Report: Rangers 5-2 Dundee

Report: Rangers 5-2 Dundee

RANGERS responded from two-goals down to defeat Dundee 5-2 in the final home match of the Scottish Premiership season this evening.

Goals from Jordan McGhee and Antonio Portales had the visitors ahead with Ross McCausland getting one back for Rangers before the break.

Dessers drew the Light Blues level early in the second-half, before a superb Todd Cantwell strike saw Clement’s men turn the game around with Scott Wright coming off the bench to score a double.

With a number of injuries in the squad, Philippe Clement named five changes to his starting line-up for the final home match of the season.

Leon King came in to make his first Scottish Premiership start of the season, with Ridvan, Nico Raskin, Todd Cantwell and Ross McCausland all named in the eleven.

John Souttar, Tom Lawrence and Dujon Sterling were all missing from the team that played on Saturday through injury, with John Lundstram suspended and Borna Barisic on the bench.

That meant Rangers started with Jack Butland in goal and a back four of James Tavernier, Ben Davies, Leon King and Ridvan. Diomande retained his place in the middle of the pitch, with Nico Raskin and Todd Cantwell joining him in that area.

Cyriel Dessers was once again leading the line, with support from Fabio Silva and Ross McCausland.

The visitors kicked-off at Ibrox, but it was Rangers who created the first opening at goal with just three minutes played. The ball was played into Ridvan, who had got forward into a central position, and the Turkish full-back turned well before sending a good strike towards goal but it was pushed wide by Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken.

It was a lively start from Rangers, as Ridvan combined with Silva down the left and delivered into the box in search of Mohamed Diomande but his touch was wide of the target. Diomande had another effort shortly after, with his curling left-footed ball deflected wide.

Still inside the opening 10 minutes at Ibrox, Dundee’s Antonio Portales saw a shot deflected wide as they looked to relieve some of the early Rangers pressure.

There was another fantastic opportunity for Clement’s men to get an opening as Tavernier won the ball back around the halfway line and sent it forward into the path of Cyriel Dessers. The striker did well to hold it up before feeding into the path of Silva who was denied by the crossbar.

As the game approached the half hour mark, the home side were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position after Todd Cantwell was fouled. Both James Tavernier and Ridvan stood over the set piece, with the captain looking to guide a right-footed curling strike beyond the McCracken but it was just over the bar.

Shortly after, Luke McCowan misplaced a pass in a dangerous position deep inside his own half, with Ross McCausland taking advantage in space on the edge of the box to cut inside onto his right-foot but his powerful strike was tipped over the bar by McCracken.

At the other end, Butland was forced into his first save of the match, as Scott Tiffoney tried a strike from range but it was gathered by the Rangers number one.

Tiffoney had another good opportunity shortly after as the game really opened up at Ibrox. The midfielder had a first shot from inside the box blocked by Leon King before Butland denied his follow-up effort.

Bakayoko was next to threaten for the visitors as he had a go from outside the box but Butland was alert to push wide.

Dundee were able to take advantage of their spell of pressure as they took the lead at Ibrox in the 38th minute. Owen Dodgson whipped a ball in from the left, which found Jordan McGhee at the back post and he managed to get enough on it to touch beyond Butland.

Minutes later, Dundee doubled their advantage with a free-kick which saw Lyall Cameron touch the ball into the path of Owen Dodgson who again delivered into the box with Antonio Portales getting the crucial touch to send it beyond Butland.

On the stroke of half-time, Rangers were able to get a goal back, Leon King picked out Ross McCausland with a lovely long ball, and the winger did well to send it beyond Dodgson to send the ball low into the back of the net.

Early in the second-half, Clement’s men were back level with Cyriel Dessers on target for the 22nd time this season. Cantwell delivered an inviting cross into the box with the striker rising well to send a strong header beyond McCracken.

Cantwell had a strike blocked well by McCracken shortly after as Rangers looked to take hold of this match.

With half an hour of the game remaining, Robbie Fraser was introduced for his competitive debut for the club as he came off the bench to replace Ridvan.

Rangers turned the game around with 65 minutes on the clock, as Cantwell fired them into the lead for the first time of the evening with an incredible strike. Tavernier found him in a wide area on the right, and some may question whether it was a shot or a cross from the former Norwich man, but regardless there was no stopping the strike as it nestled into the far corner.

McCracken pulled off a fine save shortly after as he somehow managed to deny Cyriel Dessers a second of the evening as he got a strong hand to the strikers’ header.

Clement turned to his bench again with 15 minutes of the game remaining as Cole McKinnon came on to replace Leon King.

Dessers flashed a strike from distance just wide as Rangers looked to increase their advantage at Ibrox.

In a final three changes, Kieran Dowell, Kemar Roofe and Scott Wright all came on to replace Mohamed Dioamnde, Fabio Silva and Cyriel Dessers.

Wright had an impact instantly as he found the target with 87 minutes played. McCausland sent the ball across the face of goal, with a good finish from Wright as he guided the ball beyond McCracken.

It was a fantastic impact from the winger, who had a double in added time, Ross McCausland again found him on the edge of the box, and Wright curled a lovely right-footed finish into the bottom corner for Rangers’ fifth of the evening.

RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Davies, King (McKinnon, 75), Ridvan (Fraser, 61), Raskin, Diomande (Dowell, 82), Cantwell, Silva (Roofe, 82), McCausland, Dessers (Wright, 82).

Subs: McCrorie, Barisic, Yfeko, Lowry

Dundee: McCracken, Dodgson, Astley, McGhee, Tiffoney (Costelloe, 75), Bakayoko (Main, 75), Cameron, McCowan, Boateng (Mellon, 86), Sylla (Robertson, 75), Portales.

Subs: Sharp, Main, Mulligan, Robinson, Howley, Donnelly.