Rangers 1
Dundee 2
League (Premier League)

Match Report

Dundee manager Jocky Scott was a happy man last night after birthday boy Gavin Rae's injury time winner against previously undefeated Rangers gained the visitors their first league victory, at Ibrox in nearly 15 years.

Scott said, "It was a great result for us we deserved something from the game and, for a change, I have no complaints."

The Dens Park boss was fulsome in the praise of his players, saying. "Attitude is never a problem with our players, but where we have let ourselves down in the past has been needlessly giving the ball away and that did not happen today."

The Dark Blues, who have now won five Premier five games on their Scottish League travels this season, survived a bombardment from Rangers in the first 10 minutes in which Robert Douglas saved from Jorg Albertz and Frank van Eijs booted a Lorenzo Amoruso shot off the line, with Douglas tipping over a headed rebound from the Italian.

Dundee then stunned the home fans by taking the lead in 14 minutes when Shaun McSkimming floated their second corner over from the right.

On-loan star centre-half Craig Ireland rose clear to despatch a header past another on-loan player, Thomas Myhre, in the Rangers goal.

Ireland, who is keen to complete a permanent move to Dens, incurred the wrath of referee Mike McCurry for his celebration and was harshly yellow-carded.

Ireland said afterwards, "It is between the two clubs now to sort something out. I have shown Jocky Scott what I can do.

Scott advised that, "Peter Marr has been out of the country and I will he speaking to him to see what can be done."

Referee McCurry decided in Dundee's favour in 20 minutes when he ignored the Rangers fans' demands for a penalty when a grounded Van Eljs appeared to handle under pressure from Wallace.

Rangers appeared to be suffering after their midweek European exploit and were not helped by first-half substitutions to ex-Dundee star Dariusz Adamczuk, who suffered a first-minute head knock but played on till midway through the half, and Craig Moore, who came off with cramp.

Adamczuk later needed stitches to the head wound after his clash with Shaun McSkimming.

The home side adopted a strange looking 2-4-4 formation at the start of the second half and were awarded the perfect opportunity to draw level in 53 minutes when the match official adjudged that Steven Tweed had pulled down Nell McCann.

Scott said, "It appeared to be a soft decision," and with McCann heading away from goal and Tweed winning the ball the defender was incensed with the decision.

However, Douglas dived low to his left to beat away Albertz's spot kick, then did well to hold two powerful drives from the German as Rangers increased the pressure.

The home side did draw level with 20 minutes to go when sub Andrel Kanchelskis crossed from the right and McCann flashed in a six-yard header that beat Douglas but came off the base of the post for Rod Wallace to tap home from three yards out

It was expected Rangers would go on to victory but Dundee dug in and Scott acknowledged what drove his side forward.

"I said to the players yesterday that it was about working hard, passing and moving, but more importantly was about believing that we would get a result. We were forced back during the second half but we came out of it with credit."

And after Eddie Annand went close with a header, Rae struck two minutes into injury time.

A long left-wing cross from sub Hugh Robertson eluded everyone apart from Steven Boyack, who knocked the ball into the path of midfielder Rae.

The under-21 Internationalist sprinted away from Wallace before taking a touch to control the ball and thumping it past Myrrh, who got a touch but could not keep the ball out.

Aberdonian Rae (22) said, "I was delighted not just about the win but with the way we played. The boss told us it was all about belief and he was proven right."

But Rae, who singled out the performance of teammate Douglas, could not solve Dundee's conundrum of home defeats and away wins.

"I do not know what it is about playing away from home that gets us victories and we are not nervous about playing at Dens."

Rangers boss Dick Advocaat also praisee Dundee, saying "Their commitment was there for everyone to see."

Meanwhile the Rangers manager could have both Adamczuk and Moore struggling for Wednesday's League Cup game at Aberdeen.

Match report written by The Courier