Football: Albertz raises Rangers to peak

Rangers 1 Dundee 0

A SINGLE goal by Jorg Albertz was all Rangers had to show for their complete domination of the 90 minutes but the German's 79th-minute strike was enough to give the former champions an outright lead in the table.

Dundee came to Ibrox looking to do no more than defend in depth hoping to steal a point and Rangers struggled for so long before making the decisive breakthrough. Once again the lack of a cutting edge was evident as Rangers controlled the midfield without overworking Robert Douglas. When given the chance the Dundee goalkeeper remained calm.

He capped a fine performance by saving an Albertz penalty on the stroke of full- time, diving to his right to push the ball away.

However, Albertz's goal, his ninth of the season, saw Ran-gers leapfrog Kilmarnock and top the table by two points, with 18 points from nine games.

It was just as well for Rangers that Albertz had beaten the goalkeeper earlier. Collecting the ball in midfield and with the Dundee defence slow in coming out, the midfielder let fly a powerful shot, drilling the ball into the far corner. It was a strike totally out of place in such a dreary match yet Dundee, who had been so negative, passed up the most clear- cut chance from outfield play. Lorenzo Amoruso was dispossessed at the edge of the penalty area by Shaun McSkimming and although the Dundee man had a clear look at goal, he hit the side net and Dundee remained in the relegation zone with eight points.

Rangers, with their domination, created few clear-cut chances but there were a few anxious moments. In the 29th minute Albertz supplied a reverse pass to Jonatan Johansson but his angled shot was touched just wide by Douglas.

The goalkeeper again demonstrated sure reflexes in the 51st minute, pushing over a thunderbolt free kick by Albertz and on the hour mark Rod Wallace found space, but his drive came back off the 'keeper's foot and the rebound shot by Sergio Porrini was blocked.

Dick Advocaat, the Rangers coach, has already suggested he is looking for the striker who will put the finishing touches to his team's moves and he gave Sebastian Rozental 30 minutes to show his worth. But having been out for two years with a knee injury he will need more time to make an impact.

Rangers (4-4-2): Charbonnier; Porrini, Hendry, Amoruso, Vidmar; Gattuso (Miller, h-t), Van Bronckhorst, B Ferguson, Albertz; Johansson (Rozental, 60), Wallace (I Ferguson, 88). Substitutes not used: Wilson, Brown.

Dundee (5-3-2): Douglas; Miller, Irvine, Smith, Raeside, Maddison (Anderson, 84); Adamczuk, Rae, McSkimming; Annand (Coyne, 76), Falconer. Substitutes not used: McInally, Grant, Langfield.

Referee: K Clark (Paisley).

Bookings: Rangers: B Ferguson. Dundee: Smith, Raeside, Adamczuk, McSkimming.

Man of the match: Douglas.

Attendance: 48,348.