Dundee Utd 1-3 Rangers: Philippe Clement’s side come from behind to end winless Premiership away run | Football news
Rangers came from behind to beat Dundee United to claim their first away win of 2025 in the Scottish Premiership, but it was not without controversy.
With the win guaranteed, Mohamed Diomande was shown a red card in stoppage time after a clash with Kevin Holt, although it was not clear what the exact foul was. Referee Nick Walsh was called in front of the monitor only to stand by his decision on the pitch, much to the dismay of the Rangers bench.
Sam Dalby got United off to a dream start as he scored his 11th league goal of the season to put them in front and Diomande struck for a brilliant equalizer before half-time.
Rangers completed the turnaround after the break when Robin Propper’s shot deflected off Holt and into the net and Cyriel Dessers sealed the win shortly after his goal was ruled out for offside.
Their first away win in four games moved them to within 10 points of leaders Celtic, although they have played a game more, while Dundee United remain third.
Rangers away win
Rangers have come from behind on seven previous occasions in the league, drawing three and losing four, but proved too strong for Jim Goodwin’s third-placed United.
The visitors almost fell behind in the fourth minute when Dalby headed Ryan Strain’s corner against the post before Rangers captain James Tavernier hooked the ball to safety.
The next real scoring action came in the 16th minute when away goalkeeper Jack Butland was forced into a fine save from Luca Stephenson’s long-range drive before Dalby headed home.
However, Dalby, on loan from Wrexham until the end of the season, pounced after the Rangers defense failed to deal with Will Ferry’s long throw, driving the ball high past Butland from 10 yards to take his tally to 11 for the season.
Rangers equalized when Diomande took a pass from Tavernier and drilled a shot from the edge of the box through a mix of tangerine jerseys and into the far post past goalkeeper Jack Walton.
United remained dangerous, and Butland put Dalby through from the first after a cross from Strain, while Walton saved Dessers and Nedim Bajrami to end the first half.
Rangers took the lead four minutes from time when, following a corner, an unmarked Propper took a pass from Hagi inside the Terrors box, turned and fired the ball past Holt and past a helpless Walton for his second goal for the club.
Moments later, Dessers finished with only Walton to beat, but the United keeper stood firm.
Hamza Igamane’s curling shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Walton before Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin turned Dalby’s cross onto his own post and the visitors escaped.
Goodwin’s side pushed bodies forward leaving gaps.
Dessers had the ball in the United net after a pass from Bajrami, but the offside flag was correctly raised.
However, in the 86th minute, the Nigerian striker sealed the victory with a shot from substitute Zak Lovelace’s pass high past Walton.
Diomande hit the post but referee Walsh sent him packing after a clash with Holt, with the official standing by his original decision after looking at his pitchside monitor at the behest of his VAR.
Should Diomande have been sent off?
Here’s what the Sky Sports pundits had to say about the stoppage time decision.
Chris Boyd:
“Uncomfortable. I think sometimes when you approach the monitor you can be too stubborn.
“Sometimes you just have to admit you’ve made a mistake and Nick Walsh should. No excessive force, no brutality and if I were Rangers I’d have my appeal straight away.
“I think it’s a little unconvincing, even if he slaps them.
“There’s no excessive force in it. There’s no brutality. I mean, I can’t understand.
“Nick Walsh is right there and from his angle it might look like he’s caught him. It’s unconvincing.
“I’ve watched it about 40 times here and we’re still arguing about it, which tells us it’s not unconvincing.
Chris Sutton:
“In Dundee and Glasgow would you say that’s violent behaviour? I’m not really sure, but what I would say is you can’t slap people in the face. You just can’t do it.
“He slapped it. I think he caught it. Nick Walsh was in place so I just think, while we can criticize Nick Walsh, I think the player himself has to show discipline and now, you know, he’s going to miss a couple of games.
“You can’t just go around slapping people.
“If you don’t kick him out for that, you’re just saying that all games should be free for all.”
What’s up in the Scottish Premiership?
