Dundee 0-0 Rangers: Visitors suffer a second title blow within days but Philippe Clement remains hopeful

Philippe Clement insists Rangers “nonetheless have our destiny in our arms” regardless of struggling a second blow to their Scottish Premiership title hopes inside three days as they had been held to a goalless draw away to Dundee.

Dundee had an early strike from Amadou Bakayoko dominated out for offside, whereas the closest Rangers got here to scoring was when Jon McCracken saved beautifully from Cyriel Dessers as psychological strain mounted on the guests.

Clement, although, insisted: “It was nothing to do with focus, need or will. It was to do with an absence of effectivity, some luck as effectively.”

Rangers however have now solely gained two of their newest eight video games and can nearly definitely need to win at Celtic Park for the primary time since 2020 if they’re to forestall their metropolis rivals retaining the title.

“I do not discuss favourites,” Clement informed BBC Scotland. “If we win the final 5 video games, the followers are going to be completely happy.”

In the meantime, Dundee have constructed on clinching their first top-six end since 2015 on the weekend by shifting to inside two factors of St Mirren to enhance their hopes of European qualification for the primary time since 2003.

Clement mentioned earlier than kick-off that his facet wanted a return to fundamentals that had been lacking in that defeat in Dingwall.

Nonetheless, inside seconds of kick-off, Bakayoko was allowed to show and ship in a cross that fell to Malachi Boateng, with the midfielder’s low drive flying simply large of the far submit.

Dundee misplaced captain Joe Shaughnessy to harm after 9 minutes and had been instantly caught out on the again as Abdallah Sima’s low drive was blocked by McCracken’s legs.

That first risk on purpose didn’t settle the guests and, when Jack Butland parried Luke McCowan’s curling free-kick, Scott Tiffoney’s shot on the rebound off the Rangers goalkeeper was turned in by Bakayoko however dominated out for offside.

Even when Rangers started to get pleasure from nearly all of ball, the closest they got here to a purpose earlier than the break was a Connor Goldson header straight at McCracken that the goalkeeper gathered on the second try with no visiting participant taking benefit.

McCracken blocked a Tom Lawrence shot on the entrance submit, whereas substitute Dessers compelled the goalkeeper right into a tremendous finger-tip save.

Rangers had been now exhibiting indicators of desperation and the night time threatened to go from unhealthy to worse as dwelling midfielder Lyall Cameron had a shot blocked in entrance of purpose.

Because it was, time ran out not solely on their hopes of grabbing a late winner but additionally seemingly on their hopes of denying Celtic one other title.

Participant of the match – Lyall Cameron (Dundee)

Title goals crumble as Euro hopes rise – evaluation

For the second recreation in a row, a stranger to Scottish soccer would have had problem selecting out this Rangers workforce because the title contenders.

Dundee’s tigerish midfield appeared to have an excessive amount of vitality for his or her Rangers counterparts and, though Rangers step by step dominated the possession, it was laboured and missing the creativity required to interrupt down a well-organised dwelling defence.

Clement had handed harm troubled Kemar Roofe a primary begin since December instead of Cyriel Dessers up entrance, however the Jamaica worldwide seemed too light-weight and missing match health to bother a Dundee defence looking for a second clear sheet in a row.

Rangers have gone from a place the place they might have been two factors forward of Celtic by profitable their two video games in hand to at least one the place, even when they win the ultimate Previous Agency derby of the season away to their metropolis rivals, they are going to be behind on purpose distinction ought to each side win their different 4 remaining video games.

Whereas the strain seems to be to have been too nice for Rangers to deal with, Dundee have risen to the event in current weeks with just one defeat in six outings.

Rangers had gained their earlier eight conferences between the edges by a 22-2 combination, with Dundee final avoiding defeat in December 2018.

Nonetheless, these Darkish Blues are a special beast below Tony Docherty and, regardless of it being their first season again within the prime flight, have each proper to be dreaming of bringing European nights again to Dens Park.

After two postponements due to the state of their pitch, the house followers will really feel this was a recreation effectively value ready for.

What they mentioned

Dundee supervisor Tony Docherty: “I believed it was a incredible workforce efficiency. The clear sheets within the final two video games present the development we’re making as a workforce.

“We have now a powerful, resilient workforce there with a laser give attention to every recreation. Going right into a pivotal time within the season, now we have a squad which might be rising and rising.”

Rangers supervisor Philippe Clement: “We should always have gained this recreation, we had been the very best workforce by far. Essentially the most possession by far, probably the most probabilities. Issues did not go our facet with saves from the goalkeeper and blocks from different gamers.

“At the moment, I used to be dissatisfied. I used to be indignant after the Ross County recreation as a result of we misplaced our construction and our soccer in a giant a part of the sport. That was not the case in the present day.”

What’s subsequent?

Rangers face Coronary heart of Midlothian in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park (15:00) then return to Premiership responsibility by visiting St Mirren on 28 April (12:30) earlier than Dundee host leaders Celtic later than afternoon (15:00).