Rangers put Celtic’s title celebrations on maintain for not less than one other evening as they got here from behind to beat Dundee 5-2 at Ibrox.
Dundee scored twice in simply over two first-half minutes via Jordan McGhee and Antonio Portales to place Celtic inside touching distance of the title, however Ross McCausland handed Rangers a lifeline simply earlier than the break.
It proved to be very important as Rangers marched on to victory because of objectives from Cyriel Dessers and Todd Cantwell within the second half. Scott Wright added two of his personal off the bench late on as Philippe Clement’s facet signed off in model at Ibrox.
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Scott Wright celebrates with Kemar Roofe after scoring to make it 4-2
Regardless of Rangers’ greatest efforts towards Dundee, Celtic want to assert only a level at Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening to turn out to be Scottish Premiership champions – stay on Sky Sports activities.
Dundee’s defeat ensures St Mirren seal fifth place, which suggests a return to European soccer for the primary time in 37 years.
WATCH: All of the objectives from Ibrox
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Jordan McGhee stuns Ibrox and offers Dundee the lead with a advantageous end!
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Antonio Portales doubles Dundee’s lead with an aesthetic flick to go away Rangers shell-shocked
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Ross McCausland’s purpose provides Rangers a lifeline as they strike again earlier than half-time!
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Cyriel Dessers scores an exquisite header to attract Rangers degree shortly after the break!
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Did he imply it? Todd Cantwell places Rangers forward with a depraved supply from the correct that flew into the highest nook!
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Scott Wright pops up on the again submit to search out the again of the web and put the outcome past doubt for Rangers
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Wright scores his second purpose of the evening and Rangers have 5!
How Rangers recovered from a rocky begin
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Dessers celebrates with Cantwell after equalising
The Rangers followers who turned up lower than enthusiastic after the demoralising weekend defeat to Celtic knew that boss Clement was with out the companies of 10 injured gamers with John Lundstram suspended after being despatched off at Parkhead.
Ridvan Yilmaz, Nico Raskin, Cantwell and McCausland got here into the facet as did Leon King, who made his first begin of the season.
Ibrox was moist and subdued however the followers have been alerted by a strong Yilmaz drive within the third minute following a neat flip which drew a advantageous save from Jon McCracken.
The Taysiders have been neat and tidy in possession however within the sixteenth minute Fabio Silva took a move from Dessers, tip-toed previous the Dundee defence and clipped the bar with a vicious angled-drive.
Rangers captain James Tavernier cleared the bar with a free-kick from 25 yards on the half-hour mark earlier than McCracken tipped a shot from McCausland over the bar, after Luke McCowan gave the ball away.
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Dundee’s Antonio Portales celebrates with Owen Dodgson after scoring to make it 2-0
Dundee attacker Amadou Bakayoko then compelled Jack Butland into a good save with a 20-yard drive however the Englishman didn’t look too intelligent when McGhee popped up on the again submit to stab defender Owen Dodgson’s looking out cross down into the bottom and into the roof of the web.
Extra condemnatory boos rang across the stadium when Portales’ cheeky end from a Dodgson cross following a fast Dundee free-kick sped previous Butland and into the far nook.
McCausland decreased the deficit simply earlier than the break when he poked the ball via the legs of McCracken after the Dundee defence hesitated but it surely was not sufficient to cease the half-time boos from the disgruntled dwelling supporters.
Higher was anticipated after the break and the house facet drew degree when Dessers headed in a Cantwell cross from six yards for his twenty second Rangers purpose of the season and the hosts discovered recent zest.
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Cantwell celebrates after finishing the turnaround
McCracken parried away a Cantwell effort, Yilmaz fired simply over earlier than he was changed with 21-year-old Robbie Fraser making his debut.
Cantwell’s purpose took most individuals unexpectedly, together with McCracken, with the midfielder selecting up a move from Tavernier broad on the correct and firing the ball excessive over the Dundee ‘keeper and into the web.
McCracken then made terrific saves from Silva and Dessers earlier than the latter by some means knocked a Cantwell cross over the bar, whereas Wright, one among a clutch of substitutes, added a fourth following a cross from fellow substitute Kieran Dowell and grabbed his double with a advantageous end on the demise.
Clement: We needed to make ourselves offended on the break
Rangers boss Philippe Clement: “It is a effectively deserved win. We did actually good issues on the ball all recreation lengthy, however within the first half we conceded silly objectives.
“We missed our aggression and the response after dropping the ball [wasn’t good enough]. We have been solely pondering with the ball. You then get in hassle.
“[We had] to make ourselves offended at half-time and you then see the response from the gamers and what they’ll do.
“A vital night with numerous high quality objectives and numerous younger guys out of the academy approaching.
“We confirmed that we’re a very good group. We have to get extra consistency with that. It is now about these final two video games.
“After the frustration of some days in the past, to go 2-0 down and getting the boos from the followers and reacting that manner, it reveals the resilience that’s on this group.
“We have to present that within the last two video games.”
Docherty: Naivety value us
Dundee supervisor Tony Docherty: “Very a lot a recreation of two halves. First half I believed we have been by far the higher group. Dropping a purpose on half-time was pivotal. We needed to attempt to maintain it that bit longer, however we did not.
“Their third purpose – there isn’t any manner he meant that, no likelihood. All people remembers how a recreation finishes, however we needed to win the sport for our goals, so we went to 4-4-2, which opened us up.
“It is essential to notice that we’re a piece in progress. The gamers have executed magnificent to get into the top-six place. There’s numerous studying from tonight and the final three or 4 video games within the prime six.
“They deserve large credit score for attending to this stage, however there was a little bit of naivety tonight.”
What’s subsequent?
Rangers’ last Scottish Premiership match of the season is away to Hearts on Saturday, whereas Dundee host Kilmarnock.
Each video games kick off at 12.30pm.
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