HARRY HOUDINI
Forrester’s injury time winner gives Rangers great escape at Ibrox
You could see their energy trickling away like the battery bar on your phone. Eking out that last one per cent.
Just when Dundee thought they had done it, though, just when they thought they had made enough tackles, shut down enough space, frustrated enough Rangers fans, chased down enough balls wide, they let one go.
And paid the ultimate, heartbreaking price to a Rangers side who owned the ball all afternoon but never the game. Not until the 93rd minute.
Sub Harry Forrester’s superb darting header was a cruel blow to a Dundee side who may have come to defend but through design, not desperation.
Some will see it as justice, however, that 70 per cent of the ball more than merited the reward Rangers got, no matter how late it came.
But it was a goal most punters clearly never saw coming, their frustration rising with every spurned chance, the memories of three home draws and six dropped points colouring their vision of a fourth.
Forrester admitted: “The crowd help us so much but sometimes they expect us to do better than we’re doing. We sense that but as professionals we expect to win.
“If we don’t do our job we know we’re going to be told about it.
“We deserved the win. We
came out of the blocks flying and had a lot of possession in the first half without hurting their goal. We left it late but to get the goal was great.”
This was Dundee’s first league visit to Ibrox in 12 years and after a winless stretch of 10 that had left them bottom, Paul Hartley persisted with the pragmatism which had then won the Dark Blues two on the bounce.
Five at the back, compact, organised, committed – all the things you need to be here, even if it is going to make the 90 minutes feel like 900.
For his part, despite two draws in the last three games, Mark Warburton stuck with the XI who had only managed a point in Dingwall two weeks ago.
And Gers started like they had some making up to do.
Josh Windass and Jason Holt were orchestrating everything, Kenny Miller was dropping off and linking, Joe Garner finding little pockets, despite the pink shirts around him.
The Englishman spurned a great chance inside 10 minutes , turning beautifully on the edge of the box but letting the ball creep away from him as he searched for the trigger. Another
came and went after cutely pushing off Darren O’Dea to create the space for a 35-yard chip that went inches over.
Garner then almost turned provider, floating a lovely ball to the back post which was unlucky to bisect Miller and Scott Bain.
Meanwhi le, Windass was gliding around the park like he was on casters – the 22-year-old is really easy on the eye, all balance and head-up elegance with the ball at his feet.
There was occasional menace to go with it, forcing Bain into a decent stop after a sweet one-two with Miller. But the longer it went, the more soporific it got.
To the point where Andy Halliday almost nodded off, gifting Dundee a free-kick which saw Paul McGowan force a f inger t ip stop f rom Wes Foderingham and Marcus Haber totally fluff a free header from the corner that followed.
Still, it would be unfair to underestimate the sheer commitment to the cause of Dundee’s defensive effort.
O’Dea was terrific, McGowan full of running as an out ball and Kevin Gomis was a tower of power at the back.
His only frustration was not putting the Dark Blues ahead when he had a glorious chance halfway through the half, a free header over which saw Hartley’s own head sink into his hands.
That chance came from a free-kick conceded by Halliday which on another day may have had Willie Collum reaching for red instead of yellow.
It wasn’t the only time Dundee threatened. Foderingham had to tip a Tom Hateley free-kick over and Holt had to produce a miracle sliding block to deny James Vincent.
Dundee may only have seen 30 per cent of the ball but made the most of what they had.
Which is more than can be said for Gers. They had chances, sure. Shots from distance, deflections, corners and Bain had to make one decent save to deny Holt.
But the incision wasn’t there and the one man who looked like he might provide it, Windass, was hooked for Barrie McKay with 25 left to a cacophony of boos.
The fans couldn’t have argued with the subs by the end because they all made an impact.
Joe Dodoo found plenty of time and space while Forrester got a yard more from O’Dea than anyone else had managed.
And his glancing header was perfect, nestling in the bottom corner to send those who were left inside Ibrox into raptures.
Warburton said: “Harry won’t be pleased with the remark but at the minute he is a more effective sub. He needs to make sure he can deliver over 90 minutes. He’s a street footballer.
“We had him at 13 at Watford and did the old academy games, 20-a-side. Harry was the one who wanted the ball.”