Dundee United 0, Rangers 0.
THE defending champions gained one more point to help their quest to
become the first club to win successive trebles, but they, and also
Scotland, have lost much more at Tannadice last night.
Rangers' international keeper, Andy Goram, had to be helped off midway
in the second half after having injured himself while clearing the ball,
and he left in obvious distress with what turned out to be a torn thigh
muscle.
Goram was playing in only his tenth match of the season after having
recovered from major knee surgery, and the Rangers' manager, Walter
Smith, said: ''The keeper will be out for two to three weeks.''
The keeper now will miss Scotland's friendly match against Austria in
Vienna in a fortnight and the Scottish Cup semi-final against Kilmarnock
on Sunday at Hampden.
Even though Rangers still need points to secure their sixth successive
championship, Smith had decided to rest key players, Mark Hateley and
Ally McCoist, who were on the bench, despite having to travel to Dundee
without three others who had played and were injured last Saturday. Gary
Stevens, John Brown, and Ian Ferguson were all left behind.
This meant Duncan Ferguson was able to start his first match since
last September, and Ian Durrant, who had not played since Dundee United
defeated Rangers 3-0 at Ibrox last December, also started.
However, the real surprise was the first sighting of 18-year-old Craig
Moore, an Australian full back. Most of the Rangers supporters among the
11,048 crowd were unaware of the existence of Moore, signed from
Australian Institute a year ago, never mind that he was on their team's
books, and considering so many of the Ibrox side's regulars were
unavailable -- Trevor Steven and David Robertson also are still injured
-- he did as well as could be expected on his debut in a match which had
some fierce tackling.
Indeed, it was down to luck rather than the humanitarian qualities of
the players which prevented serious injury. There was also much snarling
and complaining, and four players were booked, three of them, Gordon
Durie, Gordan Petric, and Andy McLaren in a five-minute period.
Richard Gough was cautioned just before half time, his crime being
dissent after Gary Bollan had charged into Moore, who went sprawling on
to the trackside in front of the main stand.
The only moments of genuine skill in this period were supplied by
Durie, who twice saw Guido Van de Kamp block good long-range shots, and
Stuart McCall who pounced on a Brian Welsh headed clearance. McCall's
volley from 30 yards was heading for Van de Kamp's top right-hand
corner, but at full stretch the keeper touched the ball away.
Only eight minutes into the second half Goram had to do the same with
a 25-yard shot from Billy McKinlay, who had twisted away from his marker
and into space, but the standard of play was still alarmingly mediocre.
However, a few minutes later Alex Cleland made good progress down the
right and sent in a deep cross which landed perfectly to coincide with
Bollan's arrival. His header was powerful and accurate, but Goram flung
himself to his right-hand post and saved.
Moore struck a long diagonal ball to the front of United's box,
Ferguson headed on to Alexei Mikhailichenko, but he headed wide from six
yards and then Van de Kamp saved at the feet of Ferguson.
Soon afterwards, Goram was helped away and his place taken by Ally
Maxwell. Craig Brewster was booked for having kicked the ball away.
Hateley was sent on to take over from Durrant 10 minutes from time,
but not even the big fellow, who has pulled Rangers out of trouble many
times this season, was able to apply the missing final touch.
DUNDEE UNITED -- Van de Kamp, Cleland, Malpas, Petric, Welsh,
McInally, Hannah, McKinlay, McLaren, Brewster, Bollan. Substitutes --
Dailly, Nixon, Main.
RANGERS -- Goram, Moore, Gough, McPherson, Murray, Pressley, McCall,
Durrant, Durie, Ferguson, Mikhailichenko. Substitutes -- Hateley,
McCoist, Maxwell.
Referee -- M Pocock (Aberdeen).
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