Dundee Utd - 1 Rangers - 4 Alex McLeish's Rangers, as they continue the journey towards their league title target, have long known that a major requirement would be peak performances from their top names. Ronald de Boer answered that call yesterday.
The Dutchman, in the midfield absence of the suspended Barry Ferguson, ran the show on a surface which, in places, resembled sheets of corrugated iron.
McLeish said: "De Boer's display on that surface was nothing short of outstanding. In the conditions it was as good as we have got from him all season."
Rangers opened the scoring after 11 minutes. A defensive lapse by home skipper Gary Bollan gifted De Boer his chance to score from 12 yards.
Rangers doubled their advantage seven minutes later. Shota Arveladze lost his marker with remarkable ease to nod home from Peter Lovenkrand's cross.
The only United encouragement was a drive from Mark Wilson which rebounded to safety from the bar and Rangers capitalised by extending their lead to three in first-half stoppage time. De Boer created and finished the move after combining expertly with Mikel Arteta.
Rangers broke away to clinch victory with a further Arveladze goal in the 69th minute.
De Boer was again the instigator, easing his way past several ineffectual defensive challenges before laying the ball on a plate for Arveladze to rifle home from 18 yards. United's deserved consolation arrived two minutes later when their substitute Billy Dodds bundled the ball home after Bollan had glanced on a Charlie Miller corner .
Guardian Service
DUNDEE UTD: Gallacher, Tod, Wilson (Lauchlan 63), Bollan, Duff, Latapy (Smart 72), Griffin, Easton (Dodds 50), Paterson, McIntyre, Miller. Subs Not Used: Combe, Ogunmade. Booked: Bollan. Goals: Dodds 71.
RANGERS: Klos, Muscat, Moore, Malcolm, Numan, Ricksen, Arteta (Caniggia 65), Konterman, De Boer (Thompson 74), Arveladze, Lovenkrands (McCann 79). Subs Not Used: McGregor, Hughes. Booked: Arteta, Numan, Thompson. Goals: De Boer 11, Arveladze 18, De Boer 45, Arveladze 69.
Referee: D McDonald.
