Kris Boyd scored his 100th Scottish Premier League goal for champions Rangers as they survived a late fightback by third-top Dundee United.
The Scotland striker fired low into the far corner from 16 yards after only two minutes at Tannadice.
Nacho Novo jinked into the area before slotting the ball into the far corner after 41 minutes.
Rangers looked to be cruising to a win until Damian Casalinuovo's deflected late header led to a nervous ending.
With Rangers having already won the title and United secure in third spot, both managers had made a host of changes.
Steven Smith came in for the suspended Sasa Papac, while goalkeeper Neil Alexander, Andrew Little, Kris Boyd, John Fleck, Kirk Broadfoot and Nacho Novo were also handed starting places.
Novo scored a fine solo goal to put Rangers two ahead
United only fielded four players who started in last week's defeat by Celtic, with Casalinuovo, Danny Cadamarteri, David Robertson, Kevin Smith, Keith Watson and Craig Hill all coming into the team.
The home side had been forced to do without the services of the influential Andy Webster at the heart of the defence because he is on loan from their opponents, so 19-year-old Hill was handed his debut.
And the new pairing with Garry Kenneth was immediately breached when Fleck set up Boyd, who side-footed into the far corner from 16 yards.
It was the striker's 23rd of the season and ended his long wait for a 100th goal for Rangers in the SPL.
United's hopes were further dented when experienced forward Cadamarteri fell awkwardly and had to be replaced with Ryan Dow, the 19-year-old striker earning his first-team debut.
They could have been two behind if Fleck's goalbound low drive had not struck the heel of the unsuspecting Kenneth on the goalline.
Rangers lost Kevin Thomson through injury, with DaMarcus Beasley coming on, and the change in midfield briefly knocked Rangers out of their stride.
However, just as United had started to exert some pressure, Novo turned the bamboozled Sean Dillon inside out and fired low into the far corner.
Rangers were denied a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Boyd crumbled to the deck under a challenge of Hill, who appeared to have a hold of the striker's shirt.
United came out after the break looking to make amends for a poor first-half display.
Casalinuovo fired well over after being found at the front post, but the Argentine forward was well marked - symptomatic of United's inability to create clear-cut chances.
When they were presented with a good opportunity, courtesy of a loose David Weir header, Scott Robertson sliced wide from eight yards.
However, Rangers were pegged back after 80 minutes when Casalinuovo's header from 10 yards deflected in off a Rangers shoulder from a corner.
Robertson stole in at the front post to volley straight at Alexander, while Boyd had the ball in the net at the other end only to be ruled offside.
United pressed for a winner, Dow failed to find the target with one chance while Robertson was booked for diving when the home side were demanding a penalty.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Scottish Premier
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Dundee Utd
1-2
Rangers
FT
(HT 0-2)
Damian Casalinuovo 80
Boyd 2
Novo 41
Dundee Utd
01 Pernis
02 Dillon
18 Kenneth
27 Watson yellow card
50 Hill
12 Robertson yellow card
15 Buaben (Robertson 59)
16 Gomis
22 Smith (Shala 70)
10 Cadamarteri (Dow 10)
21 Damian Casalinuovo
Substitutes
13 Banks,
17 Mihadjuks,
06 Conway,
08 Robertson,
09 Daly,
20 Shala,
35 Dow
Rangers
25 Alexander
03 Weir
21 Broadfoot yellow card
26 Smith (Whittaker 78)
02 Edu
08 Thomson (Beasley 28)
09 Boyd (Lafferty 87)
10 Novo
14 Naismith
29 Fleck
48 Little
Substitutes
01 McGregor,
16 Whittaker,
06 McCulloch,
07 Davis,
20 Beasley,
49 Kind Bendiksen,
27 Lafferty
Ref: O'ReillyAtt: 10,003
DUNDEE UTD
RANGERS
Possession
Dundee Utd39%
Rangers61%
Attempts on target
Dundee Utd1
Rangers6
Attempts off target
Dundee Utd5
Rangers3
Corners
Dundee Utd8
Rangers6
Fouls
Dundee Utd10
Rangers11
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:02 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00+3:22 Short corner taken by Nacho Novo from the left by-line.
90:00+0:23 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kyle Lafferty on Craig Hill. Dusan Pernis takes the direct free kick.
89:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Robertson on Steven Naismith. Direct free kick taken by Kirk Broadfoot.
88:37 Neil Alexander restarts play with the free kick.
85:43 The offside flag is raised against Kris Boyd. Free kick taken by Dusan Pernis.
82:44 The ball is swung over by Garry Kenneth.
82:10 Foul by Maurice Edu on David Robertson, free kick awarded. Ryan Dow takes the direct free kick.
81:40 Close range effort by Kris Boyd misses to the left of the goal.
81:09 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ryan Dow, clearance made by Andrew Little.
79:49 Assist on the goal came from Ryan Dow.
79:49 GOAL - Damian Casalinuovo:Dundee Utd 1 - 2 Rangers Damian Casalinuovo finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Dundee Utd 1-2 Rangers.
