RANGERS have moved back up to second spot in the Premiership standings after beating Dundee 4-0 at Ibrox.
The Light Blues had taken just one point from nine as they lost to Celtic and Kilmarnock and drew with Motherwell in recent weeks.
But they returned to winning ways as goals from Kenny Miller, Alfredo Morelos, Jamie Murphy and Daniel Candeias earned them a crucial league win ahead of the Scottish Cup semi-final next weekend.
Rangers took to the field wearing black armbands before Ibrox fell silent to pay tribute to Ray Wilkins following his tragic death in midweek.
In the Broomloan Stand, supporters unfurled an ‘Absent Friends’ banner as the Light Blue legends remembered their former midfielder.
After a roar and another blow of the whistle, the action got underway. There was little for the home crowd to cheer, though.
It was Dundee that had the first chance of the afternoon but Wes Foderingham was equal to a shot from Roarie Deacon.
Just seconds later, Miller got a flick on a cross from Candeias but his effort came back off the left hand post.
The woodwork would later deny Murphy as his cross from the left looped over the head of keeper Elliot Parish. The ball clipped the frame of the goal, though, and there was nobody in Light Blue there to convert.
After Morelos had put a tame shot wide, Dundee created another decent opening as Sofien Moussa showed good feet inside the area and curled an effort just over the bar.
Neil McCann’s side were starting to assert themselves but it was Rangers who would take the lead as Miller broke the deadlock with a clinical finish.
Murphy drifted in from the left and found the striker in the area. With little room to manoeuvre, he rifled a shot across goal and beyond Parish.
It was the 38-year-old that had the first chance after the interval but he couldn’t find the target after Deacon’s miscued header fell to him inside the area.
Just a few minutes later, Miller had another opportunity to double his tally. Once again, he couldn’t take it.
Rangers broke quickly as James Tavernier set Candeias free and the Portuguese was unlucky to see a low strike come back off the far post. The ball broke to Miller but he couldn’t convert as Dundee survived another scare.
Boss Murty made two changes in quick succession as Greg Docherty and then Ross McCrorie were forced off with knocks. Andy Halliday and Bruno Alves took their places and there was still plenty of work to be done to make sure of a much-needed win.
Simon Murray curled a free-kick just over the bar as Dundee looked for a way back into the game but their hopes were dashed just seconds later.
Tavernier found Candeias on the right and the winger’s low cross evaded everyone inside the area apart from Morelos as he knocked the ball home from close range.
That was that as far as the outcome was concerned but there was still time for Rangers to add to their tally.
Morelos was the provider for the third as he nipped in to feed the ball to Murphy and the winger made no mistake as he fired a shot beyond Parish.
The Gers thought they would get a chance to make it 4-0 when Morelos burst free but referee Greg Aitken waved away the Colombian’s penalty appeals.
Morelos was instead booked for diving while Parish received treatment before being replaced by Calum Ferrie.
Murty and the Ibrox crowd were furious with the decision but they had one more reason to be celebrate before the final whistle as Candeias added a shine to the scoreline.
Morelos set Dorrans free down the left and the midfielder picked out Candeias. He had time to control the ball and pick his spot to cap another solid showing from both himself and Murty’s side.
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