Glasgow Rangers 3 Dundee 0

Last updated : 11 December 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Rangers regained top spot with this comfortable victory. A whirlwind start put the Ibrox side two ahead within five minutes thanks to a penalty by Nacho Novo which was added to a minute later by a goal from Dado Prso.

Dundee threatened to pull a goal back on several occasions, but once Bob Malcolm scored shortly after the break it was all over for the visitors who somehow managed to stem any further losses.

Rangers simply swept Dundee aside in the opening minutes. Prso volleyed over a Marvin Andrews pass before Rangers took the lead from the penalty spot.

From Gregory Vignal's cross the ball broke to Novo, who appeared to fall over Jose Hernandez's outstretched leg. It looked a soft award, but Novo dispatched his spot kick into the top corner.

Prso increased the home side's lead a minute later. Fernando Ricksen's pass released Novo on the right and from his cross Prso cut inside Steven McNally before finding the net. Zurab Khizanishvili then had a 25-yard effort held by Derek Soutar.

After this start Rangers relaxed and Dundee had two great chances to hit back. Fabian Caballero's cross found Steven Lovell, who beat Vignal but hit his shot straight at Stefan Klos. Then from Steven Robb's corner Brent Sancho, from only four yards, somehow managed to head straight into Klos's arms.

Vignal was caught in possession from a Klos clearance, but Lovell put his shot wide. Novo's superb run was only stopped by a timely Brent Sancho tackle before Prso delayed too long and the chance was lost.

Andrews played another superb ball through to Khizanishvili, whose cross was headed wide by Shota Arveladze. Soutar then saved well with his legs from Prso before Dundee wasted another chance just before half-time with Klos just managing to touch away Neil Barrett's shot after Caballero had dispossessed Vignal.

Rangers made the point secure shortly after half time. Prso's shot was deflected after a corner and when Fernando Ricksen's cross came in Malcom saw his first effort blocked but managed to send the rebound into the top corner for his first goal of the season.

Arveladze's shot hit the side netting before Soutar at full stretch just managed to touch Khizanishvili 's shot round the post. The resultant corner from Ricksen was met at the near post by Named Namouchi, who saw his header cleared off the line.

Prso did have the ball in the net to finish off a Khizanishvili cross, but the Croatian striker was adjudged marginally offside. Dragan Mladenovic then shot over from Novo's cross before the Spaniard was just off target wtih a shot from an Alex Rae pass.