Dundee United 3-3 Rangers

By Thomas McGuigan

Kris Boyd was on target in the goal blizzard at Tannadice

Dundee United and Rangers shared the points and six goals in an entertaining game strewn with defensive mistakes.

Christian Kalvenes gave United the lead after 36 minutes when he forced Willo Flood's free-kick into the net.

David Weir's header brought Rangers level, but Noel Hunt headed United back in front after the break. Nacho Novo equalised with a composed finish.

Carlos Cuellar sliced a clearance into his own net, before Kris Boyd's angled drive restored parity in 67 minutes.

Interview: Dundee United manager Craig Levein

Interview: Rangers manager Walter Smith

Dundee United were missing Garry Kenneth and Danny Swanson through suspension, but defender Lee Wilkie recovered from a dead leg to play.

Rangers manager Walter Smith changed his tried and tested 4-5-1 formation in order to play Kris Boyd and Nacho Novo up front.

Christian Dailly and Steven Whittaker were also called up to the starting line-up, with Kirk Broadfoot, Steven Davis and Jean-Claude Darcheville dropping to the bench.

United's Noel Hunt, who scored in the CIS Cup final defeat by Rangers, went close with a header in the third minute in a lively start by the hosts.

Christian Kalvenes put United back in front

David Robertson's deep cross was then fired goalwards by Mark De Vries, but Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor saved comfortably.

Lee McCulloch's hooked shot scraped the top of the bar after 27 minutes in Rangers' first serious threat on United's goal.

United took the lead 10 minutes later when Kalvenes forced the ball home from close range after he headed Flood's free-kick against the post.

Weir equalised for Rangers two minutes before half-time when he headed home Barry Ferguson's free kick from four yards.

Hunt put United back in front after 51 minutes when he headed home Sean Dillon's cross.

But, just like the CIS Cup final, United were punished for their defensive frailties when Rangers equalised for the second time.

Novo raced through the centre of United's defence before rounding goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska and slotting the ball home.

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The normally reliable Cuellar gifted United their third goal when he sliced his attempted clearance into the roof of the net.

United's lead lasted less than two minutes, when Flood inexplicably passed straight to Ferguson, who fed Boyd and the Scotland striker advanced on goal before firing the ball past Zaluska.

The Polish keeper then saved brilliantly from Novo's shot as the visitors looked to take the lead for the first time.

McGregor parried a superb bullet header from Robertson late-on as both sides searched for a winner.

The point puts Rangers seven ahead of Celtic with a game in hand, while United move to within two points of third-placed Motherwell.

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Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Dillon, Wilkie, Dods, Kalvenes, Flood, Kerr, Gomis, Robertson, Hunt, De Vries (Daly 64). Subs Not Used: McLean, Grainger, O'Brien, Conway, Kovacevic, Buaben.

Booked: Kerr.

Goals: Kalvenes 37, Hunt 51, Cuellar 65 og.

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Weir, Cuellar, Papac, Novo, Ferguson, Dailly, Thomson (Darcheville 75), McCulloch, Boyd (Naismith 88). Subs Not Used: Alexander, Davis, Broadfoot, Lennon, McMillan.

Booked: McCulloch.

Goals: Weir 44, Novo 58, Boyd 67.

Att: 11,214

Ref: C Richmond

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BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Dundee United's Christian Kalvenes 7.53 8.00 (on 90 minutes).

• Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

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