Rangers vs Dundee. Scottish Premiership.
Ibrox StadiumAttendance45,760.
Match report as Rangers recover from 2-0 down after goals from Dundee's Jordan McGhee and Antonio Portales to win 5-2 thanks to Ross McCausland, Cyriel Dessers, Todd Cantwell and a double from substitute Scott Wright; Celtic need a point at Kilmarnock on Wednesday to win the title
Wednesday 15 May 2024 09:45, UK
Rangers put Celtic's title celebrations on hold for at least another night as they came from behind to beat Dundee 5-2 at Ibrox.
Dundee scored twice in just over two first-half minutes through Jordan McGhee and Antonio Portales to put Celtic within touching distance of the title, but Ross McCausland handed Rangers a lifeline just before the break.
It proved to be vital as Rangers marched on to victory thanks to goals from Cyriel Dessers and Todd Cantwell in the second half. Scott Wright added two of his own off the bench late on as Philippe Clement's side signed off in style at Ibrox.
Despite Rangers' best efforts against Dundee, Celtic need to claim just a point at Kilmarnock on Wednesday night to become Scottish Premiership champions - live on Sky Sports.
Dundee's defeat ensures St Mirren seal fifth place, which means a return to European football for the first time in 37 years.
The Rangers fans who turned up less than enthusiastic after the demoralising weekend defeat to Celtic knew that boss Clement was without the services of 10 injured players with John Lundstram suspended after being sent off at Parkhead.
Ridvan Yilmaz, Nico Raskin, Cantwell and McCausland came into the side as did Leon King, who made his first start of the season.
Ibrox was wet and subdued but the fans were alerted by a powerful Yilmaz drive in the third minute following a neat turn which drew a fine save from Jon McCracken.
The Taysiders were neat and tidy in possession but in the 16th minute Fabio Silva took a pass from Dessers, tip-toed past the Dundee defence and clipped the bar with a vicious angled-drive.
Rangers captain James Tavernier cleared the bar with a free-kick from 25 yards on the half-hour mark before McCracken tipped a shot from McCausland over the bar, after Luke McCowan gave the ball away.
Dundee attacker Amadou Bakayoko then forced Jack Butland into a decent save with a 20-yard drive but the Englishman did not look too clever when McGhee popped up at the back post to stab defender Owen Dodgson's searching cross down into the ground and into the roof of the net.
More condemnatory boos rang around the stadium when Portales' cheeky finish from a Dodgson cross following a quick Dundee free-kick sped past Butland and into the far corner.
McCausland reduced the deficit just before the break when he poked the ball through the legs of McCracken after the Dundee defence hesitated but it was not enough to stop the half-time boos from the disgruntled home supporters.
Better was expected after the break and the home side drew level when Dessers headed in a Cantwell cross from six yards for his 22nd Rangers goal of the season and the hosts found fresh zest.
McCracken parried away a Cantwell effort, Yilmaz fired just over before he was replaced with 21-year-old Robbie Fraser making his debut.
Cantwell's goal took most people by surprise, including McCracken, with the midfielder picking up a pass from Tavernier wide on the right and firing the ball high over the Dundee 'keeper and into the net.
McCracken then made terrific saves from Silva and Dessers before the latter somehow knocked a Cantwell cross over the bar, while Wright, one of a clutch of substitutes, added a fourth following a cross from fellow replacement Kieran Dowell and grabbed his double with a fine finish at the death.
Rangers boss Philippe Clement: "It's a well deserved win. We did really good things on the ball all game long, but in the first half we conceded stupid goals.
"We missed our aggression and the reaction after losing the ball [wasn't good enough]. We were only thinking with the ball. Then you get in trouble.
"[We had] to make ourselves angry at half-time and then you see the reaction from the players and what they can do.
"A very important evening with a lot of quality goals and a lot of young guys out of the academy coming on.
"We showed that we are a really good team. We need to get more consistency with that. It's now about these last two games.
"After the disappointment of a few days ago, to go 2-0 down and getting the boos from the fans and reacting that way, it shows the resilience that is in this group.
"We need to show that in the final two games."
Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "Very much a game of two halves. First half I thought we were by far the better team. Losing a goal on half-time was pivotal. We had to try and hold it that bit longer, but we didn't.
"Their third goal - there's no way he meant that, no chance. Everybody remembers how a game finishes, but we had to win the game for our objectives, so we went to 4-4-2, which opened us up.
"It's important to note that we are a work in progress. The players have done magnificent to get into the top-six position. There's a lot of learning from tonight and the last three or four games in the top six.
"They deserve huge credit for getting to this stage, but there was a bit of naivety tonight."
Rangers' final Scottish Premiership match of the season is away to Hearts on Saturday, while Dundee host Kilmarnock.
Both games kick off at 12.30pm.
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