Dundee 1
Rangers 4
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Timmy Gemmell inflicted his fair share of damage on Rangers as a player. Well, this was the Ibrox team's revenge.

The injuries inflicted by the Light Blues on Gemmell-managed Dundee look like causing for more permanent damage.

This defeat virtually seals Dundee's fate. Especially when you consider they have to play Celtic twice and Aberdeen in their remaining five games.

However, the Dens men certainly contributed to the Easter entertainment in this thoroughly enjoyable match.

Once again they proved they are not the worst team in the Premier League. But a glance at their goals against column reveals all. They have conceded 63 goals in 31 games. That spells trouble with a capital T.

Rangers, who looked relaxed and composed from the start, took full advantage of Dundee's pedestrian defence. They scored four good goals, and but for Donaldson's fine goalkeeping would have added a few more.

One save in particular was fabulous. Sub. McLean flighted in a free-kick which Smith met flush with his forehead six yards out. Donaldson hurled himself to the right to make a fantastic save.

Robert Russell always had time and space. Davie Cooper thrived on this service, and continually wrong-footed the home defence. Derek Johnstone scored two excellent goals, and Sandy Jardine had the time of his life over lapping down the right.

It was Cooper who set the show on the road. Jardine slipped the ball inside, where Davie had acres of space. He looked up and cracked in a swerving left foot shot from 30 yards which left Donaldson helpless.

Three minutes later, Dundee showed they could score good goals, too. Fleming headed on a long Donaldson clearance. Eric Sinclair looked up, took his time, and lobbed the ball over McCloy (no easy task against a 'keeper so tall) from 20 yards.

After this, Dundee lost touch, and it was only a matter of time before Rangers scored again, Johnstone set Russell off down the right and was on hand to head the cross well away from Donaldson.

Then, from one of Jardine's many right-wing raids, MacDonald knocked the ball back for Smith to sidefoot a third goal. With the Dundee defence A.W.O.L. once more, Johnstone homed in on a long through pass from Redford to tie up the scoring.

This win will set up Rangers nicely for their semi-final on Saturday. They hadn't a weakness. Add Tom Forsyth to the four Ibrox men 1 have singled out earlier and you have their five-star performers.

Dundee started brightly, but when the midfield fell out of it, their paper-thin defence was exposed.

McGeachie was booked for a foul on Johnstone. The surprise is, with so many petty infringements, he was the only one singled out by referee Downie.

Match report written by The Sunday Post