DUNDEE UTD 2 RANGERS 1 RANGERS limped into Tayside looking sluggish and lifeless. By the time they had left, the condition had become title threatening. Overpowered and outplayed by a vibrant Dundee United side - one which is beginning to operate with genuine belief - Walter Smith's men slumped to a third SPL defeat of the season. More worrying for the Ibrox boss, however, is the fact that yesterday's loss was the latest in a line of pedestrian performances on their top-flight travels. In fact, Rangers have claimed just one point from their last three away days at the homes of Hearts, Motherwell and now United. Championships are not built on such feeble foundations and, even though his side are only three points behind leaders Celtic, Smith will have his work cut out if he is to buck this trend and prevent it crippling his long-term plans. United, on the other hand, are blazing a path up through the division. Yesterday's win not only saw them leapfrog Hibs into third place but also draw level with Rangers who hold on to second spot by virtue of goal difference. United's goals in this one came from man of the match LeeWilkie and captain Barry Robson, who fired the decisive strike from the penalty spot, just when it seemed Rangers were on the verge of a stirring second-half comeback. In fact, Daniel Cousin had only just struck from the spot himself to cancel out Wilkie's first-half goal and, roared on by their travelling supporters, Rangers were attacking in numbers and with a great deal of threat. But this revival was slapped down by Robson and it was no more than United deserved. With the stubborn, towering combination of Wilkie and Darren Dods at the heart of defence and other star performances from the likes of Willo Flood, Robson and Noel Hunt, United were worth their win against a side that should have arrived here on a high after startling Old Firm and Champions League successes. Smithmade two changes to the line-up that had faced Barcelona, one enforced, the other through choice. Out dropped Charlie Adam, the victim of a virus, and also Nacho Novo, the victim of a manager who can't seem to make up his mind when it comes to the merits of the little Spaniard. After being brought in from the cold to notch an Old Firm double and then assist in the suffocation of his countrymen, Novo was back warming Smith's bench, making room for DaMarcus Beasley to run the right flank. Adam's midfield berth was taken by Amdy Faye, who made his first SPL start since a disastrous 45-minute debut in defeat at Tynecastle. This one would be no better for a player who appears lost and startled by the pace of the Scottish game. Again, he would be gone by the break and Novo would be asked to perform another salvage mission. United's selection was more straightforward but potentially even more significant given that Craig Levein's single change was in arguably the most important position of all. With Polish keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski suspended, Levein turned to inexperienced third choice Euan McLean and gave the youngster just the second start of his top-team career. This was hardly ideal for a United side that has been solid defensively but, generously, Rangers afforded the 21-year-old's nerves time to settle by giving his goal a wide berth for most of the first half. Rangers looked lethargic and sloppy at the start. That's the thing with Smith's favourite system. While it is capable of strangling the life out of more talented opposition, sometimes it can also choke Rangers half to death. It happened at Tynecastle, at Motherwell and again yesterday. There was a lack of cutting edge or even desire about their early play even though Barry Ferguson was operating in a more advanced role behind solo striker Cousin. It did not help, of course, that the woeful Faye was blundering around hopelessly in the centre of the pitch gifting United possession and free-kicks in dangerous areas. Nor will it have pleased Smith to see Alan Hutton go into the ref's book after only five minutes for a bad-tempered lunge at Hunt. United's impish Irishman was also carded by Dougie McDonald for reacting furiously. It would be a long afternoon for both players, having to proceed with caution while all around team-mates flew into increasingly meaty challenges. Hunt hurled himself at a crossed ball moments later and headed United's first chance over the top, then Robson nodded another chance wide and the home side began to fancy their chances. Faye's failure to to execute even the basics gave Levein's men further encouragement and it was from a clumsy mistake by the Senegalese that Robson burst clear to test Allan McGregor with a thumping drive. The keeper saved well but Rangers were starting to unravel. Rangers did have the ball in the net when Cousin ghosted on to a Ferguson free-kick to side-foot past McLean but the Frenchman was flagged offside. Within two minutes, Rangers were undone at the other end from asimilar set-piece. Not surprisingly, it was Faye who gave away the foul with a barge on Hunt. The ball was whipped into the danger area by Flood at such pace that it caught Rangers on the back foot and as their defenders hesitated Wilkie jabbed out one of his improbably long legs to stab it beyond McGregor from eight yards. Rangers did not respond with anything meaningful until late in the half. First Cousin and Ferguson combined to muscle their way into the box and set up LeeMcCulloch but Dods stood his ground in front of McLean to make a crucial block. Then Beasley teed up Ferguson for a pop at goal but the captain's effort finished wide. Rangers went inside to face the music from their manager. Only 10 of them re-emerged, Faye having been invited to cut his losses. On in his place came Novo, to the obvious delight of the away support. Smith also changed formation to a 4-4-2. Bizarrely, however, it was McCulloch who was pushed up to assist Cousin. The right-sided Novo took over McCulloch's shift on the left and the left sided Beasley was kept on the opposite touchline. It may not have made much sense but it worked. Within five minutes, McLean was forced into making his first save, bravely blocking at Cousin's feet. Novo kept the attack alive with a clever back-heel into the path of Kevin Thomson and when his cross ended up back at Cousin the striker's snap shot was deflected behind for a corner. Rangers poured bodies forward and within seconds, Beasley was taken out by a mistimed Christian Kalvenes swipe and ref McDonald was pointing to the spot. This time Cousin would finally get the beating of young McLean, rolling the ball in at the keeper's left from 12 yards. It was the first goal United had conceded at home in the SPL this season but this did not mark the start of a United collapse. Within three minutes, Levein's side was back in front after winning apenalty of their own. Again, ref McDonald was right to point to the spot as Carlos Cuellar had wrapped his arms blatantly around Jordan Robertson and dragged the youngster to the deck. And again the crime was severely punished, with Robson lashing the kick straight down the middle of McGregor's goal. However, Rangers' response was far more bold and aggressive than anything they had mustered in the first half and only another Dods block stopped Novo from thumping the Glasgow side level as they swarmed forward. United, though, dug deep and at times defended heroically. Morgaro Gomis and Prince Bauben were both yellow-carded, joining Rangers pair Hutton and Thomson in the book, as the home side attempted to close out victory. It was gripping stuff by this stage and United thought they had snatched a stunning and decisive third goal when McGregor appeared to drop a corner, allowing Kalvenes to bundle the ball home from a yard out. But sharp-eyed McDonald had spotted Kalvenes nudging the ball out of McGregor's grasp and blew for the foul before the full-back's shot had hit the back of the net. McGregor then had to make fine saves from Buaben and Robson. It was United who were attacking in numbers now and the strain got to McGregor and Novo, both of whom were booked for losing their cool. One final chance was to fall to Rangers substitute Kris Boyd but he blasted over the top and another away day defeat was sealed. MAN OF THE MATCH Lee Wilkie (Dundee Utd) Magic Moment: Wilkie's opener might have been scrappy but it set up United's glorious win. | 
