Substitute Hamed Namouchi pounced in the dying seconds to earn Rangers a
dramatic equaliser at Dundee United and move them back to the top of the Bank of
Scotland Premier League on goal difference.
The Ibrox men looked set to suffer a major blow when David McCracken gave
SPL bottom club United an 11th-minute lead.
But Namouchi scored in the dying seconds to leave the home side disappointed
despite moving off the foot of the table.
Rangers appeared unaffected by the sale of defender Jean-Alain Boumsong
to Newcastle as they made a confident start at Tannadice.
Shota Arveladze should have opened the scoring after just three minutes when
he pounced on some hesitant defending by United.
Dado Prso chipped the ball into the area and McCracken allowed the Georgian to
win the ball but he could only head past the upright from eight yards out.
But it was United who got opening goal in the 11th minute as they exploited
gaps in the Rangers defence.
Derek McInnes swung in an inviting cross which McCracken headed past Stefan
Klos and into the corner.
Dado Prso should have done better in the 16th minute when Wilson's slip gave
him a clean route on goal but he could not get the ball from under his feet and
United were relieved to clear.
Rangers got behind the home defence again in the 22nd minute when Thompson
headed on Bob Malcolm's cross and Rae got beyond the defender.
But he flicked the ball over before being clattered by goalkeeper Tony
Bullock.
More desperate defending prevented Alan Archibald from testing Klos before the
home side had a second goal ruled out for offside.
Grant Brebner fed the overlapping Barry Robson and his effort was swept into
the net from close range by Jim McIntyre.
Both sets of players were in danger of losing their cool as Thompson and Paul
Ritchie were booked by referee Mike McCurry after clashing for the second time.
Marvin Andrews was having a mixed day following the loss of his defensive
partner but he saved his side in the 38th minute when he got ahead of McIntyre.
Arveladze had a goal ruled out for offside before Bullock denied Rae the
equaliser on the stroke of half-time with a crucial stop with his feet.
United continued to push forward confidently and Klos had to dive to his right
to save McInnes' long-range drive.
More heroics from the German goalkeeper and poor finishing saved Rangers
moments later when Klos kept out Jim McIntyre's point-blank effort before
Brebner put the rebound wide.
That woke up the visitors and Ritchie had to react at the back post to put
Arveladze's drive across the face of the goal behind for a corner.
Rangers started to pile on the pressure, though their final ball was letting
them down, while McIntyre was booked for a trip on Zura Khizanishvili.
Prso seemed certain to pull the sides level in the 62nd minute but somehow
completely missed his header as Fernando Ricksen's corner flew past him.
James Grady was also booked after bringing down Arveladze before McLeish made
a change in the 65th minute with Namouchi replacing the Georgian.
Robson should have doubled United's lead moments later when Grady threaded a
pass through but he fired straight at the advancing Klos.
Rangers responded instantly but Bullock denied them by keeping out Namouchi's
low effort and Rae was unable to turn in the rebound after good work from Prso.
The game continued to flow from one end to the other and Klos was called upon
to turn over Archibald's speculative long-range drive in the 71st minute.
But United had appeals for a penalty rejected moments later as they claimed
Gregory Vignal had kept Robson's corner out with his hand.
At the other end, Bullock had to throw himself to his right to prevent
Ricksen's free-kick from nestling in the corner of the net.
The United goalkeeper produced more heroics with a minute remaining as he
acrobatically turned over Prso's effort from Vignal's ball.
But there was more drama moments later as Klos left his own area for Ricksen's
corner and Namouchi turned the ball over the line from close range.
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