Dundee 2
Rangers 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier .

After Dundee's stormy 2-1 win over Rangers at Dens Park on Saturday Archie Knox gave his verdict calmly but emphatically when he said, "This was our best display yet." Considering there was as much furore as good football in the game, Archie's opinion may be a surprise.

However, the Dundee manager wasn't basing his view only on the playing skills of his players. "Sure, we played better football in the cup ties against Aberdeen," he went on, "but these ended very unluckily for us and in bitter disappointment.

"To come back today from these setbacks and win a fiercely competitive match is a tremendous tribute to my players' determination and character. They deserve the highest praise."

He also reminded his listeners that this was Dundee's third gruelling game in eight days and that players such as Rab Shannon, Ray Stephen and Graham Harvey weren't 100% fit.

All the action, the aggro, the arguments and the sheer intensity of this Dens Park battle made up for any criticism from a football purist. The game always buzzed.

It positively erupted in a remarkable period around the half hour mark with the score at 1-1.

Rangers claimed a penalty when Ally McCoist went down. Referee Downie, already no favourite with the visiting fans, refused the award-then promptly awarded Dundee a spot kick when Dave McPherson tackled John Brown a minute later.

To say there was uproar among the Rangers following is putting it mildly. Brown rubbed in the anguish by converting the penalty himself and making a triumphant gesture.

Then the scene turned really nasty. While the referee was booking Cammy Fraser soon after, fisticuffs broke out. Ted McMinn, who was booked earlier, can count himself a fortunate young man to have stayed on the field after the incident.

Rangers had five players booked in that torrid first half. Dundee were far more composed, much more methodical.

Their first goal was simple but clinical, Harvey heading in Connor's corner kick. They had the chance to sew things up just a minute later when, from a similar situation, Jim Smith miscued his header in front of goal.

The equaliser came from McCoist, though Robert Fleck did the spadework. Then came the John Brown penalty kick which secured two valuable European points for Dundee and a rare treat from their manager-two days off this week.

The second half, though still action packed was a wee bit calmer. Dundee must have felt fatigue creeping over them but they dealt competently with some desperate Rangers attacks and showed plenty of threat themselves.

We had as many chances as Dundee," claimed Jock Wallace after the game.

The final tally of bookings was eight-Russell, Munro, McMinn, Cooper, Fraser and Beattie for Rangers, plus Smith and Harvey from Dundee.

It must also be conceded that Mr Downie was a brave man to award a controversial penalty kick to Dundee right in front of the Rangers hordes.

It would be wrong, however, for the Ibrox side to put all the blame for this vital defeat on the referee.

They just weren't good enough or organised enough to beat this Dundee team, who were well generalled by Jim Duffy in the rear and who always posed a threat down the left side through Tosh McKinlay and Robert Connor.

That U.E.F.A. Cup place is still wide open but on the evidence of Saturday Dundee have an excellent chance of pipping Rangers. Getting over the cup heartbreak and turning on a fighting performance like this speaks volumes for their prospects.