Rangers came from behind to beat Dundee United to claim their first away win of 2025 in the Scottish Premiership, but it was not without controversy.
With victory all but guaranteed, Mohamed Diomande was shown a straight red card in stoppage time after a collision with Kevin Holt, although it was unclear what the exact offense was. Referee Nick Walsh was called on the monitor only to stick to his on-field decision, to the disappointment of the Rangers bench.
Sam Dalby had given United a dream start as he fired in his 11th league goal of the season to put them ahead only for Diomande to fire in a superb equalizer before half-time.
Rangers completed the turnaround after the break when Robin Propper’s shot deflected off Holt and into the net with Cyriel Dessers sealing the win shortly after he was ruled out for offside.
Their first away win in four games moves them within 10 points of leaders Celtic, although they have played a game more, while Dundee United remain in third.
A road win for the Rangers
Rangers ended their winless run away at Tannadice
Rangers had gone behind on seven previous occasions in the league, drawing three and losing four, but they proved too strong for Jim Goodwin’s third-placed United.
The visitors almost fell behind in the fourth minute when Dalby headed Ryan Strain’s corner against the post before Rangers captain James Tavernier cleared the ball to safety.
The other real goal action came on 16 minutes when visiting keeper Jack Butland was forced to make a good save from Luca Stephenson’s long-range clearance before Dalby fired wide.
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Sam Dalby finds the first goal for Dundee Utd with a brilliant 10-yard finish against Rangers.
However, Dalby, whose loan from Wrexham will run until the end of the season, pounced after the Rangers defense failed miserably to deal with a long shot from Will Ferry, forcing the ball past Butland from 10 meters to bring his number to 11 for the season.
Rangers equalized when Diomande took a pass from Tavernier and drilled a shot from the edge of the box through a cluster of tangerine shirts and past goalkeeper Jack Walton at the far post.
United remained dangerous and Butland made a pointless save from Dalby after a Strain cross, while Walton saved from Dessers and Nedim Bajrami to end the first half.
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Rangers’ Mohamed Diomande sends in a superb strike from the edge of the box to equalize against Dundee Utd.
Rangers took the lead four minutes after the restart when, following a corner, the unmarked Propper took a pass from Hagi inside the Terrors box, turned and fired the ball past Holt and past a helpless Walton for the goal. his second for him. the club.
Moments later, Dessers had just Walton to beat, but the United keeper stood firm.
Walton made a fine save from Hamza Igamane’s curling shot from the edge of the area before Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin turned Dalby’s cross against his post with the visitors running away.
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Rangers take the lead as Robin Propper’s shot takes a wide deflection off Dundee Utd’s Holt and flies into the net.
Goodwin’s side pushed the troops forward leaving gaps.
Dessers had the ball in the United net from a Bajram pass, but the offside flag was correctly raised.
However, the Nigeria striker curled a shot from substitute Zak Lovelace’s pass past Walton in the 86th minute to seal victory.
Diomande hit the post but was then sent packing by referee Walsh after tangling with Holt, the official standing by his original decision after looking at his pitchside monitor at the behest of his VAR.
‘We will appeal’
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Philippe Clement says Rangers will appeal Mohamed Diomande’s red card against Dundee United and he says his player was ‘assaulted’.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement talking to Sky Sports:
“I don’t fully understand. We will appeal to him as a club as well.
“The VAR was also clear in that opinion, otherwise they don’t ask the referee to appear on the screen.
“My opinion is clearly that it is not a red card at all. If this is a red card, then every game there will be three, four, five red cards.
“I think my player is attacked at that moment and pushed and has a little reaction with his hand without even touching the opponent.
“They can both have maximum yellows, but give a red card for that? That’s unbelievable.”
Should Diomande have been expelled?
Here’s what it is Sky Sports‘ said the experts about the decision on the time of the ban.
Chris Boyd:
“Embarrassing. I think sometimes when you go to the monitor you can be very stubborn.
“Sometimes you just have to admit you’re wrong and Nick Walsh has to be. There’s no excessive force, there’s no brutality.
“I think it’s a little unclear, even if he slaps them.
“There’s no excessive force in this. There’s no brutality at all. I mean, I can’t understand it.
“Nick Walsh is right there and from his perspective it might look like he’s got it. It is unclear.
“I’m looking at it about 40 times here and we’re still arguing about it, which tells us it’s not in the clear.
Mo Diomande was sent off in stoppage time
Chris Sutton:
“You can’t punch people in the face, you just can’t do that.
“He slaps it. I think he caught it. Nick Walsh was right there, so I just think, while we can criticize Nick Walsh, I think the player has to show discipline and now, you know, he will go to lose some matches.
“You can’t go around slapping people.
“If you don’t fire him for that, you’re just saying that all games should be free for all.”
‘We’ll take care of ourselves’
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Jim Goodwin says Dundee United’s loss to Rangers could have been different in a game where they hit the woodwork three times.
Dundee United HEAD Jim Goodwin IN Sky Sports:
“The result could have been very different.
“We hit the woodwork three times here today, although one of them was offside. Rangers showed the threat they have, some great finishing too.
“We have to pick ourselves up now because we have another tough one next weekend.”
