Dundee vs Rangers: Betting Odds & Prediction
(Featured image: Alamy Images)
Sixth-placed Dundee host title-chasing Rangers in their crunch rearranged Scottish Premiership fixture.
Kick-off at Dens Park is on Wednesday at 8pm (UK time).
Recent Form
Dundee
Dundee need to regroup from the blow of surrendering a two-goal lead with eleven minutes to go in Saturday’s dramatic last-gasp 3-2 defeat to Motherwell - their first home defeat in over two months. The outcome kept both sides, along with Hibernian, in the hunt to finish on the right side of the top-six split.
The Dark Blues still require a victory from their two remaining games to guarantee a place in the top tier entering the concluding stretch of the season. It would represent a significant achievement, having been promoted from the Championship last season.
Much of the intrigue in the build-up to this game surrounds the pitch. This tie was originally arranged for 17 March, only to be called off due to a waterlogged surface - Dens Park’s fifth postponement of the season. Visitors Motherwell then raised player welfare concerns before last weekend’s match proceeded after three pitch inspections.
Dundee have failed to take a point off Rangers since their 1-1 draw in December 2018. They have since lost 16 consecutive matches against the Old Firm giants (eight apiece to Rangers and Celtic), scoring just seven goals and conceding 55 in the process.
Dundee have won six and lost five of their 15 home league games this campaign; their 1.47 home points per game (PPG) is the division’s sixth best. With 1.74 goals conceded per match, Tony Docherty’s side possess the division’s leakiest defence, although only the Old Firm can match their average 1.42 goals scored.
However, their home games have generally been tighter affairs, with a both teams’ goals per game figure of 2.87 (compared to 3.44 on the road). In front of their own fans, Dundee have scored 1.4 goals per match from an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.33, compared to 1.47 against (from an expected goals against of 1.55).
⚡️ A perfect hit from @rabbi_matondo pic.twitter.com/Q5268l1YYl
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) April 7, 2024
Rangers
Rangers come in on the back of Sunday’s helter skelter 3-3 derby draw with defending champions Celtic, which leaves them a point behind their bitter Glasgow rivals - but with a crucial game in hand.
Philippe Clement’s side, who began 2024 with nine straight wins, were facing a damaging second defeat in three when a dominant first-half display saw the Hoops lead 2-0 at the break. But the roles reversed in the second half and, during a breathless finish, the visitors were pegged back twice. A stoppage-time beauty from Rabbi Matondo earned a priceless point following second-half strikes from captain James Tavernier and returning substitute Abdallah Sima.
Rangers have been rock-solid on their travels, averaging a league-high 2.43 points per game with just five goals conceded across 14 outings (0.36 per game). That compares to an expected goals against (xGA) of 0.94. At the other end, they have netted 28 away goals, 2 per game, from an xG of 1.9. They have kept clean sheets in an impressive 71.4% of their league trips, and are unbeaten away since the 2-1 reverse at Celtic in December.
After three consecutive home matches, it is Rangers’ first engagement away from Ibrox in the Premiership since they won at Kilmarnock at the end of February (to avenge their other away league defeat on the opening weekend).
In these teams’ two previous meetings of the campaign, Rangers cruised to a thumping 5-0 win at Dens Park in November, then earned a 3-1 comeback victory at Ibrox the following month.
Prediction
An away win yields a paltry return on the moneyline bet, so our recommendation is Rangers to win with another clean sheet as they look to reclaim top spot in the Scottish top-flight.