Tangerines’ teen spirit has Gers struggling in the fog
RANGERS 1 Tavernier (pen, 71) DUNDEE UNITED 0
Should the victors succeed in their aim in retaining the Premiership title, it is unlikely this game will feature heavily on the celebration DVD.
For starters, the fog that swirled around Ibrox Stadium throughout would be liable to have viewers reaching for their television controls in the hope of sorting out the issue.
Likewise, the narrative of United making light of the absence of a
handful of their top stars to only get undone by a James Tavernier spot-kick, would not be of much interest to the target market.
However, if Gio van Bronckhorst’s men do indeed win the title, this effort, in stretching their lead to seven points
on a difficult afternoon, will definitely be worth its place in the story.
When United’s line-up was announced Ian Harkes, Jeando Fuchs, Dylan Levitt and Peter Pawlett were all notable by their absence, ruled out because of coronavirus-related issues.
In their absence, Tangerines manager Tam Courts turned to the teenagers.
Four: Archie Meekison (19), Chris Mochrie, Darren Watson (both 18), and 16-year-old debutant Craig Moore were in the 11 starters.
Four more: Jack Newman (19), Kerr Smith, Miller Thomson (both 17) and 16-year-old Lewis O’donnell were on the substitutes bench.
“You are never 100% sure how these kids will do,” said Courts who saw Moore stretchered off with a bang to his calf.
“You can take some confidence that you have done some good work on the training pitch with the coaches.
“You have got belief in the senior players who always back whatever game plan we put together and then the young players themselves never ever let you down.
“Particularly when you select three of four of them on the one occasion.
“If you come can’t come here and show their quality in this arena then they will not be top-level Dundee United players but I think every one of our young players has showed there that they have a strong future at the club.”
As he said, the Tangerines started brightly and then showed impressive discipline to stick to their task.
Nicky Clark, one face well known to both home and away fans, produced the first incident of the day when forcing a save from Allan Mcgregor.
It was not lost on the Rangers manager, who immediately abandoned the experiment of playing Tavernier at right centre half.
The skipper was moved out to his usual berth at right-back, Nathan Patterson switched across to left-back from where Calvin Bassey came in to join Connor Goldson.
The home team settled with the pace and power of Patterson causing United all sorts of trouble on their right flank.
Alfredo Morelos dragged a shot wide, Kent went close and Tavernier fired over as they upped the pressure.
Van Bronckhorst freshened things up at hal- time, introducing Scott Wright in place of John Lundstram.
The new man was clearly under instructions to take to the game to United too as he flew down the right repeatedly in his first few minutes on the pitch.
It was arguably the substitution that followed next, though, which made the difference.
Jo Aribo had only been on the pitch for six minutes, brought on for Scott Arfield, when Rangers made the breakthrough.
They got a hand from United – quite literally – when Scott Mcmann made the inexplicable decision to cut out Tavernier’s cross with his arm.
Referee Alan Muir, who could not have failed to miss the sheepish look on the defender’s face, pointed to the penalty spot and the Light Blues captain converted with confidence.
The thunderous roar that granted the breakthrough told its own story.
If the game was almost done, it was a little too early to get carried away with Darren Watson’s late, looping header onto the top of the crossbar a reminder of the need to guard against complacency.