December 31, 2005
GLASGOW (AFP) - Rangers ended 2005 with a convincing 3-0 win at home to Dundee United in the Scottish Premier League to cut the gap on the teams ahead of them in the table.
Though it took them until midway through the second-half to break the deadlock, Alex McLeish's side ran out easy winners in the end with goals from Belgian international Thomas Buffel, substitute Steven Thompson and Danish forward Peter Lovenkrands.
The win meant Rangers moved up to fourth in the table, though Kilmarnock can leapfrog them if they win their game in hand against Hibernian on Monday, and closer to Celtic, Hearts and Hibernian.
Dundee United had made the brighter start to the game and on two occasions came close to open the scoring early on.
In the fourth minute Trinidad and Tobago striker Collin Samuel did well to step inside Rangers full-back Steven Smith and fire in a low cross which Ian Murray almost turned into his own net, deflecting the ball inches over the crossbar.
A minute later United's Spanish forward David Fernandez whipped in a cross from the left, which was misjudged by Dutch goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus and fell to the feet of Samuel, but his shot from 12-yards was deflected past.
It took Rangers until the 20th minute to create their first chance when some neat footwork by Spanish striker Nacho Novo allowed him to cut in from the corner flag to set-up Barry Ferguson but his shot from 10-yards was deflected wide.
Ferguson came close again in the 38th minute when his low shot from 16-yards, following good work by Novo and Buffel created the chance, was blocked by United keeper Derek Stillie.
Into the second-half Rangers were continuing to struggle to find any rhythm to their play and McLeish decided to replace Novo with Thompson in the 57th minute in a bid to find a way through the United back four.
And in the 68th minute the home side finally made the breakthrough when Lovenkrands' miss-hit shot spun across the face of goal for Buffel to rifle into the roof of the net from only a few yards out.
Chris Burke almost doubled Rangers lead in the 74th minute when he drove in on goal before smashing a shot from 18-yards which hit the side-netting with Stillie beaten.
But in the 83rd minute it was 2-0 when Buffel's chipped cross from the byline was powerfully headed home by substitute Thompson, who could have been playing his last game for the Ibrox club before leaving during the January transfer window.
Rangers were now in complete control and it was no surprise when they scored a third. Burke raced down the right-wing and sent over a cross for Lovenkrands and the Danish forward threw himself at the ball to head past Stillie.
In the other SPL games on Hogmanay, Aberdeen and Inverness Caledonian Thistle fought out a goalless draw at Pittodrie.
Dunfermline ensured Falkirk are still without a home win this season with a 2-1 win at Westfield stadium.
Mark Burchill had given the Pars the lead just before half-time and Noel Hunt doubled their lead early in the second-half. Falkirk pulled one back in the 67th minute through Darryl Duffy but it was not enough to stop the Pars taking all three points.
A last gasp goal by Kevin McBride gave Motherwell a 2-1 victory away to Livingston.
Richie Foran had fired the visitors ahead but Richard Brittain equalised before the break. It looked like both sides would have to make do with a share of the points until McBride's late winner gave Well the win and sent Livy to the bottom of the table.
Updated on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 11:44 am E
