THE mutual leaping from bench and stands encapsulated the significance of Connor Goldson’s 86th-minute winner at Dens Park yesterday.

Late goals in isolation merit scenes of bedlam but as was the case against Aberdeen a fortnight ago, this win was fundamentally important to any title hopes harboured at Ibrox. Dropped points in Dundee would’ve cut Rangers further adrift and quelled momentum ahead of the upcoming Old Firm derby; on a day where fan protests stopped play three times as Sydney Cup opposition continued.

Goldson’s strike keeps the pressure on and ensures that a busy two month period is now bookended with positivity. The impact of a costly two weeks immediately after the winter break remains evident in the standings, but yesterday offered further evidence of this squad’s character if any remain unconvinced.

Whether it was last week’s comfortable victory at the same venue that lulled the squad into a false sense of security or the surface and line-up which combined to form a stuffy encounter, three points felt very far away after 60 minutes. Mark McGhee’s side earned an early lead by attacking down the left and targeting the back post with a cross, a trend repeated throughout, and were comfortable battling from their vantage point.

Van Bronckhorst made four changes following Thursday’s tie in Serbia and set his side up to attack as they had the week prior. The surface wasn’t quite as bad as a recent trip to St Johnstone, but the ball regularly bobbled and resulted in many second touches turning into tackles. Instructed to build their way through the pitch using right-sided combinations and lacking a ball-carrier in the middle, the visitor’s reversion to direct balls given the unreliable pitch became aimless, the selection was made with a different game plan in mind.

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Regular disruptions from the travelling support didn’t help matters and slowed the tempo in Dundee’s favour. Streamers and tennis balls were thrown to delay play, much to the frustration of everyone else in attendance. When James Tavernier found the stand instead of the net with his penalty kick before the interval, it became hard to shake the nostalgia of one of those undesirable days.

The changes from the bench arrived quickly. Joe Aribo and Fashion Sakala were introduced at half-time as John Lundstram moved into defence and Aaron Ramsey behind the striker. The Welshman came to life for a 10-minute spell to tip the balance; connecting with one of Sakala’s shot-like crosses into the box and providing a delivery of his own, but a goal was cruelly evasive. He would get his first for the club just after the hour when finishing into an open net after Kemar Roofe’s header was pushed into his path.

The Jamaican, who replaced James Sands 15 minutes into the second-half, moves in the penalty box like no other player at the club and peeled off at the back post as Rangers equalised. He continually pops up in otherwise unventured territory and must be a key player over the month of April. The goal offered hope to refuel travelling voices and as the game threatened to run away, it was Roofe that provided an unorthodox assist. Goldson, who scored at the same venue just a week ago, finished like a striker but given his comfort on the ball perhaps that should come as no surprise.

The success of the system against the same opposition so recently makes it’s hard to criticise van Bronckhorst for the team he started, particularly given his double change at the break. It was the tactical alteration to move Tavernier out of the defence that facilitated the captain’s underlap which carried the ball into the opposing box for the winner and Roofe’s introduction which split the difference.

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The manager got it right just in time once again.

As the Rangers Review wrote after the narrow win over Aberdeen, the side risk being punished if they wait until ‘late winner territory’ to put their foot to the floor and attack with such conviction. The likes of Lundstram, Tavernier, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos were playing under three days on from the game against Red Star, after countless minutes in a demanding schedule. But even on peak performance, the lack of goalscorers in the starting 11 is a pressing concern and must be addressed ahead of the run-in.

Football is the story of fine margins and if Rangers continue to only edge these moments in the remaining seven cup finals, performances will be forgotten. That burden could be lifted somewhat if van Bronckhorst can accommodate his team’s best goal threat in Roofe with greater regularity to score the goals that could win the title.