Football: De Boer gives Gers an extra Dutch of class

COMPUTERS are easily mended. However, that's not always the case with football teams.

The gates wouldn't work to the micro-chip's command at Ibrox yesterday and at times this Rangers side mirrored that aggravation and looked as if their robotic approach needed a super-conductor to get them going.

Whatever accomplishments they have in keeping the ball to themselves they still do not terrify defences.

The introduction of summer signing Kevin Muscat for last season's cup hero Peter Lovenkrands meant that Rangers substituted commitment and effort for pace and flair.

But against a Dundee side which, like most visitors to Ibrox, seemed happy to defend deep and attack on the break, Rangers looked painfully short of inspiration at times.

In fact Dundee's tactic actually looked like it might work on several occasions.

When Rangers were two up they actually had to indulge in some desperate defending as their midfield fell into dangerous complacency.

It was almost as if they had learned nothing from last week's disappointing opening day draw against Kilmarnock.

Still largely ineffectual up-front their over-elaboration in midfield gives the impression that they have little faith in their ability to get the ball in the box with any sort of quality.

The Gers started brightly enough. Ferguson and Arteta, who perhaps have too many similarities to provide balance in midfield, looked hungrier and sharper than their counterparts.

Skipper Ferguson, who started more forward movements in the first 15 minutes than he did in all of the opening game at Kilmarnock, looked particularly impressive.

After five minutes he split the Dundee defence with a superb outside pass to the advancing Ricksen who, in turn, sent in a low cross.

Tor Andre Flo met the cross but his shot was blocked at the last moment by Wilkie.

Dundee's tricky little bundle of fun Nacho Novo was always capable of running at the cumbersome central Rangers defence and after eight minutes he waltzed through and swept the ball to Sara who miscued.

But the plentiful supply of the ball in midfield for Rangers brought the inevitable goal after 11 minutes.

Flo on the right played what appeared to be an aimless cross into the box which was headed behind by Smith. From the ensuing corner by Arteta, De Boer jumped highest to head past keeper Speroni.

The Dutch ace was the one who improved the most on last week's dismal showing. He dragged the Dundee defence all over the shop, to leave space for the likes of Arveladze and Flo to run off their markers and find space.

But in the counter attack it was the diminutive Novo of Dundee who ran amok on 17 minutes when he left Amaruso on his behind and ran in on goal. But his chipped shot landed on the roof of the net.

It was a major let-off for Rangers and showed how vulnerable they still are to the counter-attack.

Rangers on the half-hour forced a corner after some brilliant close passing from De Boer, Ferguson and Arteta and from the cross Amoruso, with his back to goal, hooked the ball over the bar.

Three minutes from half-time came Rangers best move. De Boer sent Arteta away on the left and he skinned the full-back twice before sending in an impeccable cross that just eluded Flo, unmarked in front of goal.

For Rangers at this stage there was a disturbing similarity between this game and the way they let the Kilmarnock match slip from their clutches last week.

Gers upped the tempo at the restart and a cross by Muscat found the head of Flo but it was angled straight at the keeper.

In the 50th minute a free-kick by Ferguson was deflected on by Arveladze. Two defenders fluffed it back to the Georgian only six yards out but he blasted it over the bar.

Then Speroni made the save of the match in the 56th minute. De Boer set up Arveldaze with a cut-back from the line and his shot seemed destined for the net until the Argentine sprung to the left and touched it over.

Midway through this second-half Rangers looked as if they had lost their momentum.

Then Muscat slipped a ball to Flo on the edge of the box where it was slipped back to Arveladze and he took the ball wide to the left before sweeping it beyond the keeper.

With the game turning Dundee's way in terms of possession and the Rangers defence getting into a tangle at times one of the Ibrox side's best efforts in the latter stages was a run by Ricksen and a delicate chip which beat the keeper but skimmed the bar.

Then Arveldaze, in the 83rd minute, was sent away on the right but with only the keeper to beat he chose to cross but it eluded both Flo and Lovenkrands.

Two minutes later Flo, set up by Muscat, turned and hit the post 12 yards.

To emphasise the victory, with two minutes to go Wilkie and Nemsadze blundered giving Arveldaze the opportunity to put Lovekrands through to side-foot in the third.

It was a victory for Rangers but it was far from triumph.

MAN OF THE MATCH

RONALD DE BOER

A real class act for Rangers.

RANGERS: Klos 6, Ricksen 6, Moore 5, Amoruso 5, Newman 4, Ferguson 7, Flo 5, de Boer 8 (Lovenkrands 5), Muscat 5, Arteta 7, Arveladze 6.

DUNDEE: Speroni 8, Smith 7, Mackay 6, Wilkie 6, Rae 7, Sara 6, Nemsadze 7, Milne 6, Hernandez 4, Nobo 7 (Robb 5), Mair 6 (Caballero 5).

MANAGERS RATINGS: McLeish 7; Duffy 6.

REFEREE: A Freeland 6.ATTENDANCE: 47,044

MAN OF THE MATCH:

RONALD DE BOER - worked hard to get his side going

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