Rangers came from to beat Dundee United to claim their first away win of 2025 in the Scottish Premiership, but it wasn’t without controversy.
With the victory guaranteed, Mohamed Diomande was shown a straight red card in stoppage-time after clashing with Kevin Holt, although it was unclear what the exact offence was. Referee Nick Walsh was called to the monitor only to stick to his on-field decision, much to the dismay of the Rangers bench.
Sam Dalby had given United a dream start as he fired in his 11th league goal of the season to put them ahead only for Diomande to fire in a brilliant equaliser before half-time.
Rangers completed the turnaround after the break when Robin Propper’s shot deflected off Holt and into the net with Cyriel Dessers making sure of the win shortly after he had a goal ruled out for offside.
Their first away win in four games moves them to within 10 points of leaders Celtic, albeit having played a game more, while Dundee United remain in third.
A win on the road for Rangers
Rangers had fallen behind on seven previous occasions in the league, drawing three and losing four, but they proved too strong for Jim Goodwin’s third-placed United.
The visitors almost fell behind in the fourth minute when Dalby headed a Ryan Strain corner against the post before Rangers skipper James Tavernier hooked the ball away to safety.
The next real goalmouth action came in the 16th minute when visiting keeper Jack Butland was forced into a fine save from Luca Stephenson’s drive from distance before Dalby headed wide.
However, Dalby, whose loan from Wrexham will go onto the end of the season, pounced after the Rangers defence failed miserably to deal with a long throw from Will Ferry, forcing the ball high past Butland from 10 yards to take his tally to 11 for the season.
Rangers equalised when Diomande took a pass from Tavernier and drilled a shot from the edge of the box through a clutch of tangerine jerseys and in at the far post past keeper Jack Walton.
United remained dangerous and Butland made a point-blank save from Dalby following a cross from Strain, while Walton made saves from Dessers and Nedim Bajrami to finish the first half.
Rangers took the lead four minutes after the restart when, following a corner, the unmarked Propper took a pass from Hagi inside the Terrors’ box, turned and shot with the ball coming off Holt and past the helpless Walton, for his second goal for the club.
Moments later, Dessers was through with only Walton to beat but the United keeper held firm.
Walton made a good save from Hamza Igamane’s curled shot from the edge of the box before Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin turned a Dalby cross against his own post, with the visitors escaping.
Goodwin’s side pushed bodies forward leaving gaps.
Dessers had the ball in the United net from a Bajrami pass but the offside flag was correctly raised.
However, the Nigeria striker flashed a shot from a pass from substitute Zak Lovelace high past Walton in the 86th minute to seal the win.
Diomande hit the post but was then sent packing by referee Walsh after tangling with Holt, the official sticking with his original decision after looking at his pitchside monitor at the behest of his VAR.