Cyriel DessersSNS

Cyriel Dessers nods in his 22nd goal of the season

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Rangers recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Dundee and avoid an Ibrox embarrassment, while also prolonging Celtic’s wait to be crowned Premiership champions.

Manager Philippe Clement revealed he was "very angry" at half-time, before his side went on to score four goals for an ultimately comfortable victory.

The visitors struck twice in two first-half minutes through defenders Jordan McGhee and Antonio Portales to threaten a first win at Ibrox since 2001.

However, Ross McCausland’s toe-poke just before half-time eased the pressure on the hosts before Cyriel Dessers nodded Rangers level six minutes after the restart.

Todd Cantwell whipped Rangers into the lead when his cross flew in and Scott Wright then secured all three points with a late double.

Clement told BBC Scotland: "I was angry because they didn't reward themselves. I was very angry. We had good intentions with the ball and not enough without. We need to stand up and show more.

"We played good offensive, aggressive football in the second half. It's a big lesson to take out of that and continue working on that in the next 10 days. We need to be more consistent next season, that aggression has to be there all the time, not just when I'm angry."

Rangers move three points behind Celtic, who visit Kilmarnock on Wednesday needing one point to seal the title.

Dundee, meanwhile, will finish sixth as their quest for European football was struck a fatal blow.

While a flat and dejected crowd may have been anticipated after the weekend's Old Firm loss that all but confirmed Celtic as champions, more professionalism was expected from the Rangers players.

Instead, the home crowd were left frustrated in the first half, witnessing petulant play from Fabio Silva and Cantwell and uncertain defending.

There were flashes of decent stuff from the hosts. Ridvan Yilmaz had one saved by Jon McCracken, Mohamed Diamonde saw one whistle wide and McCausland had a shot saved when one-on-one.

Despite that, the crowd was quiet and then silenced when Dundee went ahead, as Owen Dodgson’s low ball was buried at the back post by McGhee.

There was barely enough time for any boos before the visitors extended their lead. Dodgson was the provider again, crossing low for Portales to flick the ball into the bottom corner.

Rangers managed to sober up quickly, with McCausland squeezing into the box and poking through McCracken’s legs to ease the tension at half-time.

The jeers were deafening at the break, but Rangers responded well. Cantwell, who looked a different player in the second half, curled a delightful cross in and Dessers powered a header into the ground which bounced into the top corner.

Cantwell completed the comeback himself, lashing a cross over McCracken and sneaking it in at the back post. His badge-kissing celebration suggested he meant it.

Rangers piled on the pressure, with Dundee’s confidence diminishing quickly. Eventually, Wright wrapped up the victory when Kieran Dowell picked up a loose ball and crossed to the back post, with the substitute passing it into the net.

It would be more than comfortable in the end. The visitors had wilted and left themselves open, allowing McCausland to find Wright on the left, with the former Dundee winger skipping inside to score his second and Rangers' fifth.

Player of the Match - Todd Cantwell (Rangers)

SNS

He summed up Rangers this evening. Infuriating in the first half, infuriatingly good in the second. A game-winning talent, when he wants to be.

Rangers recover to overpower tiring Dundee - analysis

The cracks have started to show at Ibrox in recent weeks and Dundee threatened to prise them wide open in the first 45 minutes.

The visitors were excellent in the first half - putting out fires at the back, looking dangerous in attack, and showing no fear all over the park.

But, as they have done throughout the season, they struggled to hold on to what they had as Rangers returned to their best in the second half.

Where they had looked winded and hungover in the first half, the hosts responded with energy and enthusiasm in the second.

Whatever was said at half-time, an angry Clement certainly got a reaction out of his side.

Todd Cantwell was superb after the break, and the rest of the attack started to click as a result. When this team have confidence, they play with real brio but it was another slow start that threatened to undo them.

What they said

Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "After the disappointment of losing in the Old Firm, you need to bounce back fast. In the first half, we were not good enough without the ball. Second half, we were good both in and out [of possession].

"Then you see how good we can be, even though we were missing a lot of players. There's a resilience in this squad. We've been working on that a lot in the last couple of months.

Clement post Dundee

Dundee boss Tony Docherty: "First half, we were outstanding, we were the better team and should've come in 2-0 up. We controlled the game out of possession and were clinical.

"We're a work in progress, very much so, but there have to be plaudits for the players, getting into the top six and the way we played here first half. There was a bit of naivety.

'We were naive second half' - Docherty

What next?

Rangers finish their league season at Tynecastle when they face Hearts on Saturday, while Dundee host Kilmarnock (both 12:30 BST).

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