Full TimePosted at 90’+4′ Second Half ends, Rangers 2, Dundee United 0.Post updateAttempt missed. Mathew Cudjoe (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Paul McMullan.Post updateAttempt saved. Mathew Cudjoe (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Paul McMullan.Post updateAttempt blocked. Ryan Kent (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by James Tavernier.Post updateAttempt saved. Borna Barišić (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alfredo Morelos.Post updateAttempt saved. Ryan Kent (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Tavernier.
Rangers manager Michael Beale is feeling positive about the prospects of keeping Malik Tillman beyond summer after the on-loan midfielder’s impressive performance in their victory over Dundee United. Tillman scored twice at Ibrox to secure Rangers’ 10th consecutive Scottish Premiership win and reduce the gap to Celtic, who face Ross County on Sunday, to six points. Talks are ongoing between Rangers and Bayern Munich to activate a clause for a permanent deal for the 20-year-old, who has netted 12 goals for Rangers this season and says he is enjoying his football and will “see what happens in the summer” regarding his future.
Beale has expressed that he has never felt that Tillman does not want to be at Ibrox next term, adding: “There is an option there that we can take but the player has a say too and so does the club that he is at. It is not a part of the negotiations I am involved in but I am fully up to speed with it. There were more talks over the international break as well. Everything at the moment is positive. Me and Malik have a fantastic relationship and I think he really enjoys playing here.”
Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor crowned his 500th appearance with a clean sheet and was rarely troubled by bottom club United whose winless league run now extends to 11 matches. Jim Goodwin’s side remain two points adrift of County, while third-bottom Kilmarnock now have a six-point cushion over United after beating Hearts.
Beale had called on Rangers to deliver a marquee home performance and show more ruthlessness after noting that their best displays of his tenure have all come away, where they are afforded more space. Had Rangers made more of their glut of second-half chances, this could have been the showing he craved. United did a commendable job of frustrating Rangers for much of the opening half, and even showed glimpses of menace at the other end. Peter Pawlett burrowed his way clear on goal, but elected to pass rather than shoot and succeeded only in hitting a defender. The lively winger limped off with a hamstring tweak a few minutes later, summing up his injury-ravaged recent fortunes. Craig Sibbald also had the home fans restless with a swerving strike that missed the postage stamp by inches, but Tillman brought calm to Ibrox by finishing off a well-crafted opener.
Todd Cantwell, off balance on the edge of the box, brilliantly diverted Connor Goldson’s pass into Tillman’s path and he drilled past Mark Birighitti. Ryan Kent rattled the bar from distance but the second goal was not long in coming as United States international Tillman rifled a shot straight through Scott McMann and Birighitti, who not for the first time this term should have done better. The Australian partly redeemed himself with a few saves – the most eye-catching to deny James Tavernier – as Rangers failed to add to their lead amid opportunities for Tillman, Alfredo Morelos, Borna Barisic and Antonio Colak. McGregor’s exacting standards mean a concession on his landmark appearance will not have gone down well, and the 41-year-old ensured the clean sheet with a late stop from United substitute Mathew Cudjoe.
Rangers kept up their momentum for next week’s trip to Celtic Park, which is effectively a last-ditch attempt to keep the title race alive. Beale remains unbeaten in the league – with 13 wins from 14 – while Rangers’ run of 10 straight victories is their best winning league run since January 2021. They can’t afford to be so profligate against Celtic, though, as the scoreline didn’t fully reflect their superiority over United. The Tannadice men will be relieved to get this one out of the way and focus on more winnable fixtures in their survival battle. While United made a promising start, they too often gave the ball straight back to Rangers and Steven Fletcher couldn’t make it stick up front. Once the goals went in, it became a damage limitation job and United gamely kept the score down. The positivity Goodwin has instilled in his early reign won’t be chipped away by this defeat and it’s now eight games left to try to preserve their Premiership status.
Rangers kept up their impressive form with another victory over Dundee United at Ibrox Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Michael Beale’s side are now unbeaten in 14 league games and have won 10 consecutive matches in Scotland’s top flight, reducing their gap to leaders Celtic to six points ahead of their Old Firm rivals’ clash with Ross County on Sunday.
Malik Tillman was named Player of the Match after netting either side of half-time to secure all three points for Rangers, while Allan McGregor celebrated his 500th appearance for the club with a clean sheet. Dundee United put up a brave fight but were unable to find an equaliser despite some promising moments early on in the match, leaving them two points adrift of Ross County in 11th place and six points clear of Kilmarnock in third-bottom spot.
Beale will be hoping his side can maintain their momentum when they travel across Glasgow to face Celtic next Saturday (12:30 BST), while Dundee United host Hibernian the following day (12:00). With eight games left until the end of the season, Goodwin will be hoping his team can preserve their Premiership status despite this defeat.