For the second successive season Rangers travelled to the city of discovery with Graham Murty in charge. And like last season, left with nothing.
The main talking points before the game would be how the players would respond to last week’s poor result against Hamilton. However, this game has thrown up more questions than answers and left fans with a growing sense of anger and frustration.
So, where did we go wrong? The team picks itself at the moment and John coming in for Hodson was the only change in personnel. We lined up in what looked like a 4-2-3-1 and started brightly enough with the obvious tactic getting the ball wide and putting crosses in the box. Miller and Morelos came close and Meekings almost put through his own goal as we pressed for an opening.
The three behind Morelos interchanged well and deep runs from Declan John, in particular, caused Dundee a few problems. Just before the end of the half Morelos crashed into the post-stretching to get on the end of another cross and despite initially attempting to carry on was replaced by the fridge. Morelos is a clever player and although on a run of form where he looks out of confidence in front of goal, he still holds the ball up well and drags defenders wide creating space for teammates and always available for an out ball from the back. If his injury keeps him out of a run of games including a doubleheader against the sheep and hibs then it’s a massive blow for a squad already light on quality.
Our failure to score when on top in games has been evident all too often this season and once again we just didn’t get going in the second half. Sloppy passing and poor decision making puts us under pressure and a needless foul given away allowed Dundee to send up the cavalry. When we failed to clear our lines and react to second balls in the box we found ourselves 1-0 down. It felt flat and its difficult to see who we can look to when the chips are down.
The team looks bereft of leaders and are often accused of hiding when the going gets tough. To the player’s credit though we found an equaliser, a good hit by the man so often singled out for criticism, Josh Windass. Now the players looked to have their tails up and Jack and Holt started buzzing about recycling the ball to good effect and starting moves from deep.
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It didn’t last long though as Dundee changed their shape and brought Scott Allan on to play in between the lines and it was the one time Rangers target who would prove pivotal in Dundee’s winner. On the edge of the box with seemingly nowhere to go Allan held on to the ball long enough to pick out the advancing O’Hara who found himself one on one with Wes again who although got a hand to it couldn’t keep it out.
To be honest we didn’t really lay a glove after that as Dundee saw the game without any problems and it leaves us facing two massive games off back to back defeats. The fans anger at the end was palpable as the resentment towards the board and the managerial situation grows.
Yet again Rangers dropped points to a side at the foot of the premiership.
The board must act NOW in my view or face a mutiny from supporters.
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