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Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 33
Feb 21, 2021 at 3pm UK
Ibrox Stadium
Dundee United

Rangers
4 - 1
Dundee Utd

Hagi (35'), Kent (38'), Aribo (49'), Morelos (64')
FT(HT: 2-0)
McNulty (87')
Butcher (7'), Robson (51'), Fuchs (66')

Preview: Rangers vs. Dundee United - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Scottish Premiership clash between Rangers and Dundee United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Rangers will head into their Scottish Premiership encounter with Dundee United on Sunday hoping to maintain their perfect home record and win their 15th league game of the season at Ibrox.

Meanwhile, the Tangerines are looking to win three successive league matches in the top-flight for the first time since March 2014.


Match preview

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard before the match in the Europa League on February 18, 2021© Reuters

Rangers extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 matches courtesy of a thrilling 4-3 victory away at Royal Antwerp on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie.

Steven Gerrard's side led with a strike from Joe Aribo and then equalised twice through Borna Barisic and Ryan Kent, before the Croatian left-back converted his second penalty of the match in the 90th minute to snatch the win in Belgium.

The Gers have now lost only one of their last 40 matches in all competitions this season - a 3-2 defeat in the Scottish League Cup against St Mirren back in December.

One downside to Thursday night's victory were the injuries sustained to captain James Tavernier and Kemar Roofe, with both players limping off before half time.

With Tavernier's understudy Nathan Patterson self-isolating after breaching coronavirus protocols, Gerrard has suggested that the club may have bring in a new right-back in an "emergency situation" if the 29-year-old's knee injury is worse than first feared.

Rangers now turn their attention to the Scottish Premiership and will face Dundee United, who they have beaten in seven of their last eight top-flight league games against them.

The Gers – who are just four wins away from clinching the title – would move 18 points clear of rivals Celtic with a victory on Sunday before the Hoops play later that evening away at Ross County.

Dundee United boss Micky Mellon pictured on August 22, 2020© Reuters

Dundee United claimed back-to-back league victories for the first time this campaign courtesy of an impressive 3-0 home win against Livingston last weekend.

Despite the first-half dismissal of midfielder Peter Pawlett, a first-minute strike from Adrian Sporle and a brace from Lawrence Shankland confirmed all three points for the Tangerines.

Micky Mellon has stated that his side now have 'new standards to maintain' and that they collectively have to aim to improve even further in order to climb back into the top six.

Dundee United travel to Ibrox having won only three top-flight matches away from home so far this season - the fewest in the division along with Kilmarnock.

The Tangerines have also lost both of their previous encounters with Rangers this campaign by a combined scoreline of 6-1.

Dundee United are currently in seventh place, level on points with St Mirren, but causing an upset and ending the Gers' unbeaten league run could see Mellon's team move up to sixth.

Rangers Scottish Premiership form: DWWWDW
Rangers form (all competitions): WWWDWW

Dundee United Scottish Premiership form: DLLLWW


Team News

Rangers' James Tavernier receives medical attention after sustaining an injury in the Europa League on February 18, 2021© Reuters

Rangers defender Leon Balogun is set to fill in at right-back for the injured Tavernier, while Kent, who began the match against Antwerp on the bench, is set to start ahead of Roofe.

Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos, who has recently served a three-game domestic ban, is in contention to start up front ahead of Cedric Itten.

Dundee United are still without Declan Glass, whose anterior cruciate ligament injury is set to keep him sidelined for the rest of the season, while Logan Chalmers is also out with an ankle problem.

With midfielder Pawlett suspended, striker Nicky Clark could come into the side and partner Shankland up front, while defender Mark Connolly could also start in a back five for the visitors.

Rangers possible starting lineup:
McGregor; Balogun, Goldson, Helander, Barisic; Davies, Jack, Aribo; Hagi, Morelos, Kent

Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Siegrist; Smith, Edwards, Connolly, Reynolds, Robson; Butcher, Fuchs, Harkes; Shankland, Clark


SM words green background

We say: Rangers 2-0 Dundee United

Gerrard may be tempted to rest one or two players against Dundee United, with one eye on their second leg tie with Royal Antwerp in the Europa League next Thursday.

However, Rangers are expected to name a strong enough side that should have enough quality to claim all three points at Ibrox, moving them one step closer to their first top-flight title since 2011.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting that at least one team will not score (BTTS - no) in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.BTTS No:data


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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Rangers win with a probability of 83.48%. A draw had a probability of 11.4% and a win for Dundee United had a probability of 5.1%.

The most likely scoreline for a Rangers win was 2-0 with a probability of 13.27%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 3-0 (12.5%) and 1-0 (9.39%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (5.43%), while for a Dundee United win it was 0-1 (1.92%). The actual scoreline of 4-1 was predicted with a 5.1% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Rangers would win this match.


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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard before the match in the Europa League on February 18, 2021
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic110082275581
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts101046341263
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren10013945-643
6Dundee10014556-1141
Relegation Group
1Hibernian11004752-542
2Aberdeen11003649-1338
3Motherwell10014652-637
4St Johnstone10012549-2431
5Ross County10013258-2630
6Livingston11002459-3521
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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