Rangers 0-1 Dundee Utd

McLeish goes easy on losing side Chisholm delighted by work ethic

Dundee United enhanced their chances of SPL survival, simultaneously damaging Rangers' hopes of winning the title with a shock win at Ibrox.

Stuart Duff was the difference between the teams, heading past Ronald Waterreus at the second attempt after only eight minutes.

Rangers threw everything at Tony Bullock's goal but found the United keeper in inspirational form.

It was Rangers' first defeat at home in the league this season.

The home side started in sloppy fashion and they were punished as United took the lead.

Jim McIntyre crossed for Duff, who took advantage of static defending from Rangers to connect with the header a few yards out.

Waterreus did superbly to block the initial effort but he could not prevent Duff from nodding the rebound into the net.

Rangers then proceeded to squander a host of chances to equalise before half time.

Nacho Novo was first to do so, blasting well over from six yards after being picked out by strike partner Dado Prso's header.

Prso was guilty of an even more glaring miss when Hamed Namouchi picked him out unmarked, but he sent his effort wide of the empty net.

Novo was unfortunate to see another shot cleared off the line after Fernando Ricksen's corner broke to him at the far post.

United keeper Tony Bullock shows his delight at the win

Then, with half-time approaching, Rangers had another chance when Namouchi released Novo into the box but Bullock did well to deny the Spaniard as he tried to round the keeper.

Just seconds after the break Bullock was left with stinging fingers after blocking Prso's angled drive.

The Dundee United goalkeeper was receiving little respite and was called into action again when Novo picked up the ball inside the area and looked like he had little more to do than choose his spot but Bullock managed to turn his shot round the post.

United almost extended their advantage as Jim McIntyre took advantage of a moment of sloppiness by Kyrgiakos to launch the ball at goal but he was denied by the crossbar.

Paul Ritchie scooped a Novo header off the line as Rangers pressed again and there was worse to come.

Novo's curling cross found substitute Steven Thompson at the back post and he laid on a lovely ball for Shota Arveladze only for the striker to bullet his header over from a yard out.

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Rangers: Waterreus, Ross, Malcolm (Thompson 80), Kyrgiakos, Ball, Namouchi (Arveladze 57), Ricksen, Alex Rae, Vignal (Lovenkrands 63), Novo, Prso.

Subs Not Used: McGregor, Khizanishvili, Burke, McCormack.

Dundee Utd: Bullock, Kenneth, Ritchie, Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, Duff, Brebner, Robson, Samuel (Crawford 65), McIntyre (Grady 90).

Subs Not Used: Colgan, Dodds, Scotland, Callaghan, Robertson.

Booked: Robson.

Goal: Duff 8.

Att: 49,302

Ref: I Brines