Anyone looking to win the lottery should ask Steven Thompson for his lucky numbers. A few days ago, the striker was plying his trade for a Dundee United team struggling against the prospect of relegation. Now at Rangers he scored on his debut and could yet win a Premier League championship medal.
The Scotland player emerged from the dugout to replace Claudio Caniggia after an hour and scored the crucial third goal to earn the Ibrox side vital points while Celtic were drawing 1-1 against Aberdeen.
"It was the stuff of dreams," he admitted. "I couldn't have scripted that start to my career here. The move from Tannadice has happened so quickly that it hasn't really sunk in yet but this was special."
A Rangers victory, Thompson's debut goal and Celtic's draw made it a good day for Rangers manager Alex McLeish.
"It was a great start for Steven, but it's wrong and unfair to say we are pinning our title hopes on him. Maybe we have limped a bit towards the break, but we are top and the Celtic result at Pittodrie was a bonus for us."
McLeish praised defender Craig Moore for completing the game despite suffering from an illness than saw him throw up on the pitch at one point.
"Craig wasn't well. We have had players in the last two or three games who have put the club before themselves and I appreciate that.
"Peter Lovenkrands was struggling for the last two or three games, but agreed to play. Claudio Caniggia has been toiling a bit and Craig had a stomach upset the whole game.
"He was nauseous before the game and physically sick during it, but he has been an inspiration to us throughout the season and it was great to see him get through it."
This was certainly another unconvincing win despite the scoreline, for Dundee - with midfield men Gavin Rae, Barry Smith and Gary Brady outstanding - performed well and for long spells looked eminently capable of taking something from the match.
The manager Jim Duffy confirmed as much: "We played some excellent football and it was all a bit frustrating because we had a chance through Steve Lovell at 2-1 that we missed."
Had Lovell scored then, it would have been the second time the Dens Park team had battled back, for they were initially behind to Barry Ferguson's 21st-minute strike for only two minutes before the same Dundee player equalised.
De Boer then put Rangers ahead again one minute from half-time and Thompson's 82nd minute tap-in made the points safe.
Guardian Service
RANGERS: Klos, Ross, Moore, Amoruso, Muscat, Malcolm, Ferguson, Lovenkrands (Nerlinger 85), Caniggia (Thompson 61), Mols (McLean 80), de Boer. Subs Not Used: McGregor, Billy Gibson. Goals: Ferguson 21, de Boer 44, Thompson 82.
DUNDEE: Speroni, Mackay, Khizanishvili, Mair, Smith, Hernandez Santos, Rae, Brady (Novo 69), Lovell (Robertson 83), Caballero, Milne. Subs Not Used: Soutar, Beith, Robb. Goals: Lovell 23.
Referee: T Brown (Scotland).
