Dundee 1 Rangers 2: Dark Blues slump to defeat in first home league game of the season

Dundee failed to build  on last Saturday’s notable win at Ross County as they lost out by the narrowest of margins to Rangers at Dens.

Paul Hartley’s side left themselves with a mountain to climb, possibly showing the Glasgow side too much respect at the start of the game and finding themselves two goals in arrears.

They did manage to pull one back and made a much better fist of things in the second 45 however, Mark Warburton’s men held on to take all three points.

Rangers took the game by the scruff of the neck straight from kick-off and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring in the 14^th minute with the ball breaking to Harry Forrester inside the Dundee box and he made no mistake volleying high past home keeper Scott Bain.

The Dark Blues were toiling and just could not get a foothold in the game with a rare shot from Danny Williams being easily saved by Rangers keeper Wes Foderingham.

Warburton’s side continued to dominate possession and they finally increased their lead in the 39^th minute when Lee Wallace cut the ball back to Kenny Miller who again gave Bain no chance with a fierce left-foot shot.

The keeper then did incredibly well to prevent Rangers making it three when Miller was played straight through on goal with Bain diving bravely at his feet to snuff out the danger.

However, the Dark Blues secured a lifeline in the 44^th minute when Williams sent a corner in from the right with Mark O’Hara rising highest to head past Foderingham from six yards.

It was a more even contest as the second-half progressed with both sides struggling to carve out clear-cut chances.

However, Dundee did finally have one in the 66^th minute when Williams found himself straight through on goal but he could not get the ball out of his feet and Foderingham snuffed out the danger.

Forrester, who was booked at the start of the second half, was then incredibly lucky not to see yellow again, not once but twice, with reckless challenges on Cammy Kerr as well as Michael Duffy and it was no surprise to see the goalscorer substituted.

The Dark Blues had another chance when Williams sent a corner in from the right with sub Yordi Teijsse getting his head to the ball but he could not keep it down and it sailed over the crossbar.

As the game edged to a conclusion, Dundee continued to press with Rangers looking increasingly nervy.

However, Warburton’s side held on to take all three points.

See  Monday’s Courier for full report, reaction and analysis.