79:24 Ryan Dow takes the inswinging corner,
78:13 Free kick awarded for a foul by Morgaro Gomis on Steven Naismith. David Weir takes the direct free kick.
77:35 Substitution Steven Whittaker comes on in place of Steven Smith.
77:26 Close range strike by Scott Robertson goes over the bar.
75:36 David Weir takes the direct free kick.
75:36 Booking Keith Watson receives a yellow card.
75:20 Foul by Keith Watson on Steven Naismith, free kick awarded.
71:37 Nacho Novo produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.
71:02 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by DaMarcus Beasley, clearance made by Damian Casalinuovo.
68:39 Substitution Andis Shala joins the action as a substitute, replacing Kevin Smith.
68:39 Inswinging corner taken by John Fleck from the left by-line.
66:07 Close range effort by Damian Casalinuovo goes over the bar.
64:54 Unfair challenge on David Robertson by John Fleck results in a free kick. Ryan Dow crosses the ball in from the free kick, Andrew Little manages to make a clearance.
61:36 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by John Fleck from the right by-line, clearance by Scott Robertson.
59:09 Effort on goal by Morgaro Gomis from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
58:22 Substitution Scott Robertson on for Prince Buaben.
57:34 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Prince Buaben, clearance by Kris Boyd.
54:24 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Dow, clearance made by Steven Smith.
53:59 John Fleck is ruled offside. Dusan Pernis takes the free kick.
53:32 Kevin Smith challenges Maurice Edu unfairly and gives away a free kick. DaMarcus Beasley takes the direct free kick.
52:18 The official flags Damian Casalinuovo offside. David Weir restarts play with the free kick.
50:25 Ryan Dow has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.
48:57 The free kick is delivered right-footed by Sean Dillon from left channel, clearance made by Kris Boyd.
48:57 Booking The referee shows Kirk Broadfoot a yellow card.
48:53 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Damian Casalinuovo by Kirk Broadfoot.
47:45 Keith Watson fouled by DaMarcus Beasley, the ref awards a free kick. Prince Buaben crosses the ball in from the free kick, Maurice Edu makes a clearance.
46:21 Maurice Edu fouled by Sean Dillon, the ref awards a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Steven Smith from the free kick, save by Dusan Pernis.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:21 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
45:00+1:14 The offside flag is raised against Ryan Dow. Direct free kick taken by Neil Alexander.
44:46 The offside flag is raised against Damian Casalinuovo. Direct free kick taken by Neil Alexander.
43:08 Garry Kenneth concedes a free kick for a foul on Kris Boyd. Free kick taken by Maurice Edu.
42:20 Corner from the left by-line taken by Ryan Dow, Neil Alexander makes a save.
40:40 GOAL - Nacho Novo:Dundee Utd 0 - 2 Rangers Nacho Novo grabs a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Dundee Utd 0-2 Rangers.
39:59 Shot from deep inside the area by David Robertson clears the bar.
38:34 Foul by Morgaro Gomis on DaMarcus Beasley, free kick awarded. David Weir restarts play with the free kick.
37:00 Corner taken by David Robertson.
36:14 Kevin Smith fouled by David Weir, the ref awards a free kick. David Robertson crosses the ball in from the free kick, Kirk Broadfoot manages to make a clearance.
35:15 Corner taken right-footed by David Robertson from the right by-line, clearance made by Andrew Little.
34:45 The ball is swung over by Nacho Novo, Kris Boyd takes a shot. Save by Dusan Pernis.
32:04 Kris Boyd gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Garry Kenneth. Sean Dillon restarts play with the free kick.
31:17 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by David Robertson from the left by-line, clearance made by Steven Smith.
30:42 Ryan Dow fouled by Steven Naismith, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Prince Buaben.
29:32 Foul by Maurice Edu on David Robertson, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Prince Buaben.
27:24 Substitution DaMarcus Beasley on for Kevin Thomson.
25:32 Shot from just outside the box by Nacho Novo goes over the crossbar.
17:29 Morgaro Gomis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Maurice Edu. Kevin Thomson takes the free kick.
15:06 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Smith by Kirk Broadfoot. Free kick taken by Sean Dillon.
14:18 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John Fleck by Keith Watson. Steven Smith takes the free kick.
13:17 Corner taken by John Fleck, Andrew Little takes a shot. Garry Kenneth makes a clearance.
12:24 Kris Boyd is ruled offside. Dusan Pernis takes the direct free kick.
12:03 Inswinging corner taken by John Fleck, Garry Kenneth manages to make a clearance.
11:43 John Fleck takes a shot. Blocked by Garry Kenneth.
9:49 Substitution Ryan Dow joins the action as a substitute, replacing Danny Cadamarteri.
7:24 Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Cadamarteri on Steven Smith. Neil Alexander takes the direct free kick.
5:02 Unfair challenge on Kevin Smith by Kevin Thomson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Sean Dillon.
1:40 The assist for the goal came from John Fleck.
1:40 GOAL - Kris Boyd:Dundee Utd 0 - 1 Rangers Goal scored by Kris Boyd from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Dundee Utd 0-1 Rangers.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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