Kenny Miller struck twice as Rangers returned to the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 3-0 win over Dundee United in a rearranged game at Tannadice on Tuesday.
A sublime strike from DaMarcus Beasley was enough to separate the sides at half-time before Miller scored a second-half double to send Rangers one point clear of rivals Celtic in the race for the championship.
The Old Firm side will feel justice has been served after the original fixture between the pair on November 1 was abandoned at half-time due to a water-logged pitch with Rangers leading 1-0.
"It was one of those days with too many players underperforming and not getting a foothold in the game," Dundee United manager Craig Levein said.
"In my eyes we just didn't perform anywhere the level we can do and this was a wake-up call."
Walter Smith was delighted with the win at a venue Rangers have struggled at in recent years.
"It has been a difficult place for us over the last few seasons and tonight I felt we played extremely well and thoroughly deserved the win," the Rangers manager said.
"Dundee United were taking a lot of confidence from the run that they've had and I felt we needed a performance like that tonight."
After a cagey opening ten minutes the first chance of the game fell to Rangers with Nicky Weaver producing a super one-handed save to keep out Beasley's snap shot from 25 yards.
United felt aggrieved when Jon Daly went down in the box following a challenge from Sasa Papac but referee Mike Tumily waved away their penalty claims.
The Arabs rarely threatened and it took until the 25th minute for them to have an effort on goal with Daly heading straight at Neil Alexander from Craig Conway's free-kick.
Two minutes later Rangers had the lead through a superb left-foot strike from Beasley.
The American collected a pass from Miller on the right wing before jinxing past Paul Dixon and unleashing an unstoppable curling shot into the top left-hand corner of the net for his first league goal since September 2007.
Kris Boyd had a penalty claim turned down after taking a tumble following a nudge from Mihael Kovacevic before the SPL top-scorer sent a fierce low shot just wide from 20 yards.
Rangers added to their lead in the 58th minute. Nacho Novo danced past Sean Dillon and Danny Cadamarteri before providing an inch-perfect cross for Miller who sent his downward header through the legs of Weaver and into the net.
United had former Manchester City keeper Weaver to thank for keeping the score down as he denied Madjid Bougherra and Boyd but he was helpless to stop Miller making sure of the points in the 75th minute.
The impressive Beasley picked out the Scotland international in the box and he turned inside defender Darren Dods before striking low past Weaver.
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
