Dundee Utd 2 - 1 Rangers Sun 28/10/07

Daniel Cousin (pen 51)

Rangers' poor away form continued as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Daniel Cousin cancelled out Lee Wilkie's opener from the penalty spot before Barry Robson claimed all three points for the home side, also from a spot-kick.

The 2-1 win allowed United to move level on points with Rangers, who have taken just seven points from a possible 15 on the road this term.

United headed into the match at Tannadice having yet to concede a goal at home this season and hoping to protect that excellent record.

However, they were without in-form goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski following his red card against Hearts last week, meaning Euan McLean made his first start of the campaign between the sticks.

Rangers manager Walter Smith made two changes from the side who earned a goalless draw with Barcelona in the Champions League midweek.

On-loan Charlton midfielder Amdy Faye - making only his third start for Rangers - was a surprise inclusion along with DaMarcus Beasley. Charlie Adam missed out through illness, while Nacho Novo was dropped to the bench.

United, who had not conceded a goal in five league games at home prior to today, showed their intent from referee Dougie McDonald's first whistle and after only two minutes Barry Ferguson was left sprawled on the turf  having been clattered from behind by Sean Dillon.

Referee Dougie McDonald was called into action to issue the first two yellow cards of the game with just five minutes gone, suggesting this could be an interesting tussle between two teams enjoying a resurgence thanks to their respective managers.

Alan Hutton picked up a booking for a challenge on Noel Hunt, while the Dundee United man earned a caution for retaliation.

The home side then had the first real chance of the match when Hunt connected with a Sean Dillon cross and nodded well over the crossbar with a diving header from six yards.

United were threatening again when Faye lost possession in the middle of the park, allowing Robson to try his luck with a long-range effort but Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor managed to dive low and smother.

At the other end, Rangers had the net bulging when Cousin rifled home a Barry Ferguson free-kick which the lineman flagged offside, but TV pictures proved him wrong and for the second week in a row Rangers were denied a perfectly good goal.

Instead, it was Dundee United who took the lead with 27 minutes gone. Willo Flood flighted a free-kick into the box, which was met by a Wilkie at the back post.

Kevin Thomson was then booked for a tug on Robson as tempers flared, before Beasley's shot fizzed wide and Lee McCulloch was denied by a Darren Dods block on the stroke of half-time.

Faye was hooked after 45 minutes of his debut at Hearts and he was sacrificed at the break once again as Rangers attempted to haul themselves back into the game by throwing Nacho Novo into the action.

Gers could have drawn level shortly after the restart when McCulloch crossed a great ball into the box and Cousin drew an impressive block from McLean, before sending a left-footed drive wide of the upright.

Parity was restored after 52 minutes when Christian Kalvenes hauled down Beasley in the box and Cousin stepped up to convert from the penalty spot.

United then reclaimed their lead two minutes later when they were also handed a spot-kick. Carlos Cuellar was penalised for a foul on Jordan Robertson and Robson did the honours from 12 yards.

The crime count continued when Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben were booked, both for lunges on Hutton.

McGregor was then called into action to touch a thunderous Buaben shot just past the post as United attempted to put the game past their visitors.

Smith tried one last throw of the dice to salvage a point by throwing Kris Boyd into the action but he did not have enough time to make a telling impact. He had one great chance from 8 yards out but managed to shoot just over the cross bar.

Rangers pushed forward in numbers in a desperate attempt to take something from the game but United held firm and Smith's men left Tannadice empty-handed.

RANGERS: McGregor, Hutton, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Ferguson, Thomson, Faye (Novo 45), McCulloch, Beasley, Cousin (Boyd 79),

Subs Not Used: Carroll, Broadfoot, Faye, Whittaker, Boyd, Naismith,

Ref: D McDonald

Man-of-the-match: Thomson

Attendance: 12,129