Malik Tillman’s double provides spark for Rangers in win over Dundee United

A goal either side of the break from Malik Tillman gave Rangers a straightforward 2-0 Premiership win over bottom side Dundee United at Ibrox.

Rangers manager Michael Beale called for a big home performance after impressive displays away from home against Hearts, Hibernian and Motherwell but it was all rather flat until the 38th minute when the Bayern Munich loan midfielder got the breakthrough with a confident finish.

The silky 20-year-old added a second in the 55th minute to make it six goals in six games and 12 for the season and it was ultimately a comfortable afternoon for Rangers.

Beale has only lost once in 20 games since becoming Rangers manager and his side moved six points behind Celtic, who travel to Ross County on Sunday. However, while Rangers keep winning there is no sign of a slip-up from their Old Firm rivals. Jim Goodwin’s United side remain two points behind Ross County and while they will not have banked on taking anything from Ibrox they have plenty of work to do if they are to survive.

Before the game former Rangers player and manager John Greig made a presentation to goalkeeper Allan McGregor to mark his 500th appearance for the home side and he had one of his easiest matches. Borna Barisic, Tillman and Alfredo Morelos returned to the starting line-up at the expense of Ridvan Yilmaz, Antonio Colak and Fashion Sakala. United, with right wing-back Kieran Freeman in for the injured Liam Smith, had a reasonably stress-free start to the game.

In the eighth minute Tannadice keeper Mark Birighitti blocked a close-range drive from Rangers captain James Tavernier. Efforts from Morelos and Ryan Kent followed but Birighitti remained untroubled unlike United midfielder Peter Pawlett, who picked up an injury