DaMarcus Beasley and Miller put United to the sword

Published on Tuesday 15 December 2009 22:22

RANGERS returned to the scene of last season's championship triumph to deliver their most compelling performance yet of the current campaign as they reclaimed the summit of the SPL with considerable conviction.

Walter Smith's team subdued Dundee United with far greater comfort than any of their 1,300 supporters who opted out of a boycott of the rescheduled match could dared have hope. A stunning first-half strike from USA international DaMarcus Beasley, the most accomplished performer on view, set Rangers on their way before Kenny Miller's double after the break saw them match the scoreline they recorded when clinching the title at Tannadice seven months ago.

While the victory puts Smith's men a point clear of Celtic at the top of the table, it leaves United seven points off the pace and with their credibility as title challengers seriously diminished. It was a deeply satisfying win for the Ibrox club as they finally finished off a job which had been cut short at half-time because of a waterlogged pitch back on 1 November when they were leading 1-0, United's subsequent decision to charge half-price admission last night causing considerable bad feeling between the clubs.

Beasley's 26th-minute opener, his first goal for Rangers since the 2008 Scottish Cup final, was no more than the visitors deserved for a bright and purposeful start to the match. They were far sharper and more fluent in possession than a United side whose curiously sluggish opening was as of much consternation to Levein as a series of refereeing decisions he perceived to be against them.

The United manager had already railed against officialdom in his programme notes, suggesting his players had been more harshly treated than those from other clubs in recent matches, and he made several forays to the edge of his technical area to protest against some of Mike Tumilty's judgments.

Despite Levein's sense of injustice, however, Tumilty was perfectly positioned to spot a reckless challenge by Danny Cadamarteri on Lee McCulloch which certainly merited the first caution of the night. From the resulting free-kick, Rangers tested United for the first time as Madjid Bougherra lofted the ball forward to Beasley on the edge of the penalty area. The American's low shot troubled Nicky Weaver, the United goalkeeper palming the ball away unconvincingly before kicking it to safety as Miller moved in.

It was a dominant and confident start from Rangers which delighted their reduced travelling support. McCulloch, deployed in central midfield after Kevin Thomson failed a late fitness test on his hamstring problem, twice went close with shots from distance as United were generally forced onto the back foot.

Their defending was necessarily desperate at times, Paul Dixon making a perfectly timed block to keep out a netbound Steven Davis effort after Nacho Novo had eluded two challenges to burst into the penalty area on the left and provide a dangerous low cross.

When the United supporters behind Neil Alexander's goals screamed for a penalty, it was more in hope than expectation as their team finally forced their way into the Rangers box. Jon Daly went down under Sasa Papac's challenge, but again Tumilty was well positioned as he waved play on.

Daly, however, should have put United in front against the run of play just before Beasley did score at the other end. It was Rangers' turn to fume at a decision on this occasion when Beasley was penalised for a challenge on Dixon. Craig Conway's set piece delivery from the left was excellent, picking out the unmarked Daly but the Irish striker directed his header straight into the midriff of Alexander from close range, the goalkeeper gathering it gratefully. From the resumption, Rangers earned a throw-in on the right in an advanced position. Kirk Broadfoot took it quickly, finding Miller who in turn fed the ball back into the path of Beasley on the right corner of the United penalty area. The rejuvenated winger glanced up and curled a fine left-foot shot beyond Weaver into the far corner of the net.

Rangers, now in the same position they were when the fixture was abandoned 46 days earlier, looked to press home their advantage and had their own penalty claim turned down when Boyd went down under Mihael Kovacevic's challenge as he tried to convert a Miller cross on the edge of the six-yard box. Despite furious protests from the Rangers players, Tumilty yet again appeared to have made the right call.

Although United troubled Alexander with some set-piece deliveries before the interval, Allan McGregor's deputy electing to punch them away rather than attempt to catch the ball, they were a shadow of the side who had performed so impressively in the original match.

Levein made a much-needed change at the start of the second half, replacing Kovacevic with Scott Robertson. The Scottish international moved into central midfield, with Sean Dillon dropping back to replace Kovacevic at right-back, and quickly engineered a shift in momentum which provided some encouragement for the United supporters.

The home side were now securing a greater share of possession, their increased desire making it much more difficult for Rangers to hold onto the ball. It was a period of play upon which they needed to capitalise, but Daly was culpable of two more failed attempts to convert more than decent scoring opportunities. From the first, he miskicked completely in front of goal after being picked out by another fine delivery from Conway. Daly then directed a near post header wastefully off target from Dixon's right wing corner.

As in the first half, Rangers made United pay for their striker's profligacy as they doubled their lead in the 58th minute and reclaimed a firm grip of the contest. The goal was created in some style by Novo, the little Spaniard embarking on a weaving run down the left which placed the United defence in considerable disarray. It culminated in him brushing aside Dillon's challenge before floating over a cross which Miller met with a firm close range header, giving Weaver no chance.

United were almost visibly deflated and fortunate not to find themselves 3-0 down from the restart as they conceded possession immediately, allowing Kris Boyd a sight of goal. His shot was deflected narrowly wide. The home goal had another lucky escape when Darren Dods was only spared an own goal by Weaver's instinctive save, then Garry Kenneth stretched out a boot to divert a Miller shot behind.

Rangers were eager to put the outcome beyond any lingering doubt and duly did so with 15 minutes remaining. Beasley, making his claims for a regular run in the team ever more irresistible, beat two men to reach the byline and cut the ball back for Miller, who stepped inside before planting a precise low left-foot shot beyond Weaver's left hand into the corner of the net.

Dundee United: Weaver, Kovacevic (S.Robertson 46), Dods, Kenneth, Dixon; Dillon, Gomis (Goodwillie 67), Buaben, Conway; Cadamarteri (Myrie-Williams 59), Daly. Subs not used: Banks, D.Robertson, Swanson, Casalinuovo.

Rangers: Alexander, Broadfoot, Bougherra, Weir, Papac; Beasley (Naismith 82), Davis, McCulloch, Novo (Fleck 85); Miller, Boyd (Lafferty 82). Subs not used: Gallacher, Whittaker, Little, Wilson.