CANT START LIKE THAT

Gers stroll to win but first-half horror shows exactly why the title is out of their grasp as Todd produces too little, too late

- ANDY NEWPORT

IT’S all over bar the shouting. But Rangers can forget about having any say in next week’s Scottish Cup Final if they carry on giving teams two goals of a start. 

C eltic’s championship champagne may be back on ice until tonight’s trip to Rugby Park, but it was Philippe Clement’s side who risked a chilly reception after another laboured opening 45 minutes.

It took a Todd Cantwell fluke to ensure they did no suffer a repeat of their Old Firm heartbreaker but it ’s no accident this Rangers side find themselves where they are.

The defensive deficiencies which have cost their shot at the title were on full show again as Dundee were allowed to strike twice in two minutes through Jordan McGhee and Antonio Portales.

Rangers’ Treble yell might have fallen quiet but that shock double sparked yet another Ibrox outburst from their furious punters.

Until that point, the old place would have resembled a library were it not for the Union Bears making their racket in the corner. The boos rang out at half-time, even after Ross McCausland pulled one back just as the whistle blew.

But with Cantwell forcing the issue, Rangers roared back to claim a win which delays Parkhead celebrations for at least 24 hours. A Cyriel Dessers header and Cantwell’s mis-hit cross put them ahead before Scott Wright’s late double.

Cantwell will now hope he’s earned himself a Hampden shot at Celtic a week on Saturday having been sat out of last weekend’s disastrous derby defeat to the Hoops.