The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Youngsters do United proud with spirited Ibrox showing
Declan Glass reckons most onlookers expected a Rangers rollover when they saw the Dundee United team sheet on Saturday.
However, the Tannadice midfielder is adamant United’s young guns had no fear against the reigning champions.
Glass, still only 21 years of age, found himself in the unusual situation of being older than four of his team-mates in the starting line-up at Ibrox — joking that some of the teenagers hadn’t even played in front of 500 fans, let alone 50,000.
Nevertheless, Craig Moore, 16, Chris Mochrie, 18, Darren Watson, 18, and Archie Meekison, 19, were not fazed in the slightest as the visitors succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat.
“I think everyone feared the worst for us,” acknowledged Glass.
“The only ones who didn’t fear the worst were us. We had hope and belief. If you are going into games without belief, you would be as well not playing. I am extremely proud of the boys.
“We have all been brought up with no fear at United and that is how I feel. It is 11 vs 11 on a grass pitch. Nothing should faze you.
“To have so many academy graduates on the pitch is a credit to the club.
“Rangers are last year’s league champions and this year’s league leaders. To go toe-to-toe with them with kids speaks volumes for everyone at this club, especially at a place with 50,000 fans.
“Some of these kids haven’t played in front of 500, let alone 50,000!”
On his own role as a comparative “experienced head” in the side, Glass said: “Well that isn’t something I have experienced too often! But I am extremely proud of all the ‘young ones’ in there.”
At the age of 16 years and 88 days, the performance of midfielder Moore deserves to be spotlighted. He was tenacious, confident and accurate in possession prior to his afternoon being prematurely ended due to a calf knock.
And Glass was blown away by the Scotland under-17 international’s debut display.
“Craig was unbelievable,” said Glass.
“We were talking before the game about how I made my debut at Dumbarton in the Championship – I got one minute at the end and never even touched the ball.
“We were 3-0 up at Dumbarton and I was still bricking it.
“So for Craig to come here in front of 50,000 and make his debut at Ibrox is remarkable.
“When I was coming back from my injury, I saw a bit of him training and he was always one of the stand-outs.”
James Tavernier settled the contest deep into the second half, slotting home a spot-kick following a Scott Mcmann handball.
“It’s just one of those things – it’s just unfortunate,” added Glass.
“If the ball hit his hand, it’s hit his hand. Scotty will be fine. We’ll pick him up and move on to Hibs next week.”
To the game itself and Rangers captain Tavernier’s second-half penalty rescued his side at a foggy Ibrox.
The league leaders move seven points ahead of newly-crowned Premier Sports Cup winners Celtic, albeit their Old Firm rivals now have a game in hand.
The home side went into the game unbeaten in seven matches since Giovanni Van Bronckhorst took over as boss and the performance was perhaps the poorest of his tenure, although the pre-match indicators looked in his favour.
It was United who threatened first in the fourth minute when former Gers striker Nicky Clark tested keeper Allan Mcgregor with a low drive from the edge of the box before a Mochrie effort was blocked by Calvin Bassey for a corner which came to nothing.
By then Tavernier had moved back to right-back, Nathan Patterson to leftback and Bassey back into the middle but the home side could not find any rhythm.
In the 15th minute United’s stand-in keeper
Trevor Carson had to deal with a decent long-range drive from Tavernier before Gers striker Alfredo Morelos screwed a shot wide of the post.
Just before the break Patterson’s cross from the left found Morelos but his header was tipped over the bar by Carson and a fruitless corner was the last action of the half.
Rangers forward Scott Wright replaced John Lundstram at the interval but there was no immediate improvement, albeit in the 50th minute Morelos blasted a shot over the bar from 14 yards.
Joe Aribo replaced Scott Arfield in the 64th minute and just before, Wright struck a shot straight at Carson from seven yards.
Moore, injured in trying to stop the move, was carried from the field on a stretcher to be replaced by fellow teenager Kerr Smith, 17. Seconds later, Mcmann illegally prevented Tavernier’s cross from going into the danger area and referee Alan Muir pointed to the spot.
The Gers skipper slammed the penalty past Carson and the home supporters cheered as much in relief as joy.
Morelos then had the ball in the net from a whipped-in Tavernier freekick but the offside flag was up.
United went all out to draw level and 18-year-old striker Watson sent a header on to the top of the bar and over in the five minutes of added time but on a day when the performance was poor, Tavernier’s goal could prove crucial in the title race.