Rangers left it late at Dens Park - but goals from Marvin Andrews and Fernando Ricksen made sure Dundee were defeated on what could prove a telling afternoon in the race for the Bank of Scotland Premier League crown.

Jim Duffy's side, fighting for survival at the bottom of the table, held out for 82 minutes until Andrews provided an unstoppable header from Ricksen's corner.

Ricksen then made sure with a simple finish two minutes later.

The result means Rangers are four points and six goals ahead of champions Celtic, who have two games in hand - starting at Inverness on Wednesday - and a grandstand finish to the campaign remains highly likely.

After Celtic's 6-0 hammering of Dunfermline which ate into Rangers' goal-difference advantage, the pressure was on to produce a commanding reply.

But that was certainly not the case in the first 45 minutes, with bookings out-numbering chances created.

It took the visitors 15 minutes to muster a shot, which Ricksen fired wide, and home goalkeeper Derek Soutar's most active first-half moment was to gather ahead of former Dens favourite Nacho Novo and end a dangerous-looking run.

The return of Dado Prso from suspension to replace Steven Thompson up front was expected for Rangers - but more intriguing was the decision to drop Thomas Buffel to the bench and reinstate Bob Malcolm.

The latter's task was to patrol the area ahead of the defence, Gregory Vignal taking Bojan Djordjic's place on the left of midfield and Michael Ball slotting in at left back.

Dundee, who made three changes following last week's home defeat by fellow strugglers Livingston, also failed to create much before the break but certainly succeeded in frustrating Rangers.

Prso picked up his third yellow card in two games for attempting to fool referee Ian Brines into a 31st-minute penalty, the Croat going to ground as Lee Wilkie closed in.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos joined him in the book five minutes later for hacking Steve Lovell down after losing possession.

For Dundee, Neil Barrett just failed to connect with a Calum MacDonald cross - but Rangers goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus was a spectator until Bobby Mann fired a 45th-minute free-kick straight at him after Andrews had somehow escaped a booking for a foul on Barrett.

The second half began more promisingly when Barry Ferguson almost found Prso in the box - and Dundee retaliated with a move which saw the previously dormant Fabian Caballero head wide at the back post.

Novo had come off the bench earlier in the season to score two late goals against his old side to set up a 2-0 win - but in the 51st minute today, he fluffed his chance.

Maurice Ross fired in a cross from the right to find Novo six yards from goal, but the resulting first-time effort was a scuff rather than goal number 24 for the season.

Ferguson and then Prso saw shots blocked by defenders as Rangers attempted to up the tempo, and Buffel replaced Malcolm on the hour.

Ball found Kyrgiakos at the back post with a free-kick. But Soutar made the save, and from Rangers' next attack Novo fired wide.

Dundee were finding it difficult to get out of their own half. But a strong run from the recalled Garry Brady almost set up Barrett in front of goal, and it needed Andrews to scramble clear.

Tom McManus was replaced by youngster Scott Robertson with 16 minutes remaining, and Soutar made a fine catch to keep out a Prso header after Buffel had crossed from the left.

Soutar had to tip a Buffel cross over for a corner. Another quickly followed and turned out to be the one that mattered as Andrews came charging in to head Ricksen's delivery into the net.

It was a huge relief for the travelling fans who were able to relax when Ricksen made sure of the points two minutes later with a cool finish, after Prso had laid the ball back into his path.

Andrews had to be taken off late on following a collision with Lovell, and Thompson came on.

Defeat left Dundee still two points ahead of bottom club Dundee United.

Teams

Dundee Soutar, Mann, Wilkie, Kitamirike, McDonald, Smith, Barrett (Sutton 86), Brady, Caballero, Lovell (Conway 90), McManus (Robertson 74).

Subs Not Used: Dubourdeau, Sancho, Cerdeira.

Rangers Waterreus, Ross, Andrews (Thompson 89), Kyrgiakos, Ball, Ricksen, Ferguson, Malcolm (Buffel 60), Vignal, Novo (McCormack 90), Prso.

Subs Not Used: Graeme Smith, Alex Rae, Burke, Namouchi.

Booked: Prso, Kyrgiakos.

Goals: Andrews 82, Ricksen 84.

Att: 9,876

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).