The Clydesdale Bank Premier League match between Dundee United and Rangers at Tannadice was abandoned at half-time on Sunday due to a waterlogged pitch.

Referee Mike Tumilty and his assistants assessed the state of the pitch during the interval.

Rangers were leading 1-0 through Steven Davis but heavy rain throughout the first half gave Tumilty little choice but to call the game off.

Explaining his decision on Sky Sports, Tumilty said: "I was thinking about the players' safety.

"Water was starting to lie on the pitch, the ball stopped rolling and the worry was having lots of players coming together, there could have been a serious injury.

"Towards the end of the half I started to become seriously concerned. Towards half-time it became almost impossible.

"Both managers were keen to get the game played but they both accepted the decision.

"It's disappointing for the fans but if something had happened in the second half it wouldn't have been fair to the supporters of either team."

Rangers boss Walter Smith added: "It's disappointing for us, being 1-0 up, but it was probably the right decision I think.

"I don't think we can argue very much with it."

Torrential rain proved difficult to cope with from the outset and the floodlights were already on despite the lunchtime kick-off.

Rangers carved out the first real chance when Miller tried to pick out Boyd as he raced into the box but he just failed to connect at the back post.

United were denied the opener when Mihael Kovacevic saw his header crash off the crossbar before the Rangers defence eventually managed to clear the danger.

The Scottish champions then came close themselves when Kyle Lafferty squeezed between two defenders only to stab narrowly wide, before Casalinuovo's header flashed across the face of goal and past the post at the other end.

United should have opened the scoring when Myrie-Williams embarked on a run down the right flank before teeing up the shot for Prince Buaben, but he blasted over from 16 yards.

Instead it was Rangers who surged into the lead with 29 minutes gone. A lovely ball from Sasa Papac was collected by Davis at the back post before he rifled a shot past Weaver in the United goal.

The home side were again denied by the woodwork as they attempted to haul themselves back into the game when Dixon's powerful free-kick from 25 yards smacked off the crossbar.

A Conway corner then sparked a goalmouth scramble but there were no takers to prod over the line as Rangers held onto their slim advantage heading into half-time.

Referee Tumilty and his assistants assessed the state of the pitch at half-time, before Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist also emerged to check the conditions.

And there was then disappointment for the Rangers fans in particular when the match was duly abandoned.