Having lost all 11 of his previous meetings with Rangers as a manager, it was perhaps no surprise that Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin went into the game with the modest aim of finishing the day still ahead of the Ibrox side given he viewed this as their “toughest test” so far.

After three consecutive wins, Goodwin not surprisingly named the same side for a fourth game in a row as United sought to extend their unbeaten home run to 11 games – six this season.

The home manager was “not getting carried away” with that start and his caution seemed justified as Rangers dominated early proceedings.

However, bringing on Ross Docherty before the break and Vicko Sevelj at half-time changed the flow of the game as a disjointed Rangers struggled to shoot up the notorious Tannadice slope.

United, though, were unable to force goalkeeper Jack Butland into a serious save and will surely see this as an opportunity missed to take advantage of the first time they have gone into a game ahead of Rangers in the league since 1993.