Rangers vs Dundee. Scottish Premiership.
Ibrox StadiumAttendance47,229.
Report as 10-player Rangers beat Dundee 3-1 at Ibrox; Amadou Bakayoko fired the visitors ahead; goals from Cyriel Dessers and Abdallah Sima plus a James Tavernier penalty had Rangers 3-1 up by the break; Jose Cifuentes was sent off after a VAR check
Monday 11 December 2023 14:02, UK
Philippe Clement says Rangers have "made a big step forward" after they came from behind to beat Dundee and narrow the gap to Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.
The Ibrox side - who remain unbeaten under the Belgian - are now five points behind their Old Firm rivals with a game in hand, after Celtic lost at Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Rangers did things the hard way, however, as Amadou Bakayoko gave Dundee an early lead in Glasgow before Cyriel Dessers equalised, James Tavernier converted from the penalty spot and Abdallah Sima scored a third.
Jose Cifuentes was then sent off before half-time after his challenge on Bakayoko was upgraded to a red following a VAR check - but Rangers have appealed the decision with a hearing on Tuesday to decide if he misses the Viaplay Cup final against Aberdeen on Sunday.
"At the end, you have to be happy because everybody saw a real team today," Clement said after the 3-1 victory.
"Of course, if you get a red card before half-time, it's difficult to play with 10 men but the team did really well, really disciplined and we have the best chances in the second half. It wasn't just defending.
"We could have scored more goals than the three today [Saturday] and we also had one disallowed and I still don't see what the foul was and two decisions with penalties also.
"A lot of things happened in the game but in the end, we have to look at ourselves and you see a team and I'm really happy about that.
"You see this dressing room is growing week by week and you see players coming into positions and playing for the team, giving everything.
"You can see the mentality is there and if we can keep that, we will have a very good season.
"The team has made a big step forward if I compare with two or three months ago, it is a total difference in that way and it needs to stay like that all season.
"I demand that everybody fights really hard for each other in whatever position they have to play, which they did, and we get a deserved victory."
Rangers 'keeper Jack Butland had to produce a fantastic save from Lyall Cameron in the fourth minute after he had waltzed through the Gers defence with ease.
The home side did not heed the warning.
Cameron floated the corner into the box and after bobbing off a couple of heads it fell to unmarked Bakayoko who knocked in from five yards.
The mood inside Ibrox changed until Dessers equalised.
Dundee's Jordan McGhee headed Tavernier's long and aimless ball straight to Gers midfielder Todd Cantwell who moved the ball into the former Feyenoord striker who saw his first effort blocked but he hammered his second attempt high past Carson.
The afternoon got worse for the Taysiders when referee Kevin Clancy was sent to check his monitor for a possible penalty when Sima's shirt was pulled by Aaron Donnelly at a corner.
Clancy pointed to the spot and Tavernier sent Carson the wrong way and the game was turned on its head although the Light Blues defence still looked leaky.
However, Sima's powerful header from a Tavernier corner gave Carson no chance and made it four goals in three games for the Senegalese attacker.
Dundee's Joe Shaughnessy had the ball in the Rangers net minutes later but Bakayoko had barged into Butland to prevent him gathering and a free-kick was correctly given.
Then Cantwell netted for Rangers but Clancy had already blown for an infringement.
As Rangers pressed, Cantwell's powerful drive was brilliantly saved by Carson before Tavernier clipped the top of the bar with an effort.
In added time, Clancy again went pitchside to check if a foul by Cifuentes on Bakayoko was worth more than a yellow and indeed returned to dismiss the midfielder.
Cantwell was sacrificed for the more defensive Dujon Sterling with Matondo making way for Ross McCausland for the second half.
Dundee tried to make their numerical advantage count but Rangers were making clearer chances.
Cameron tested Butland with a long-range drive in the 58th minute before Clement was booked for venting his spleen on the touchline.
Sima should have scored a second in the 64th minute after bursting through the Dundee defence but shot wide and then Dessers got himself clear only to be crowded out by backtracking defenders.
Clement soon replaced Dessers with Kemar Roofe before Dundee skipper Joe Shaughnessy cleared a Leon Balogun shot off the line and Sterling crashed a shot off the post in the final minute as the home side ran out comfortable winners.
Dundee boss Tony Docherty was frustrated by the penalty decision at 1-1:
"I would have to say the way we started the game I was really pleased, we were positive and we gained territory like we wanted.
"We then make a mistake for the equaliser but the big issue I've got is the decision for the penalty kick.
"At 1-1 I think it's hugely pivotal in the match and I've got a real issue with the image that's presented to Kevin (Clancy).
"I spoke to Kevin and I thought he had a good game today, but it's tough on him because he's seeing it and feeling it, he's in that area and he's not made a clear and obvious error.
"Speak to my player Aaron Donnelly, Sima's got a hold of his jersey so like an old-fashioned man for man marking they've got a gold of each other.
"The image that's presented to Kevin Clancy makes it look like a penalty kick and it's a huge moment in the game and it's then uphill from there.
"I thought that decision influenced the match."
Rangers' attention now turns to the Europa League with a match away to Real Betis on Thursday night. Kick-off 8pm.
They then face Aberdeen in the Viaplay Cup final at Hampden Park on December 17. Kick-off 3pm.
Dundee's next Scottish Premiership match is away to Ross County on December 16. Kick-off 3pm.
