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Dundee vs Rangers. Scottish Premiership.

The Scot Foam Stadium at Dens ParkAttendance9,017.

Dundee 2

  • M O'Hara (13th minute)
  • K Holt (41st minute)

Rangers 1

  • J Garner (62nd minute)

Dundee 2-1 Rangers: Hosts battle to first win of 2017 while Gers go three games without victory

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Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Dundee and Rangers

Dundee battled to their first victory of 2017 with a 2-1 win over Rangers on Sunday, leaving the Gers winless in their last three Scottish Premiership games.

The Dees' goals book-ended the first half, with Mark O'Hara striking in the 12th minute to put the hosts ahead before a fine Kevin Holt free-kick added the second with four minutes of the opening period to play.

Rangers put in an improved second-half performance, with Joe Garner producing a lovely strike just after the hour mark to pull a goal back for the visitors but they could not muster a second as Dundee beat them for the first time in 16 years.

The hosts now move up to sixth with their victory, while Rangers remain rooted in third place - 30 points behind Celtic who they play in their next Scottish Premiership fixture on March 12.

Dundee came racing out of the blocks at Dens Park, and could had broken the deadlock within minutes of kick-off. Craig Wighton fired in a fine cross from the left-hand side that met the head of O'Hara, but he could not quite direct it on target with Clint Hill for company and the ball fizzed past the back post.

19/12/17 LADBROKES PREMIERSHIP  
  DUNDEE v RANGERS  
  DENS PARK - DUNDEE  
  Dejection for Rangers' Andy Halliday and Joe Garner
Image: Rangers are without a win in three Scottish Premiership games

But the hosts did hit the back of the net in the 12th minute after a fine move from Paul Hartley's men. Wighton was involved again as he released Henrik Ojamaa down the left flank, with his low cross finding the feet of O'Hara. He hit the ball first time on the half-volley that fired past Wes Foderingham via the post to put Dundee ahead.

The Dees restricted their opponents to few chances in the opening period, with the best of the half in the 39th minute as James Tavernier put an accurate cross into the box from the right finding the head of Garner but, despite having plenty of time and space, he could only fire the ball agonisingly past the post.

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Rangers were made to pay for their miss two minutes later as Dundee doubled their lead just before the break. A foul from Danny Wilson - who had replaced the injured Clint Hill - on O'Hara set Holt up with a free-kick on the right-hand side, allowing the defender to curl the ball expertly around the Gers wall and into the back of the net, once again with the post for help.

Dundee's Kevin Holt extends the lead
Image: Dundee's Kevin Holt extends the lead for Dundee with a fine free kick

Graeme Murty's side put in a better second-half display and could have nabbed a goal back inside seven minutes of the restart, but were kept out by some fine goalkeeping from Scott Bain to tip a Tavernier free kick over the crossbar.

But the Gers got their goal in the 62nd minute courtesy of a lovely finish from Garner who netted for the first time in 11 games. He received the ball near the right corner of the box and, after taking the time to assess his options, took a few strides before hitting a fine strike through the area and past the leaping Dundee goalkeeper.

Rangers continued to have the better of the chances as the game headed towards its conclusion, with Kenny Miller seeing a shot hit the post in the 67th minute before Harry Forrester was just edged out by Holt with a sight on goal.

Dundee's Mark O'Hara opens the scoring
Image: Dundee's Mark O'Hara opened the scoring for the home side

It was with eight minutes of the game to play that the Gers came closest to an equaliser after some fine team play. Miller hooked the ball into the box for Martyn Waghorn on the right-hand side, who in turn saw his cross find the head of Garner. His skewed header then fell into the path of Forrester just behind, but the midfielder could only poke his shot wide of the post, much to the dismay of Murty.

It was Dundee who could have added a third in the closing stages, though, as Wighton powered forward through a sea of bodies, but a combination of Rob Kiernan's leg and Foderingham's foot saw the ball bounce wide.

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