Glasgow | Rangers poor home form continues

Rangers 2 - 2 Mark Lee

Managerless Rangers remain without a home win in the league this season after a pulsating draw with Dundee United.

Author | Mark Lee

Jim Goodwin’s side produced a stirring second-half comeback that looked set to earn them a first victory in Govan since 2011, only for Rangers captain James Tavernier to lash in a powerful late equaliser.

The visitors turned the contest on its head after the break, with substitute Kristijan Trapanovski scoring with virtually his first touch before Craig Sibbald’s superb strike put United ahead and sent the 900 travelling supporters into delirium as many home fans began to drift away.

Those who stayed witnessed Rangers salvage a point, though interim manager Steven Smith will have been frustrated not to see his side build on a strong first-half display that had been capped by a fine Thelo Aasgaard opener. The midfielder cut inside from the left before bending a precise finish into the top corner.

A draw was perhaps a fair reflection of the match, with Rangers dominant before the interval and United resurgent after it. The hosts were grateful to Jack Butland late on, the goalkeeper producing a superb save to deny Trapanovski a winner while Pantuche Camara fired narrowly over in the dying moments as Ibrox emptied.

It was a curious end to a contest that began with Rangers in control but slipped away as the afternoon wore on.

Post match press conference

Same old story for Rangers

Rangers still cannot find a way to produce a complete 90-minute performance, regardless of who is in the dugout.

Several of the home players looked transformed from the figures who had struggled to make any impact under the previous head coach.

Thelo Aasgaard looked every inch the commanding Norway international, repeatedly testing Yevhen Kucherenko, who twice produced fine saves to keep him out. His goal was a genuine moment of quality, combining skill, composure and power in equal measure.

For a spell, it felt as though the pressure had lifted and Rangers were finally playing with freedom. The problem was that it lasted only one half. Dundee United regrouped, made adjustments and overpowered their hosts after the break.

Familiar defensive frailties cost Rangers once again, with the side conceding soft goals and showing little sign of learning from the same mistakes.