Rangers 1-1 Dundee Utd

Rangers match reaction Dundee Utd match reaction

A superb 25-yard free-kick from Barry Robson gave Dundee United a surprise draw that dented Rangers' championship challenge at Ibrox.

An equally excellent long-range effort from Nacho Novo looked to have given Rangers their eighth win in a row.

The Glasgow side had been on top before and after the goal, Dado Prso sending an early header against a post.

But Robson struck at the end of normal time to end a run of four defeats for an otherwise defensive United.

The winger became the first player to beat goalkeeper Stefan Klos for eight games as Rangers slipped seven points behind leaders and reigning champions Celtic.

Manager Alex McLeish had wanted to stick by the side that thrashed Amica Wronki 5-0 in Poland in the Uefa Cup on Thursday.

But Peter Lovenkrands pulled up in the warm-up and Novo started instead.

Rangers started brightly and Prso headed a Novo cross against a post after only three minutes.

United goalkeeper Paul Jarvie collected a low curler from Novo, while Gregory Vignal twice fired wide from distance and the goalkeeper held a Fernando Ricksen free-kick.

Jarvie had a narrow escape when he blocked a low drive from Novo, the ball spun upwards and goalwards, but he recovered just in time to paw it away before it crossed the line.

It fell to Prso but the Croatia striker blazed over from six yards out.

Rangers brought on former United striker Steven Thompson to replace Shota Arveladze as McLeish looked for more bite up front.

Novo saw a long-range effort deflected behind and, after Jarvie had flapped the corner away, Chris Burke was off-target with a shot from the edge of the box.

Prso headed over from another corner and Ricksen fired at the goalkeeper following good work from the Croatian.

Novo fired his side ahead after 69 minutes, turning defender Alan Archibald before firing high into the net from 20 yards.

Thompson sent a glancing header from a Burke cross just past the far post.

Mark Wilson fired the free-kick straight at Stefan Klos and failed to pick out Billy Dodds or Jim McIntyre in front of goal as United started to threaten.

And Robson netted a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser direct from a free-kick after substitute Karim Kerkar had gone down under Prso's challenge 25 yards in front of goal.

There was still time for United to survive a strong penalty shout when Thompson went down as David McCracken challenged.

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Rangers: Klos, Khizanishvili, Andrews, Boumsong, Vignal, Burke (Namouchi 87), Ricksen, Malcolm, Novo, Prso, Arveladze (Thompson 54).
Subs Not Used: Graeme Smith, Lovenkrands, Ball, Hughes, McLean.

Booked: Novo.

Goal: Novo 69.

Dundee Utd: Jarvie, Wilson, Innes, McCracken, Archibald, McInnes, Brebner, Robson, Dodds, Samuel (McIntyre 73), Grady (Kerkar 80).
Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Duff, Ritchie, Robertson, Gardiner.

Booked: Robson, Samuel , McInnes.

Goal: Robson 90.

Att: 46,796

Ref: S Conroy