Original source (on modern site) | Article images: [1]
Video Loading Video Unavailable Rangers have cut the gap at the top of the Premiership to six points ahead of Celtic's trip to Ross County tomorrow lunchtime. A double for Malik Tillman was enough for Michael Beale's side to secure the three points at Ibrox against Dundee United. Next up for Rangers, a trip to Celtic in a big showdown at Parkhead. Malik Tillman got his first after defender Connor Goldson picked the ball up between the halfway line and the 18-yard box. He drilled it into Todd Cantwell on the 18-yard line who then flicked it into space for Tillman to run onto to. The American latched onto it and drove the ball past Mark Birighitti in the United goal. Tillman got his second after good play by Tavernier down the right hand side. The Gers captain picked up the ball and drove down the wing before playing it in-field to Ryan Kent. Kent failed to control it but the ball ended up at Tillman's feet. After getting the ball out his feet Tillman blasted it under Birighitti who was unsighted. The last half an hour was a quiet affair which allowed Beale to change formation and go to a back three with Davies, Goldson and Souttar at the back. Celtic next up for Rangers, while United host Hibs. Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic, Cantwell, Jack, Lundstram, Morelos, Kent, Tillman Subs: McLaughlin, Ridvan, Colak, Souttar, Matondo, Arfield, Kamara, Wright, Sakala Dundee United: Birighitti, McMann, Pawlett, Fletcher, Edwards, Sibbald, Behich, McGrath, Freeman, Harkes, Ayina Subs: Newman, Graham, Niskanen, Djoum, Sadat, Fotheringham, Cudjoe, Thomson, O'Donnell 17:50Peter Davidson Michael Beale has called for his Rangers players to be more ruthless in front of goal as he hinted at an area where he could recruit this summer. The Gers boss also revealed the players held a ceremony for Allan McGregor in the changing room after the win against Dundee United where the keeper made his 500th appearance. Beale called for a big performance after impressive displays away from home against Hearts, Hibernian and Motherwell but it was all rather flat until the 38th minute when Bayern Munich loan midfielder Malik Tillman got the breakthrough with a confident finish. READ MORE: Michael Beale craves ruthless Rangers as he reveals extra firepower is on his transfer list 17:36Peter Davidson Michael Beale has praised Cantwell, Tillman and Kent following the 2-0 win today. He told Sportsound: Malik Tillman, Ryan Kent and Tood Cantwell were fantastic against a really stubborn United team. Malik has a knack for scoring which is great, but the other two really contributed as well. 17:14Peter Davidson Rangers2 Dundee United0 Premiership, Saturday 1st, 2023 17:08Peter Davidson Malik Tillman ensured Allan McGregor toasted his 500th Rangers appearance with a victory as the America's double downed Dundee United at Ibrox. McGregor reached his remarkable milestone 21 years on from making he debut. But it was a largely stress-free occasion for the keeper as Gers eased to a win against the Premiership basement boys. It wasn't always slick from Michael Beale's team but two goals either side of the interval from Tillman ensured there were no slip-ups as the Light Blues closed the gap on leaders to Celtic to six points for 24 hours at least. READ MORE: Malik Tillman conjures Rangers magic to down Dundee United in Ibrox stroll - 3 talking points 17:03Peter Davidson Hibernian 1-3 Motherwell Kilmarnock 2-1 Hearts Rangers 2-0 Dundee United St Johnstone 0-1 Aberdeen St Mirren 3-0 Livingston 16:56Peter Davidson The referee has blown the final whistle. Two goals from Malik Tillman gives Michael Beale's side the three points. Stay with us as we bring you all the reaction. Rangers 2-0 Dundee United 16:53Peter Davidson Four minutes have been added on. 16:51Peter Davidson VAR is checking for a potential handball after Antonio Colak claimed. The Rangers player went up for a header in the box with two United defenders. Ayina is deemed not to have touched it with his hand. No penalty. 16:47Peter Davidson Mchael Beale has made a triple change in the 83rd minute. Ryan Jack, Malik Tillman, and Todd Cantwell are off, on come Scott Arfield, Antonio Colak and John Souttar. 16:46Peter Davidson Connor Goldson has seen a header sail over the bar. The Rangers defender, who now has the armband, leapt the highest in the box from a Barisic corner. 16:44Peter Davidson Aziz Behich is coming off and being replaced by Mathew Anim Cudjoe. 