Rangers 0
Dundee 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

What a difference three weeks can make! Twenty-one days ago Dundee were lying second bottom of the Premier League with only two points from four games. This morning they are fourth top after successive wins over Motherwell, Hibs and, on Saturday Rangers.

Manager Archie Knox, in the wake of that 1-0 Ibrox victory, talked yesterday of the importance of such a string of results to the Dark Blues.

"Getting a run going in this league helps remove the threat of relegation and allows players to relax," he said.

"We had our teething troubles in the opening weeks of the season but in fairness we were playing players out of position and, indeed, still are.

"We won't win the Premier League with only 13 of a squad to pick from but it's important for us to reach a secure position and I'll happily settle for fourth, or even fifth top come the end of the season."

Archie has every reason to be pleased with his side for, on the evidence of Saturday's Ibrox performance and recent results, they look well on the way to recapturing the form of late last season.

Had the Dens Park side found a finishing touch to match their superiority they'd have come away with more than a one-goal victory.

Brown, Rafferty, McCormack and Connor outclassed the Ibrox midfield, while Dundee's defence, with Jim Duffy magnificent, looked much more assured than it did earlier in the season.

The solitary goal came 14 minutes into the second half when Stuart Rafferty fired an unstoppable 25-yard volley beyond the reach of Walker.

Graham Harvey, who worked tirelessly up front, missed a first half "sitter" and was denied by a post in the dying minutes; John McCormack squandered a great chance from close range and Brown, Connor and Rafferty all tested Walker from a distance.

Rangers, in contrast, produced little to explain their position as league leaders. Manager Jock Wallace admitted, "We were absolutely terrible-we didn't play and we didn't hassle."

Wallace started off with Davie McKinnon at right-back and Hugh Burns in midfield, but the switch failed to work and was abandoned after only 25 minutes.

Dundee's win ended 'Gers' 100% record, but the Ibrox men can have no complaints, for only once in the 90 minutes did Bobby Geddes have a direct shot to save.

The incessant downpour could have ruined this match but, thanks to the spirit and attitude shown by Dundee, it didn't and the Dark Blue faithful amongst Saturday's 23,600 left Ibrox convinced their side can now begin focussing attention on the challenge for a European place.

The only disappointing feature of this promising display was the hamstring injury - picked up by John Brown which forced him to leave the field after an hour's play.

There were five bookings - Bell, McPherson and Paterson, of Rangers, and Dundee's John McCormack and Stuart Rafferty.

Match report written by The Courier