Rangers 5
Dundee 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier .

Dundee's fine unbeaten run of seven games was based on four qualities-sound defence, hard work, commitment and the outstanding form of their goalkeeper. Little wonder, therefore, that when only Bobby Geddes maintained the standard at Ibrox on Saturday, the roof fell in on them.

The 5-0 scoreline flattered struggling Rangers, but Dundee have only themselves to blame. Trailing 1-0 they had ample opportunity to equalise, but not for the first time failed to take chances and paid the penalty, tumbling to their worst defeat in almost four years.

"It's a sore result brought about by a catalogue of errors, but what can you expect when only the keeper played?" said manager Archie Knox.

The last part of that assessment was probably a trifle hard on John Brown and, to a lesser extent, Bobby Connor. least looked the part whereas recent hard matches appeared to have taken their toll on the rest of the team.

The defence had an off day but of far more concern to Archie Knox must be the lack of goals. Four games (or 360 minutes) have elapsed since the Dark Blues put the ball in the opposition net.

The only positive thing to emerge from a nightmare 90 minutes was the return to action of George McGeachie, playing for the first time since May.

Just after the half-hour mark he replaced Jim Smith, who had been booked earlier for a foul on McMinn and was in danger of incurring the wrath of referee Kenny Hope for the second time. McGeachie operated in midfield with Rab Shannon switching to right-back.

Rangers took the lead in 25 minutes when Ally McCoist shrugged off a Duffy challenge and placed a low shot wide of Geddes.

Graham Harvey wasn't far away from equalising with a hooked shot while while he. Albert Kidd and Bobby Glennie all had efforts cleared off the line in an incredible goalmouth scramble just before half-time.

Harvey and Kidd wasted further opportunities early in the second period before Rangers went two up. Dundee lined up a four man wall as Ally McCoist prepared to take a free kick but it broke up as he let rip and the ball struck the legs of Albert Kidd and was deflected past the helpless Geddes.

McCoist created the third for Bobby Williamson and both Rangers men had shots bril blocked by the keeper before McCoist headed in the rebound from the second save for Rangers fourth and his hat- trick.

Salt was rubbed into the Dundee wounds six minutes from time when Fleck capitalised on sloppy defending to complete the scoring.

The game was played in difficult conditions both underfoot and overhead, but any sympathy should be reserved for the Dundee fans only. They had to endure the agonies of the 90 minutes and were then faced with a terrible drive home through a blizzard.

Rangers? They "rested" World Cup winger Davie Cooper, moved Ally Dawson to centra-half. Dave McPherson into midfield and took their chances.

Manager Jock Wallace selected Dawson as his man of the match but the majority of the 13,954 crowd would have gone for former Sunderland and St Johnstone striker Ally McCoist, a young man blessed with the kind of killer touch in front of goal that Archie Knox would welcome at Dens Park with open arms.