A DOUBLE from Antonio Colak powered Rangers to three points in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox.
The Croatian netted either side of the interval to help the Light Blues to a 2-1 victory over Dundee United as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men made a return to winning ways.
The Dutchman made three changes to the Rangers side which was defeated by Napoli in midweek, with Charlie McCann, Colak and Leon King coming into the side.
There was an early opportunity inside two minutes for the Light Blues as Ryan Jack collected James Tavernier’s crossfield pass. The midfielder centred for Ryan Kent in space inside the penalty area, but he could only drag his effort into the ground.
The home side engineered a similar chance just minutes later, with Kent turning provider for Scott Arfield who agonizingly scooped his left-footed effort off target.
However, Rangers’ early endeavour was rewarded inside ten minutes. James Tavernier did exceptionally well to steal possession and stride forward on the counter-attack before slipping a pass into Antonio Colak. The Croatian controlled with aplomb before striking an unerring finish into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.
The game began to settle after a lightning start from the Light Blues, with United testing Allan McGregor through Aziz Behich on the left. Shortly after, Glenn Middleton forced the Gers goalkeeper into a save with his legs after striking at goal.
In between those efforts, van Bronckhorst’s men had the chance to double their advantage. Jack showed tremendous endeavour to recover possession in midfield, lifting his head to release Arfield down the right. However, the midfielder could not work an angle to get a clean strike at goal.
Connor Goldson fired wide after the ball fall to the Rangers defender from distance, before John Lundstram had his effort blocked by Jamie McGrath after excellent set-up play from Kent and Charlie McCann.
Tavernier then did well to work a crossing opportunity on the right, standing up the ball for Colak at the far post. The forward nodded the ball down to Lundstram in a promising position but the midfielder could not get the ball under control.
Rangers emerged for the second half with renewed vigour, doubling their advantage with a goal created by the two Croatian’s. Borna Barisic’s near post delivery was met by Colak, ghosting across Charlie Mulgrew’s blindside, who flicked a clever finish beyond the Dundee United goalkeeper.
Ryan Kent worked a dangerous opportunity on 56 minutes, chopping inside before curling a shot on target only for the United goalkeeper to thwart the winger’s effort.
The away side then reduced the arrears minutes later. Substitute Sadat combined with Tony Watt, allowing McGrath to feed Liam Smith in space. The United full-back sidefooted his finish beyond McGregor.
Rangers looked to restore their two-goal advantage as Kent wiggled into the opposition’s penalty area, only to stand up a cross that just evaded the lurking Colak.
Minutes later, Arfield centred for McCann breaking into the penalty area. The young midfielder steadied himself but he could not work the required space to unleash an effort at goal.
Van Bronckhorst sent for both Scott Wright and Malik Tillman from the substitutes bench as Rangers almost added another on 72 minutes. Barisic’s cut-back was pinpoint, with McCann failing to make a connection with his resulting shot.
Wright threatened with an opportunity minutes later, firing at a dangerous effort at goal after working space down the right. However, the United goalkeeper was equal to his strike before his defenders desperately cleared the ball out for a corner.
Tillman threaded a pass into McCann moments later, but the 20-year-old was crowded out in the penalty area before he could lift his head.
The American was denied by a fine diving stop from the visiting goalkeeper as he looked to put the seal on the victory for the Light Blues. Goldson met Barisic’s cross at the far post, nodding down into the midfielder’s path who headed towards goal.
2-1 was how it finished on the afternoon as the Gers produced another league victory in front of the Ibrox crowd.
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, King, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack (Tillman, 69), McCann, Arfield (Wright, 69), Colak, Kent
SUBS NOT USED: McCrorie, Ridvan, Davis, Sands, Morelos, Davies, Sakala
DUNDEE UNITED: Eriksson, Smith, Mulgrew, Graham (McMann, 68), Edwards, Middleton (Sadat, 57), Behich, McGrath, Levitt, Harkes, Watt
SUBS NOT USED: Newman, Niskanen, Sibbald, Meekison, Freeman, Cudjoe-Anim, Thomson
REFEREE: Kevin Clancy
ATTENDANCE: 49,334
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