Rangers returned to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership with a 1-0 victory over Dundee United.

Philippe Clement's team went ahead early on thanks to a Tom Lawrence finish that would later be recorded as the winner. The hosts were limited in their efforts on Jack Butland's goal but came close to an equaliser as the game wore on.

The Rangers Review picks apart the game's big talking points below...

A good start but a nervy finish 

Rangers needed a result in Tayside, that much was obvious pre-match. Saturday’s news that John Bennett has stood down as chairman due to health reasons is the latest in a string of off-field issues that haven’t help Philippe Clement’s chances of just focusing on the football. In isolation on the pitch, with a draw and defeat already leaving Rangers eight points behind Celtic and Aberdeen before kick-off there was no room to slip here. Clement’s side started well with full control of much of the first half, their controlled passing taking the sting taken out of the home crowd. Before the 20 minute mark Rangers controlled the ball and any counterattacks attempted by Jim Goodwin’s side who altered their shape around the half-hour mark, bringing on midfielder Ross Docherty in place of defender Kevin Holt to shift away from the back five they’d been pinned back into. From that point the extra man Rangers had enjoyed at the base of the park was matched by the hosts and a familiar issue of lacking the real legs at the top end in transition surfaced. Cyriel Dessers had more than one sniff at a second before the break that Rangers needed to relax. A game that should’ve been tied up with a second moment of quality was left in the balance and while the visitors had more than one opportunity to add a second, so did the home side.

(Image: PA: Andrew Milligan)

 

Oscar Cortes impresses

Starting for the first time since he was forced off on the opening day of the season away at Tynecastle, Oscar Cortes hasn’t had any luck in regards to injury since his loan and then loan-to-buy move from Lens. The Colombian is clearly a talented and intelligent player - Rangers just need to show he’s durable enough to be their answer on the left wing. Here working in tandem with Jefte Cortes was bright. What stands out in his game is the variation he’s capable of; attacking down the line in one moment before darting infield to provide a quick lay-off unmarked the next. That was an important factor in the lead-up to Tom Lawrence’s opener as the visitors struck into space United had vacated from an attacking throw-in. Having managed 60 minutes against Motherwell in the international break on his return from a latest set-back Cortes was replaced by new signing Nedim Bajrami at the break as Clement looks to build the young winger’s fitness and avoid the quick breakdowns suffered so far at Ibrox.

More team selection questions

Philippe Clement didn’t rule out the possibility of new signing Bajrami playing from the off here in Tayside, saying: “It doesn't help, of course, if you don't know even the names of your teammates when you need to start the game. He's just in the building. But we will see. It depends on the circumstances also.” As it turned out the circumstances favoured Tom Lawrence at No.10 and Kieran Dowell on the right-wing with Vaclav Cerny missing due to a virus. Cortes’ return was the only other change from a 3-0 Old Firm defeat a fortnight earlier. The Belgian manager isn’t one to have a strongest starting 11 and selecting his starting team often proves a lesson in guesswork. With that said the early sight of Lawrence wheeling away in celebration would’ve felt like vindication. Dowel, likely selected on the right given his left foot, saw most of the game pass him by despite receiving the ball in a few promising positions. Hamza Igamane replaced Dessers just after the hour mark following a frustrating afternoon for the 29-year-old forward as Clement tried to impact a balance that was shifting against his side. Dujon Sterling and Nico Raskin saw the final 15 minutes with that in mind.

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Did United win the tactical battle?

From 20 minutes on in this game the dominance Rangers had enjoyed, in territory and number of passes played, gradually slipped away. While it took Dundee United until near enough the hour mark to have a really dangerous effort the home crowd grew a little louder and the away end more anxious in particular after the interval. Jim Goodwin had turned to his bench earlier in the game to bring on Docherty for Holt and shift shape to increase the hosts’ aggression without a move from Clement in return. The ball was nearly surrendered in more than one nervous build-up moment as a result. The away side weren’t able to control the game and take the sting out of United’s approach for much of the second half with the game going from end to end too often. Lawrence should have added another from two more one-on-one efforts that hit the keeper and went over the bar. Meanwhile, Igamane looked exciting from the bench after his debut at Parkhead - showing nice touches and turns and going close himself to finding the net.