Rangers need just 10 more points to win the Scottish Premiership after overwhelming Dundee United at Ibrox.
Ianis Hagi and Ryan Kent gave Steven Gerrard’s side an interval lead after Lawrence Shankland and Louis Appere spurned chances for a sprightly United.
Joe Aribo netted a stunning third to kill the game, before goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist’s clearance cannoned off Alfredo Morelos and into the net.
Borna Barisic missed a penalty before Marc McNulty got a late consolation.
Rangers have now played 30 of their 38 league fixtures and lead nearest challengers Celtic by 18 points before they visit Ross County at 19:30 GMT.
As their final game before the split is an Old Firm derby, Gerrard’s side could claim the title by winning their next three league fixtures.
Micky Mellon’s United are a point off sixth-placed St Mirren, who have a game in hand.
The visitors carved out the first chance when Shankland was played in on the edge of the Rangers box after a fine move and went beyond his man, only for Allan McGregor to smother the shot.
United took encouragement and Nicky Clark sent Appere through, McGregor racing off his line to make the block.
Rangers, without injured captain and top scorer James Tavernier, responded and Aribo’s bending shot gave Siegrist the chance to impress with a touch wide.
Steven Gerrard went to his bench as early as the 27th minute with Glen Kamara taking over from Ryan Jack and McGregor kept his side on terms again by beating away Appere’s powerful drive.
United had enjoyed the better of it, but Rangers grabbed the lead as Aribo patiently probed on the left edge of the box before Hagi’s flick diverted his shot and wrong-footed Siegrist.
A second goal followed within three minutes. Barisic’s cross was headed up by Leon Balogun and Kent’s strike came off the unfortunate Ryan Edwards to again leave Siegrist helpless.
Two deflected goals and the tide had turned. Steven Davis volleyed wide before Siegrist denied Morelos at close range with a stunning save, the striker also unable to force in the rebound.
And Aribo got the goal of the game three minutes into the second period, playing a one-two with Morelos on the left and thundering a shot into the opposite corner.
Morelos came close with a header but did find the net somewhat unintentionally when Siegrist’s panicked clearance cannoned back off him and flashed into the net.
But Siegrist redeemed himself by parrying away Barisic’s spot-kick after Jeando Fuchs was penalised for a challenge on Morelos.
Defender Jack Simpson made his Rangers debut as a replacement for Filip Helander but would not be part of a clean sheet.
Substitute McNulty exchanged passes with Shankland and swept a low shot past McGregor to become the second visiting player to score a league goal at Ibrox this season.
And 16-year-old defender Kerr Smith made a late debut appearance off the bench for United.
Man of the match – Joe Aribo
What did we learn?
Rangers played most of Thursday’s 4-3 Europa League win over Royal Antwerp without Tavernier and so how the team would function in the marauding right-back’s absence was not a complete mystery.
Stand-in Balogun showed his attacking credentials at the second goal and was solid defensively.
Off the back of two wins, United’s confidence was evident in the first half and they performed with ambition in the opening half hour without taking any of the good chances they created.
A top-six finish in their first season back in the top flight remains a target, albeit games with Aberdeen and Celtic in their next three will make it a tough task.
What did they say?
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard told Sky Sports: “I thought we were second best for the first 15, 20 minutes but we started playing with a bit of quality and a bit of style.
“I’m really pleased with a lot of our attacking play. On the back of Europe, it’s a fantastic result for us.”
Dundee United manager Micky Mellon told Sky Sports: “The goals we gave away and the chances we created in the first half… we could have one or two.
“They get deflections for goals and things like that but that’s what teams do at the top end of the league, they seem to go for them.”
What’s next?
Rangers play the home leg of their last-32 tie with Royal Antwerp on Thursday (17:55 GMT). Dundee United visit Kilmarnock on league business on Saturday (15:00).
Player of the match
AriboJoe Aribo
Rangers
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Squad number17Player nameAribo
Average rating7.15
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Squad number37Player nameArfield
Average rating6.98
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Squad number23Player nameWright
Average rating6.91
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Squad number14Player nameKent
Average rating6.53
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Squad number20Player nameMorelos
Average rating6.49
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Squad number1Player nameMcGregor
Average rating6.43
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Squad number4Player nameSimpson
Average rating6.32
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Squad number18Player nameKamara
Average rating6.29
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Squad number7Player nameHagi
Average rating6.29
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Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Average rating6.24
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Squad number26Player nameBalogun
Average rating6.24
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Squad number10Player nameDavis
Average rating6.24
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Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Average rating6.22
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Squad number9Player nameDefoe
Average rating6.21
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Squad number5Player nameHelander
Average rating5.98
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Squad number8Player nameJack
Average rating5.56
Dundee United
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Squad number1Player nameSiegrist
Average rating6.48
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Squad number24Player nameShankland
Average rating5.99
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Squad number2Player nameSmith
Average rating5.76
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Squad number10Player nameClark
Average rating5.75
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Squad number27Player nameAppéré
Average rating5.69
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Squad number6Player nameReynolds
Average rating5.58
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Squad number12Player nameEdwards
Average rating5.57
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Squad number66Player nameFuchs
Average rating5.56
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Squad number23Player nameHarkes
Average rating5.47
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Squad number18Player nameButcher
Average rating5.36
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Squad number9Player nameMcNulty
Average rating5.05
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Squad number43Player nameSmith
Average rating4.50
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Squad number17Player nameRobson
Average rating1.47
Line-ups
Rangers
Formation 4-3-3
- 1McGregor
- 26Balogun
- 6Goldson
- 5HelanderSubstituted forSimpsonat 67′minutes
- 31Barisic
- 8JackSubstituted forKamaraat 27′minutes
- 10DavisSubstituted forWrightat 63′minutes
- 17Aribo
- 7HagiSubstituted forArfieldat 63′minutes
- 20MorelosSubstituted forDefoeat 67′minutes
- 14Kent
Substitutes
- 4Simpson
- 9Defoe
- 11Itten
- 18Kamara
- 23Wright
- 24Stewart
- 33McLaughlin
- 37Arfield
- 61King
Dundee Utd
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Siegrist
- 2Smith
- 12Edwards
- 6Reynolds
- 17RobsonBooked at 51mins
- 18ButcherBooked at 7mins
- 66FuchsBooked at 66mins
- 23HarkesSubstituted forSmithat 90+2′minutes
- 10Clark
- 27AppéréSubstituted forMcNultyat 68′minutes
- 24Shankland
Substitutes
- 3Spörle
- 5Connolly
- 9McNulty
- 14Hoti
- 15Chalmers
- 19Mehmet
- 20Bolton
- 30Neilson
- 43Smith
- Referee:
- Nick Walsh
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Rangers 4, Dundee United 1.
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Second Half ends, Rangers 4, Dundee United 1.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Liam Smith.
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Substitution, Dundee United. Kerr Smith replaces Ian Harkes.
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Attempt saved. Connor Goldson (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Borna Barisic with a cross.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Ryan Edwards.
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Attempt blocked. Scott Wright (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Glen Kamara.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Jamie Robson.
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Attempt blocked. Scott Arfield (Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jermain Defoe.
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Goal! Rangers 4, Dundee United 1. Marc McNulty (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lawrence Shankland.
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Foul by Scott Wright (Rangers).
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Mark Reynolds (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Nicky Clark (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Mark Reynolds.
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Attempt missed. Ryan Kent (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Leon Balogun.
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Joe Aribo (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Liam Smith (Dundee United).
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Offside, Dundee United. Lawrence Shankland tries a through ball, but Marc McNulty is caught offside.
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Joe Aribo (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jeando Fuchs (Dundee United).