Rangers 2-1 Dundee United: Antonio Colak double secures much-needed win
By Tom Gott
Birthday boy Antonio Colak was the hero for Rangers on Saturday as his two goals secured a 2-1 victory over Dundee United.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side had lost three games on the spin heading into this one and really needed an injection of positivity to get things back on track, and they needed to wait just eight minutes for that.
Colak netted Rangers' first goal of the month as he thundered home following some excellent work from James Tavernier, who recovered possession and went bombing down the right wing to set up the 29-year-old's opener.
It was all Rangers in the early stages but Dundee United started to grow into the game and asked a few questions of Allan McGregor, although the hosts were always in control.
The possession stats were heavily in Rangers' favour but their profligacy in front of goal kept this one a nervy affair, with Van Bronckhorst's men looking visibly frustrated towards the end of the first 45.
Dundee United actually had more shots on target than Rangers in the first half, which spoke volumes of Rangers' lack of quality in the final third.
Just four minutes into the second half, Colak was celebrating again. It was the other full-back, Borna Barisic, who set up this one, allowing the birthday boy to prod home.
It looked as though that goal would kill the game off as Dundee United failed to show any sort of response, but they pulled one back shortly before the hour as Liam Smith's fierce strike found the back of the net.
That sparked a nervy ending to the game as Dundee United continued to threaten on the counter, with Rangers forced to waste time in the dying embers to ensure they walked away with three points.