Dundee United were swept aside by Rangers at Tannadice

By Martin Conaghan

Rangers returned to the top of the Scottish Premier League in emphatic style, following a 3-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice.

And with Celtic just a point behind their fierce rivals, it looks very much like business as usual.

However, it was only the second league defeat of the season for Craig Levein's side, following a strong start to the campaign that has helped exert pressure on the long-established Old Firm dominance at the top of Scottish football.

Hibernian are also going well and sit third above United, trailing Celtic by four points, 15 games into the campaign.

Earlier this week, Kevin Thomson may have upset a few followers of his former team when said he would be surprised if the rest of the pack were closer to Rangers and Celtic than 25-20 points by the end of the season.

And the Ibrox midfielder's thoughts are shared by BBC Scotland pundit Billy Dodds.

When Rangers play the way they played, there's only going to be one outcome Former Rangers and Dundee United striker Billy Dodds

The former Rangers and Dundee United striker Billy Dodds believes the destination of this season's title is as inescapable as it has been since 1985 when Aberdeen broke the Old Firm dominance to claim the league championship.

"When you're working with stronger squads and paying better money for better quality players, I think the outcome is inevitable," said Dodds.

"I think it will be again this year.

"It might be closer, but it'll still be something like 15 or 20 points in it."

DaMarcus Beasley opened the scoring in Tuesday's encounter at Tannadice with a wonder strike from the edge of the United penalty area box before Kenny Miller doubled the lead in the second half and put the game beyond United with 15 minutes remaining.

The Glasgow visitors commanded the match throughout, and Levein's men looked a shadow of the side that beat Celtic 2-1 at Tannadice last month.

Dodds admits he is pleased to see the Old Firm dominance being tested by clubs like United, but remains unconvinced that enough quality exists to break the Glasgow stranglehold on the SPL trophy.

"You have to give credit to Dundee United and Hibs challenging so far this season, because teams likes Aberdeen and Hearts have fallen away," said Dodds.

"I don't think it would have mattered what tactics United used, because individually as players, they didn't defend well and didn't make enough attacking moves.

"When Rangers play the way they played, there's only going to be one outcome - a win for Rangers."

Levein was forced to leave out Andy Webster due to the terms of the player's year-long loan deal from Rangers, but Dodds feels the inclusion of the defender would have done little to alter the outcome.

"I think Andy Webster would have made a small difference, but I don't think they would have won the game," he added.

"Maybe they would have been a bit more organised.

"But the whole United defence looked shaky, they switched off when Rangers were playing set-pieces.

"Rangers were worthy winners and I've said it all along, with the type of squad Rangers and Celtic both have, it's always going to end up like that.

"It was a bad night for Dundee United, and they chose the wrong night, because it was a good night for Rangers."

Billy Dodds was speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Sports Report.

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