Lawlor, Kerr, Marshall, Sweeney, McGhee, Byrne, McGowan (Anderson, 53), McDaid (McCowan, 83), Elliott, McMullan, Rudden (McGinn, 72)
SUBS: Sharp, Mulligan, Robertson, Daley-Campbell, Ibsen Rossi
REFEREE: Bobby Madden
ATTENDANCE: 7669