Dundee 3
Rangers 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Dundee's young newcomer, play-any where Peter Mackie, from Celtic, is in the side for the big game against Rangers. He wears the No. 7 jersey.

Defender Les Barr misses the match following illness and his place is taken by George McGeachie.

Rangers have key-men Colin Jackson and Bobby Russell back, with Russell on the bench. Derek Johnstone has recovered from his midweek injury.

Mackie looks sharp as he races to the middle to latch on to a long back-pass by McLean. While he is trying to control the ball at full pace, Jackson steps in to knock it away.

A McLean corner kick is aimed for the far post and Jackson races in to head it high and wide.

Rangers look sharp as they sweep upfield in numbers. A missed clearance by MacLaren makes a chance for Forsyth who doesn't get power into his shot from just inside the penalty area and Donaldson has no trouble.

Twice Pirie is offside when Dundee clear the ball into Rangers' half.

Murphy takes on the left side of the Rangers' defence and gets to the edge of the goal area before he is stopped. Then Sinclair is just not sharp enough to latch on to a quick through pass.

This is all-action stuff. Keeper Donaldson nips from his box to beat two Rangers' players for the ball, then takes it to the touch line before sending Schaedler away.

Next time the keeper has the ball he drops it on the edge of the box and grabs it on the wrong side of the line. Forsyth's free kick is blocked.

Murphy is brought down 10 yards outside the box. He needs treatment but re covers quickly.

When the free kick is touched his way, the wee winger hits a tremendous shot which McCloy does well to push over the bar. The Ibrox defence does not look confident under Dundee pressure. A MacLaren pass is too far ahead of Sinclair and McCloy wins the race for possession.

Dundee go in front in great style in 23 minutes, with the Rangers rear in terrible disarray. Murphy sends great ball for Sinclair to chase on the right. Defenders claim off side and McCloy leaves his goal.

Sinclair knocks the ball to the far post for PIRIE to head easily into the unguarded goal.

John MacDonald is showing his skills on Rangers'. left just as Murphy is keeping things buzzing for Dundee.

It is the Dens left-winger who starts the move for Dundee's second goal in 31 minutes. He sends Schaedler to the flag. He hits a low cross ball which SINCLAIR at the near post sidefoots into the net most casually.

Rangers try to breach the Dens defence with sheer power, but Dundee turn everything back. Forsyth is booked after fouling Shirra. Mackie sets up another chance for Pirie. The striker has to tame the ball and his shot is deflected wide.

Half-time Dundee 2, Rangers 0.

Reflections - Dundee held firm at the back during Rangers' early pressure, then hit back with a couple of cracking goals in eight minutes. Peter Mackie has fitted in well and looks a good investment.

Rangers' fans are shouting for Bobby Russell from the restart. He and Watson are both warming up.

A Sandy Jardine free kick finds Jackson and the defender's strong header for goal is cleared by McGeachie.

Rangers are putting Dundee under pressure, but there are few signs of the Dundee defence cracking.

Schaedler tries a risky pass-back, which makes things awkward, but Mac Laren comes to the rescue. With just over half an hour left, Rangers send on both substitutes. The men who come off are McLean and Smith. The newcomers have not got the feel of things when Dundee score again in 59 minutes.

Sinclair weaves through from the left and his shot is parried by McCloy. His second effort also bounces back, this time to SHIRRA, who has bags of time to bang it into the net.

The big Rangers support try to cheer their side out of their deep trouble. The Dens fans are singing with joy. Some of Watson's hard-hit crosses are causing concern to the home defenders. When one of these is not cleared, Johnstone hits the ball wildly over the bar.

Russell, too, is presenting problems for Dundee, Millar stops him on the by-line and sends the ball to Murphy. It goes on to Sinclair, who sends a great pass through the middle for Shirra, who is just beaten by Jackson.

Rangers score in 76 minutes. The ball is sent from the left by Johnstone and headed into the net at the far post by JACKSON, who is one of Rangers better performers.

The Ibrox men have a great chance to grab another a couple of minutes later. It falls to John MacDonald, who is 12 yards out and unmarked. His shot goes high over the top.

Rangers maintain their pressure almost non-stop to the end, but Dundee give nothing more away.

Final-Dundee 3, Rangers 1.

Summing-Up - Dundee held Rangers at their most powerful, then hit them three times just when it hurt most. This was the Dens Parkers' best show of the season, and every one played a part in this important victory. Rangers now have real problems.

Match report written by The Sporting Post