Novo and Darcheville send Gers to Manchester happy

Scottish Premier League
Rangers 3

* Novo 7,
* Novo 18,
* Darcheville 90

Dundee United 1

* De Vries 76

* Patrick Glenn at Ibrox

Rangers' victory in their last outing before Wednesday's Uefa Cup final did little harm to their morale and narrowed the gap between themselves and leaders Celtic to a single point. It could be called a measured success against Dundee United, the two first-half goals complemented by a single from substitute Jean-Claude Darcheville after a goal from Mark de Vries had given the visitors a squeak in the second half.

That early double from Nacho Novo not only shot Rangers into a lead that proved - not without long periods of discomfort - to be the same as the margin at the finish, but confirmed in the most rewarding way the impression that the Ibrox side had, finally, been inspired by their own success.

Having appeared pedestrian almost to the point of lifelessness in their two domestic outings earlier in the week, Walter Smith's players demonstrated a zest and a commitment that seemed inappropriate to a team supposedly exhausted by the demands of a crowded schedule.

That changed during a second half in which the home side seemed to become aware of the advisability of conserving energy for the big event in Manchester. Until Darcheville's stoppage-time strike, it was a dangerous slacking-off, as United not only scored, but were denied a seemingly clear-cut penalty and had an own goal from David Weir, the veteran Rangers defender, disallowed for offside against Noel Hunt, despite the United striker having taken no part in the action.

Curiously, Novo's first goal was the indirect result of the first of a series of questionable decisions by referee Mike McCurry, from which both sides suffered in turn. But it was Rangers who exploited the official's injudiciousness.

McCurry awarded a free-kick to the home side when United midfielder Mark Kerr and Novo contested the loose ball after the little Spaniard had lost control. They appeared to have fallen over each other. But, from about 25 yards out and to the left of goal, Kevin Thomson's delivery was perfectly measured for the unmarked Novo and his simple header sent the ball to the left of Lukasz Zaluska.

If there was an element of misjudgment involved, too, in Novo's second, it came from the United right-back, Mihael Kovacevic. But his error merely provided Novo with an opportunity to embarrass his opponent with a blinding finish.

Neil Alexander's long kick was nudged on by Daniel Cousin's back-header and Kovacevic allowed the ball to bounce over his head. Novo streaked past him to the left side of the area and, from an extremely unpromising, acute angle, suddenly hit a ferocious left-foot shot high past Zaluska. The outcome rather typified the difference between the teams at that stage in the business of taking advantage of opportunities.

When, for example, United contrived two outstanding chances to make an impact before half time, each was squandered. Alexander had to rush beyond his own 18-yard line to foil De Vries and when the ball broke to David Robertson the midfielder hit his shot straight at the head of Weir, the defender having taken up sentry duty on the six-yard line. De Vries was then played in by a perceptive pass from Robertson, but he drove the ball straight at the goalkeeper from 10 yards.

But United were denied the most convertible opportunity of all by another poor decision by McCurry, the referee on this occasion refusing to award a penalty kick that appeared quite impossible to argue against. Weir's attempted clearance struck Noel Hunt and the ball ran to De Vries. As the striker took control, Hunt ran forward to receive the return pass and was taken down from behind by Weir as the defender tried to recover. Since Hunt had only Alexander to beat, it might also have been an ordering-off offence. McCurry's solution was to make neither award.

Having tried to lower the pace of the game, Rangers were jolted back to life by the De Vries goal. The Dutch striker's header from Danny Grainger's cross from the left sailed into Alexander's right corner. It was overdue, the no-penalty decision having been followed by the disallowed goal.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer