Barry Ferguson says he has "loved every second" as interim manager of Rangers after his side won what appears set to be his final match in charge at Ibrox with a win over Dundee United.

Cyriel Dessers' double and a fine Nicolas Raskin strike meant the hosts came from behind against United, who looked to have taken a step closer to sealing a place in Europe when Sam Cleall-Harding headed the opener after slack defending.

Dessers struck either side of the break, a thumping header followed by a penalty as captain James Tavernier handed the striker the chance to net his 28th of the season.

"It's been a brilliant three months for me," former captain Ferguson said. "I never thought it would ever happen, but I've come in and I've given it my all and so have my staff. To be fair to the players, so have they."

Victory for Jim Goodwin's United side at home to Aberdeen on Saturday would clinch fourth place in the Premiership, but St Mirren can still overhaul them on the final day and deny them continental action.

It all felt very end of season for Rangers as supporters await clarity on a takeover of the club and the managerial position. There was little at stake other than pride.

In contrast, United had it all to play for, with European aspirations alive despite three straight defeats coming into this.

Hamza Igamane missed a good opportunity before Jack Butland, who returned to Barry Ferguson's XI, rescued his side with a smart stop with Sam Dalby clean in.

From the corner, the defence were flat-footed allowing young defender Cleall-Harding to rise and power a glancing header into the far corner.

It seemed that Ibrox struggles were returning for the home side after emphatically ending a seven-game winless run last time out against Aberdeen.

That lasted just five minutes when Dessers seized on a wonderful Jefte cross to plant his header past Dave Richards, who had started ahead of Jack Walton.

The second half was, again, initially flat until Rangers were handed a chance to go ahead.

Mohamed Diomande went down under Will Ferry's challenge inside the area and Calum Scott let play go. Hwoever, he was called to review the incident and Dessers finished from the awarded spot kick.

Victory was sealed when John Souttar fed Vaclav Cerny, Raskin got beyond and emphatically thumped home past Richards.

Ferguson would have craved a win in what many expect to be his last home fixture in charge.

It looked like old habits were returning at one stage but they did more than enough to deserve the win.

Ibrox wasn't full - far from it - and that reflects the current consensus of thought. Get this season done and bring on the next chapter.

It was another step towards closure on this desperately disappointing campaign for Rangers, one that will be consigned far from memory.

What happens next is what everyone wants to know.

Ferguson suggested pre-match that news on the managerial position and takeover may arrive in four or five days, or a week. It can't come quick enough for the fans.

This has not been the top six run of results United sought, especially given it was looking like a fight for third at one stage.

Here, they did well to get the lead but just didn't hold on for long enough.

As the game wore on, they struggled to create and can have few complaints at the outcome.

Expectation has grown over the course of the campaign, perhaps slightly harshly, given it's their first season back in the Premiership.

All at Tannadice will be extremely disappointed with this sequence which leaves European hopes fragile and fans a little flat.

It's still very much within their grasp on the final day at home to Aberdeen, though.

Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson: "It's easy to be in holiday mode but I demanded that wasn't the case, starting on Sunday. We got that monkey off our back with a win against Aberdeen and I've got to give the players credit.

"We've had a few disappointing results but I've demanded from them to come back from poor performances and poor results and they've always done that for me, but we got a brilliant reception going round there."

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "We had a clear game plan to come here and play in a low block and try to hit Rangers on the counter-attack.

"We're making hard work of finishing fourth, the last four results haven't been good enough but I think if you had offered us this opportunity on Saturday, way back at the beginning of the season, a one-off game to go and potentially, not just secure fifth, but clinch fourth, would be a remarkable finish for us."