English Football
Aribo shines as Rangers beat Dundee to restore lead
Rangers moved seven points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership thanks to a dominant display against Dundee.
Joe Aribo scored the first-half opener via a deflection, before Ryan Sweeney slid the the midfielder’s cross into his own net after the break.
Alfredo Morelos poked in the third with 20 minutes remaining.
And it could have been a much more convincing scoreline had it not been for a series of saves by visiting goalkeeper Adam Legzdins.
A fourth consecutive win as Rangers manager for Giovanni van Bronckhorst means his side again put pressure on Celtic as their second-top city rivals visit the Dundee United on Sunday.
For Dundee, a 14th consecutive defeat at Ibrox leaves them fourth from bottom but having now played a game more than the three sides below.
Joe Aribo had a hand in the two goals, but it was Fashion Sakala who was the driving force as he grabbed his chance to impress after being brought into the Rangers side
Van Bronckhorst showed a willingness to tweak what he inherited from Steven Gerrard by restraining the forward ambition of Rangers’ full-backs as they secured a first clean sheet in eight games in the midweek win over Hibs and now he has a second in a row.
The Dutchman’s willingness to make bold decisions was further emphasised by the absence of veteran midfielder Steven Davis and winger Ryan Kent against Dundee.
The key duo apparently rested, Rangers were quickly in their stride against visitors who arrived confident with three wins in four outings under belt after their midweek win over St Johnstone.
Fashion Sakala was the man tasked with filling in for Kent wide on the left and the Zambia striker responded by continually testing the visiting defence with his speed and eye for goal.
Only a lack of composure on one occasion and a flying Legzdins save denied him before midfielder Aribo made room for himself on the edge of the penalty box and his low drive off the toe of defender Liam Fontaine deceived the Englishman.
Other than a squandered headed chance by Danny Mullen, the striker looking to score for a fourth consecutive game, Dundee had not threatened by the time Aribo benefitted from another rebound off defender Sweeney 10 minutes after the break.
Morelos had been one of those denied by Legzdins before the striker powered through a sea of legs to side-foot home and, although home goalkeeper Allan McGregor had to make a couple of late saves, Dundee were already well beaten.
