Dundee 1
Rangers 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from Steve Bruce - The Courier .

Reformed Rangers fan John Brown yesterday talked about his wonder winner that sank the Ibrox men at Dens on Saturday (writes STEVE BRUCE).

Dundee's midfield maestro, who followed Rangers as a youngster, recalled, "The way the ball came to me on the edge of the area I had to take it with the side of my foot and try to bend it in.

"The ball was going over the bar and wide of the post when it left my foot but the wind helped and it dipped into the top corner nicely."

That cracking goal was John's fifth against Rangers in four league matches and the fourth time in 19 months he's sunk the Light Blues, but even he is at a loss to explain his remarkable record against the Glasgow side.

"I don't know what it is," he declared, "I just seem to have a habit of finding the net against them."

The former Hamilton player's 86th minute strike, however, will have met with a mixed response amongst the Brown clan.

John revealed, "My brother, who is a Rangers' fan, phoned on Friday night to ask for a couple of tickets for the game and told me he'd taken them on the coupon to beat us-I told him we were going to win."

But if Brown stole the headlines, the real heroes of Dundee's 1-0 triumph were defenders Jim Duffy and Tosh McKinlay.

Duffy strode about Dens Park mopping up any problems with contemptuous ease and McKinlay capped a magnificent display by beginning the move that led to the winner.

It was his superb first-time pass that found Ray Stephen, unmarked on the left-hand edge of the box. Stephen in turn controlled the ball and passed square to Brown whose wicked shot left Chris Woods totally bemused.

The match was a moderate one, although in fairness a swirling wind made conditions difficult.

Dundee were worth both points, but had Bobby Geddes to thank for saving their bacon when he produced a fine one-handed save to thwart Ally McCoist.

"Rangers played well in the first half, but we stopped that after the break when the players took on more responsibility and were more positive," said Dark Blues boss Jocky Scott.

"Every game emphasises further our need for a striker, someone who is dangerous in front of goal, but with all the teams below us in the table, excluding St Mirren, losing, it wasn't a bad day for us."

The performance of Vince Mennie was a bonus for Dundee. He caught the eye after replacing George McGeachie just before half-time.

McGeachie has a back injury and at this stage is rated doubtful for Saturday's clash with Hearts.

Rangers clearly missed McMinn, Souness and Butcher.

Assistant boss Walter Smith commented, "Conditions were tricky and both sides seemed to play better against the wind. However a good finish from the boys and we're left with nothing."