Derek Mcinnes’ seven-game winning run as Rangers manager came to an end on Saturday night as Dundee earned a well-deserved draw at Dens Park.
Both sides came into the match on good form, with Dundee and Rangers sitting fourth and second in the league respectively. Stephen Pressley named an unchanged XI from their dramatic 2-1 victory away at the Falkirk Stadium, whilst Derek Mcinnes brought in winger Badredine Bouanani in the place of Kevin Kelsy.
Rangers started the brighter of the two teams in the opening minutes as Djeidi Gassama came close to getting on the end of a through ball from Bouanani, but Owen Goodman came out to collect. Bouanani was then played through on goal himself, but there was too much on the pass.
Dundee then found their feet. Ash Hay came very close to getting on the end of a lobbed through ball, but Ivan Pandur managed to collect. Dundee then stepped up their press, putting Rangers under pressure in their own third.
There was a break in play seven minutes into the match for a potential handball by Dundee, but this was quickly dismissed by VAR.
Alan Forrest had Dundee’s first shot on target at the 12 minute mark after a smart layoff from Ash Hay, but his effort was comfortably saved. Bouanani continued his bright start shortly after, but his delicate chipped ball into Naderi had too much on it.
Neither side could find the breakthrough in what was an entertaining and tightly contested opening twenty minutes.
Bouanani created another chance for Rangers as he continued to torment the Dundee defence. He beat two defenders on the right wing and squared the ball across the box, but the Rangers shot was blocked.
Pandur was forced to tip a looping header from Ryan Astley over his own bar in the 27th minute. Dundee came close again seconds later, but Hay’s header crashed off the Rangers bar following a corner kick.
Dundee continued to frustrate Rangers as they searched for an opener. The Rangers midfield and defence struggled to cope with driving runs from deep by the Dundee forward line, and Forrest in particular.
Dundee took the lead in the 37th minute through Fink. Astley played another good long ball over the top which was taken down well by Hay. Hay then played through Fink, who took the ball around Pandur and slotted it into an empty net.
Dundee had another good chance minutes later after Joseph Bevan did brilliantly to drive through the Rangers midfield, but Makhanya managed to make a last-ditch tackle and prevent a quickfire second from the hosts.
Rangers then immediately went up the other end and equalised through Bouanani in the 42nd minute. After his first shot was blocked, he curled a great effort into the top left corner to cap off a great first half from the Rangers winger.
Dundee came close to reclaiming the lead just before half time, but Fink’s flicked effort was just wide of the post.
Both sides could be happy with the scoreline at the break after a frantic first half. Both teams threatened for large parts of the half, with Bouanani and Forrest being the standouts for either side.
Rangers began to threaten early in the second half through the skill and directness of Kim Min-Su. The Rangers man had the beating of his man on multiple occasions to set up his teammates before having a long-range effort himself in the 50th minute that went narrowly wide.
Rangers were largely restricted to long-range efforts at the beginning of the half. Gassama’s effort was tipped wide by Goodman and Rangers could not take advantage of the resulting corner.
Long-range efforts eventually paid off for the away side in the 60th minute as Raskin rifled an effort in off the underside of the bar to send the away end wild.
Rangers almost had a third just minutes later as yet another long range effort from Bouanani forced Goodman into making a good save.
Dundee were gifted an equaliser out of nothing in the 69th minute. Dan Neil gave the ball away just outside his own box and Calum Jones was on hand to slot the ball into the bottom right corner.
Rangers thought they had taken the lead four minutes later, but Owen Bevan made a brilliant goal line clearance to deny the in-form Ryan Naderi.
Dundee fans were screaming for a red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity after Emmanuel Fernandez prevented Dundee from launching a counter attack, but VAR quickly dismissed it.
After a quiet second half, Forrest managed to beat his man and play Ethan Hamilton in down the wing, but his driven cross was collected by Pandur. Dundee’s equaliser had sparked them back into life after struggling to gain a foothold in the game after half time.
Rangers upped the pressure on the Dundee backline, but great defending from both Drey Wright and Imari Samuels stopped both Rangers wingers from getting their crosses away.
Rangers came close to snatching the lead in the 90th minute after Naderi beat Goodman to the ball and took it past the Dundee goalkeeper. Owen Bevan was on hand again to make another goal saving clearance and keep the score level.
Both sides threatened in the closing minutes, but neither could find a breakthrough and the game finished level. A fair result for both sides after a very entertaining evening at Dens Park.
Dundee
Owen Goodman, Ryan Astley, Owen Bevan, Drey Wright, Imari Samuels, Alan Forrest, Callum Jones, Ethan Hamilton, Joseph Bevan (Alfie Harrison 66’) Bradley Fink, Ash Hay
Rangers
Ivan Pandur, Dujon Sterling, Olwethu Makhanya, Emmanuel Fernandez, James Penrice, Djeidi Gassama, Nicolas Raskin, Dan Neil, Badredine Bounanani (Findlay Curtis 76’), Kim Min-Su (Kevin Kelsy 76’), Ryan Naderi
