Kyle Lafferty’s goal was enough to see Rangers retain top spot in the Scottish Premier League as they beat Dundee United 1-0 on Saturday.
The home side at Tannadice lost Johhny Russell to a first half-red card in the defeat. and eventually found themselves ground down by Ally McCoist’s Gers.
With Nikica Jelavic, who the Gers had turned down a substantial bid for in August, injured the Gers were glad to have Lafferty fit to start in attack. An early shot from the Northern Ireland man, from Juan Manuel Ortiz’s pass, was weak, but he would get more chances.
Steven Naismith sent another decent Gers cpportunity over the bar, while United’s Willo Flood saw a shot deflect behind off Steven Davis before Danny Swanson’s strike from distance was kept out by Allan McGregor.
The home side’s hopes of getting something from the champions’ visit took a turn for the worse on the half hour mark when they were reduced to ten men. Tempers flared between Russell and Kirk Broadfoot, with the former headbutting the Gers full back, who was also booked for his part in the row.
Despite the disparity in playing numbers, the sides remained on par as far as the scoreline was concerned until half-time, with Naismith shooting wide for Rangers before Dusan Pernis kept out a near-post attempt from Lafferty.
Lafferty was hungry for a goal and saw a shot blocked by Gary Kenneth early in the second period, before the same player glanced a Naismith cross across goal and wide with his head.
But the goal finally came for the former Burnley man 16 minutes into the half. Gregg Wylde was the provider, the young winger sending in a decent left flank cross for Lafferty to head beyond Pernis from deep.
Davis almost made it two on a number of occasions but his header was kept out by the flapping Pernis, before another shot hit both posts and United escaped.
Dorin Goian and Davis, again, failed to add to Lafferty’s goal, but attempts from sub Ryan Dow, Swanson and John Rankin could not bring an equaliser for Peter Houston’s men. They stay on six points.