Dundee United 1-1 Rangers

Keeper Stefan Klos appeared to lay claim to the late equaliser

Substitute Hamed Namouchi scrambled a late equaliser as Scottish title hopefuls Rangers avoided defeat away to bottom club Dundee United.

David McCracken, restored to the United defence, headed home a Derek McInnes cross after 10 minutes.

United's Jim McIntyre and Rangers' Shota Arveladze both found the net only to have efforts ruled out for offside.

Both goalkeepers produced fine saves to prevent further goals until Namouchi headed in after a goalmouth scramble.

The point nevertheless lifted United off the bottom on goal difference over city rivals Dundee.

Rangers manager Alex McLeish had brought Alex Rae and Steven Thompson into the starting line-up due to Nacho Novo's suspension, with midfielder Dragan Mladenovic dropped to the bench.

The visitors looked uneasy for much of the match, possibly affected by the loss of Newcastle-bound defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, but made a confident start.

Arveladze should have opened the scoring, heading wide from eight yards following a Dado Prso cross.

Under-pressure United boss Ian McCall replaced Chris Innes and Jason Scotland with McCracken and James Grady.

And it was defender McCracken who scored the opening goal after 10 minutes following mounting home pressure.

Former Rangers midfielder McInnes swung in an inviting cross that McCracken headed past goalkeeper Stefan Klos and into the corner of the net.

David McCracken (left) had given United the early lead

Prso and Rae both threatened an equaliser before McIntyre swept home a Barry Robson cross, but the United striker's strike was ruled out for offside.

Arveladze suffered the same fate at the other end before Bullock denied Rae the equaliser on the stroke of half-time with a crucial stop with his feet.

A great save from Klos denied McIntyre shortly after the break following a quick counter-attack and Grant Brebner came close from the rebound.

Robson wasted an opportunity by driving straight at Klos when put clear by Grady.

But it was Rangers who were now dominating possession and Bullock superbly pushed away a drive from Hamed Namouchi.

United had claims for hand ball waved away by the referee after Gregory Vignal cleared off the Rangers goal-line.

Bullock did well to turn away a fine strike by Fernando Ricksen and a close-range header from Prso.

Klos' desperate, stoppage-time intrusion into the penalty box caused confusion in the United box as Namouchi pounced following a corner to save a point for Rangers and score off head and shoulder.

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Dundee Utd: Bullock, Wilson, McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, Kerr, McInnes, Brebner, Robson, McIntyre, Grady.
Subs Not Used: Jarvie, Samuel, Dodds, Scotland, Innes, Gardiner, Kenneth.

Booked: Ritchie, McInnes, McIntyre, Grady.

Goal: McCracken 11.

Rangers: Klos, Hutton, Khizanishvili, Andrews, Vignal, Ricksen, Malcolm, Alex Rae, Arveladze (Namouchi 65), Thompson, Prso.
Subs Not Used: Graeme Smith, Mladenovic, Ross, Hughes, McLean, Steven Smith.

Booked: Thompson.

Goal: Namouchi 90.

Att: 10,461

Ref: M McCurry