BOG STANDARD
THE PITCH TURNED OUT FINE – GERS’ PERFORMANCE WAS..
DUNDEE ......... 0 RANGERS ......... 0
SCOTT BURNS AT DENS PARK
The Dens Park pitch has spent most of recent weeks under water but it and Dundee managed to drain even more life out of Rangers’ title dream last night.
Philippe Clement’s men have lost form at the wrong time and it could prove costly.
This was their game in hand and the chance to cut Celtic’s lead to just one point – but instead they fluffed their lines and had to settle for a point after losing in Dingwall on Sunday afternoon.
A season that promised so much is now in danger of ending badly with Celtic in the Premiership driving seat.
The Hoops have a threepoint lead going into the split and Rangers have to find a way to claw that back in the run-in. You wouldn’t bet on them on current form.
They have picked up just two points from the last nine. It is also just two wins in the last eight games in all competitions.
Clement wanted a reaction after the Dingwall disaster but didn’t get one. His team now face Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
Steven Naismith and his Hearts players, if they were watching this, will certainly be fancying their chances.
Credit Tony Docherty and Dundee who performed superbly and had a great shape.
It was their first point against the top two and thoroughly deserved. Dundee are now two points behind St Mirren in fifth.
They are firmly in the fight for European football, whether Docherty admits it or not.
This game was finally on at the third attempt. The Dens Park pitch had twice been deemed unplayable just hours before kick-off.
The call-offs had brought some stinging criticism from Clement on the damage it was doing to the reputation of Scotland’s top flight.
But the damage to their own title bid has been self-inflicted with Sunday’s loss to Ross County meaning they no longer had the chance to move above Celtic with a win at Dens.
The Ibrox boss made three changes after their Dingwall defeat with Borna Barisic, Kieran Dowell and Cyriel Dessers dropped to the bench.
Kemar Roofe came in for his first start since December while Dujon Sterling and Tom Lawrence also got the nod.
Docherty also freshened his team up from the one that got the job done at Aberdeen.
The Rangers defence had come under fire since at the weekend and Dundee were keen to test them from the off.
Malachi Boateng fired a shot across the face after a poor clearance from the Ibrox men in just the first minute.
The home fans were left fuming as Gers played on with Dark Blues captain Joe Shaughnessy down injured.
Roofe headed wide before the defender was replaced by Antonio Portales.
Rangers tried to challenge the new Dundee backline immediately. Todd Cantwell put a good ball through and Abdallah Sima used his pace to burst clear but Jon McCracken came off his line to make a decent block with his leg.
Dundee continued to play the better stuff in the first 20 minutes. The attacking trident of Lyall Cameron, Luke McCowan and Scott Tiffoney were a constant threat.
Jack Butland pushed a Jordan McGhee shot wide and the England cap, hoping for an international recall, then made a double save to keep out a
McCowan free-kick and a follow-up from Tiffoney. Amadou Bakayoko eventually netted but was flagged offside and VAR agreed.
Rangers had been poor and sluggish. It looked like their confidence had taken a knock from the weekend.
They did eventually come to life just before the half-hour as a James Tavernier free-kick from distance forced McCracken to tip behind.
The Rangers captain took the corner but Connor Goldson’s header was straight at the keeper.
The visitors finished the first half the stronger as Dundee dropped deeper but the home side managed to go in level.
There was a bit of banter at half-time as the tannoy announcer joked the half-time draw would take place in the shallow end.
Rangers dived back in after the break but lacked that creative spark.
They had a number of shots blocked and everything was pretty powder puff.
Clement knew he needed more and Dessers, Dowell and Rabbi Matondo came on for Roofe, Cantwell and Fabio Silva, who had all been pretty underwhelming.
Dundee boss Docherty responded. Bakayoko and Tiffoney stepped aside for Curtis Main and Dara Costelloe but they were losing ground and there was very little to get them up the park.
They had a rare sight of goal when McCowan let fly from distance but John Souttar blocked bravely and was left grounded for his troubles.
The Dark Blues were happy to sit in their shape and defend. It was up to Rangers to open them up and they struggled big time.
Dessers did give them a bit of hope with a solo run and shot that McCracken did well to tip wide.
Ross McCausland replaced Sima but Rangers nobody in a red shirt seemed able to produce a bit of magic or to take this game by the scruff of the neck.
Tavernier had a late free-kick chance but his effort went over.
Rangers players were booed off by an angry mob behind the goal. Dundee’s rightly took the acclaim from their support.