Rangers 1-1 Dundee United: Philippe Clement's side salvage a draw as pressure increases on manager
Rangers managed to equalize and secure a 1-1 tie against Dundee United, easing some of the mounting pressure on manager Philippe Clement.
The start of the game at Ibrox was pushed back due to delays caused by Storm Bert, which slowed United's arrival. However, the visitors stayed calm and managed to withstand some initial pressure before Sam Dalby scored to put them in the lead.
The crowd at Ibrox erupted with boos as the home team sought to level the score before halftime. However, Robin Propper's attempt was disallowed due to a handball that occurred during the play.
Vaclav Cerny was once again the standout performer for Rangers, equalizing with a beautifully curved shot. However, he had another effort ruled out for offside.
Danilo missed an excellent opportunity, while Jack Walton made a fantastic double save to stop attempts from Ianis Hagi and Propper in the final moments of the game. He also managed to block a shot from Hamza Igamane during stoppage time.
Rangers are currently in third place in the Scottish Premiership standings, and if Celtic secures a victory against Hearts, Rangers could find themselves trailing by 12 points. Meanwhile, Jim Goodwin's United team is three points behind Clement's squad, which holds the fourth position.
Fans Frustrated As Rangers Disappoint Once More
Goodwin's strategy before the match was to "build some anxiety" and leverage the energy of the Rangers supporters to their benefit. His players executed his plan well, as the boos from the crowd increased at Ibrox as the game progressed.
The home team had a couple of opportunities early in the match, with Nicolas Raskin and Nedim Bajrami both testing Walton, who made some impressive saves.
However, it was United who struck first when Dalby found himself completely unmarked in the penalty area. He connected with an accurate cross from Vicko Sevelj and headed the ball past Jack Butland, putting the score at 1-0.
Kai Fotheringham and David Babunski both had opportunities to extend United's advantage. However, just before halftime, Rangers managed to score with a goal from Propper, but it was disallowed due to a handball by Connor Barron.
At halftime, Clement decided to switch things up by substituting Hagi and Danilo for Mohamed Diomande and Cyriel Dessers, hoping to find some energy and inspiration to turn the game around.
Danilo missed an incredible opportunity when Cerny broke through the United defense and passed the ball back to him. The Brazilian forward ended up shooting wide of the goal when he should have been aiming for the net.
Cerny's curling shot from outside the penalty area went just over the crossbar, but Rangers' relentless pressure in the second half eventually resulted in a goal when the winger found the net, leveling the score at 1-1 with 25 minutes left to play.
Walton made a save right in front of Danilo, just as Cerny was about to put the ball in the goal, but it was obvious that he was well offside.
In the 86th minute, the Rangers almost scored again when Walton deflected a long-range shot from Hagi. Danilo attempted to capitalize on the rebound, but his shot was blocked. Walton then had to make a crucial save up close from Propper.
Walton pulled off an impressive save against Gers substitute Igamane during stoppage time. However, once again, Rangers couldn't meet expectations, leading their frustrated fans to express their dissatisfaction as their struggling manager continues to face challenges.
Clement Applauds Second Half, Laments Lost Points
Rangers coach Philippe Clement:
It's really disappointing to drop these points, particularly after the effort the team put in during the second half.
I wasn't happy with how we played in the first half; it felt like a goalless draw. They capitalized on their only opportunity, which made things tough for us.
In the latter part of the game, I witnessed the performance I had hoped for from my team—control of the match, creating opportunities, a fierce competitive spirit, and solid defense. The only thing lacking was a second goal, and it's incredibly frustrating to lose out on two points, especially since we've already lost too many this season.
"Today, we had a few players who didn't perform well and lacked courage. We need to demonstrate a lot more of what we showcased in the second half. I will be quite strict about this."
Goodwin Praises United's Resilience
Manager Jim Goodwin of Dundee United:
Considering the situation leading up to the match and everything the players have faced, it was truly a test of their character. I'm thrilled that we managed to leave such a tough place with a very important point.
We did an excellent job protecting our goal, although there was one brief mistake. Jack Walton definitely deserves a shout-out for making two crucial saves in the second half, especially that key save near the end of the match.
"We're a bit let down that we didn't secure all three points, especially considering how we conceded the goal. Rangers scored a great goal, but it was exactly the type of play we had discussed prior to the match, especially in relation to Cerny."
"Unfortunately, we lost focus for a moment and ended up giving away a fantastic goal."
