Danny Rohl’s Rangers again found the William Hill Premiership more to their liking with a comfortable 3-0 win over Dundee at Dens Park.
Nico Raskin headed in from a corner in the ninth minute before 18-year-old attacker Mikey Moore curled in a second five minutes later for his first Light Blues’ goal and then had a second chalked off before the break.
The visitors lost their rhythm somewhat in the second half as a slew of substitutions changed their dynamic but a terrific strike from wide-man Djeidi Gassama in the 90th minute clinched all three points.
Rohl’s side were knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup by Celtic in the semi-final at Hampden Park last Sunday and then beaten 2-0 by Roma at Ibrox on Thursday to make it four Euro defeats out of four – two of them under the 36-year-old German.
However, three successive wins in the league since taking over from Russell Martin last month reduced the deficit behind leaders Hearts to 12 points with a game in hand going into the international break and allowed the visiting fans to depart Dens Park with a much-needed confidence boost from at least winning games they should on paper win.
There was poignancy pre-match when Rangers fans unfurled a ‘Lest We Forget’ Tifo to commemorate Remembrance Day and there was a perfectly observed minute’s silence.
Dundee came close in the third minute with Ethan Hamilton’s powerful free-kick from 25 yards which Gers goalkeeper Jack Butland turned round the post for a corner which was defended.
However, the Gers were more clinical from their first corner when unmarked Belgium midfielder Raskin beat Dee keeper Jon McCracken from James Tavernier’s delivery from the right.
When returning Moore, who has at last demonstrated his talents in recent games during his loan spell, picked up a loose ball at the edge of the box and guided the ball into the corner of the net, the visitors had early control of proceedings.
In the 35th minute Tottenham loanee Moore thrashed in a third from a tight angle after McCracken had parried a drive from Danilo, but referee Matthew MacDermid checked his pitchside monitor at the behest of his VAR and declared Ibrox midfielder Mohamed Diomande had interfered with play from an offside position.
McCracken saved efforts from half-time substitute Thelo Aasgaard and Gassama early in the second half but Dundee has stepped up their levels and Butland gathered a shot from substitute Simon Murray.
McCracken pulled off a terrific save from Raskin’s header in the 77th minute but he could not stop Gassama adding a third.
Gassama turned on to his right foot inside the box and curled the ball high past the flailing Dundee keeper to confirm a solid win for Rangers, which represents the small steps of progress Rohl has spoken about so often early in his tenure.