16:42Peter Davidson It has been a disappointing day so far for the Dundee United travelling support. They haven't had anything to shout about. Can Jim Goodwin's side stage a come back in the last 10 minutes of normal time? 16:41Peter Davidson Scott Wright has been a threat since coming on in place of James Tavernier. Rangers have went to a back three with Wright being deployed as a wing-back. A couple of Gers corners lead to nothing. 16:39Peter Davidson Steve Fletcher and Scott McMann are off, on come Ilmari Niskanen and Sadat Anaku. 16:36Peter Davidson Hibs 1-2 Motherwell Killie 2-1 Hearts St Johnstone 0-1 Aberdeen St Mirren 3-0 Livingston 16:35Peter Davidson James Tavernier is being replaced by Scott Wright. While Fashion Sakala is coming on for Alfredo Morelos who has had a quiet afternoon. It looks as if a change of formation from Michael Beale. 16:34Peter Davidson Alfredo Morelos goes down in the box looking for a penalty. The Colombian striker throws himself to the floor after a light nudge from the United defender. Referee Don Robertson waves away the protest. 16:31Peter Davidson Dundee United could have got a goal back through Aziz Behich. The Aussie left-back's shot sailed past the post but it wasn't far away from Allan McGregor's goal. 16:29Peter Davidson Rangers are looking comfortable in this game now. The urgency has went out the game with the home side stroking it about at ease. No real chances in the last five minutes. 16:23Peter Davidson Ryan Kent has blasted a shot over the bar. The midfielder picked up the ball up in the 18-yard box after a pass from Cantwell. The shot sailed over the bar and didn't trouble Birighitti in the United goal. 16:16KEY EVENT Malik Tillman has doubled the lead for Rangers. The American gets his 12th goal of the season after good play by Tavernier down the right hand side. The Gers captain picked up the ball and drove down the wing before playing it in-field to Ryan Kent. Kent failed to control it but the ball ended up at Tillman's feet. After getting the ball out his feet Tillman blasted it under Birighitti who looked unsighted. Rangers 2-0 Dundee United 16:13Peter Davidson Rangers captain James Tavernier has been booked for an elbow on Aziz Behich. 16:09Peter Davidson Kai Fotheringham could have levelled for United but was unable to connect from a shot outside the box. At the other end Tillman could not get on the end of Cantwell pass in the box. If the midfielder got the ball under control then he would have been clean through on the United goal. 16:06Peter Davidson We are back underway in the second half. It's Rangers 1-0 Dundee United 15:57Peter Davidson Hibs 0-1 Motherwell Kilmarnock 2-1 Hearts Rangers 1-1 Dundee United St Johnstone 0-1 Aberdeen St Mirren 3-0 Livingston 15:51Peter Davidson Rangers go into the break 1-0 up thanks to a well-worked goal from Malik Tillman. It took Michael Beale's side 39 minutes to open the scoring thanks to some good defending from Dundee United in the first half hour. Despite defending deep throughout the first half United had a couple of chances to get on the scoresheet. Ryan Kent could have doubled the lead in the dying minutes of the half but the width of the crossbar denied him. 15:49Peter Davidson Ryan Kent has rocked the crossbar after a brilliant strike from around 25 yards out. The English midfielder picked the ball up, threw in a couple of stepovers then unleashed a thunderbolt which beat Birighitti in the United goal. United were able to clear the danger and keep it 1-0. 15:46Peter Davidson Dundee United have not changed their tactics despite going 1-0 down thanks to a Malik Tillman goal. Jim Goodwin's side are sitting deep and looking to hit Rangers on the break. 15:39KEY EVENT Malik Tillman has opened the scoring for Rangers. Connor Goldson fizzed the ball into Todd Cantwell who flicked it into space for Tillman to run into. The American latched onto it in the 18-yard box and slotted it past Birighitti in the United goal. Rangers 1-0 Dundee United 15:38Peter Davidson Craig Sibbald could have opened the scoring for Dundee United. The midfielder's left-foot shot from around 22 yards went just over the bar. Rangers allowed him too much space and Allan McGregor is not happy at his defence.Beale craves ruthless streak
Beale praises trio
How did you rate the players?
Rate the players
3 talking points
Full-time in the Premiership
Full-time
Injury time
VAR check
Triple change for Gers
Over from Goldson
United sub
Disappointing day so far
Wright down the right
United subs
Elsewhere
Gers subs
Morelos down
Chance for United
Gers comfortable
Kent over the bar
GOAL Rangers!
Tavernier booked
Two chances early
Restart!
Half-time scores in the Premiership
Half-time!
Off the bar!
United not changing
GOAL Rangers!
Sibbald close!