Rangers are set to face off against Dundee United for the first time in six years as they welcome the Arabs to Ibrox for a Scottish Premiership grudge match.
It will be the first time that Rangers have faced the Tannadice club since Steven Gerrard took charge but in the build-up, the Gers manager will have been made well aware of what’s at stake.
These two clubs – formerly at board level and absolutely at fan level – do not like each other.
There’s genuine bad blood between the pair which has almost always boiled over off the pitch but after Rangers’ demotion in 2012, and Dundee United’s relegation in 2016, the two clubs have been kept at arm’s length on it.
Rangers fans were charged twice by Dundee United for a match in 2009 – the original having been abandoned at half time – and since then things haven’t ever been the same.
Dundee United were vocal opponents of the Ibrox club’s quest to stay in the Scottish Premier League in 2012 with many feeling they were unnecessarily vindictive in trying to get the Gers demoted.
As a result Rangers refused tickets for a Scottish Cup tie in 2013 with club outcast Charles Green describing this as a “unanimous” decision.
The Arabs then infamously described Rangers as a “new club” during a dispute over ex-Gers youth Charlie Telfer, with Rangers actually winning a case to see the club nab £200k in development fees.
Karma would get Dundee United in the following years after their relegation as they toiled for promotion and spent an incredible four years in the Scottish Championship.
Now they’re back, and whilst this current crop of Rangers players have never faced off against the Tannadice side, Rangers fans will still be expecting a semblance of revenge to be taken.
It’s been said it’s only a matter of time before this Rangers side absolutely dismantles an opposition side – there’s not a Bear out there who wouldn’t love it to be this weekend.
Especially considering the last time the two sides played at Ibrox, United ran out 3-1 winners in the Scottish Cup.
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