Johnny Russell grabbed a double as Dundee United handed new boss Jackie McNamara the perfect start to the job by dumping nine-man Rangers out of the William Hill Scottish Cup, yesterday.
Russell struck an early goal, before Jon Daly doubled the advantage and Russell put the gloss on the fifth round victory, which saw Kal Naismith and Ian Black dismissed late on.
Controversy surrounded the build-up to the tie when Rangers opted against taking a ticket allocation for the match.
The decision was a response to calls from fans groups to boycott what was the first away fixture against Clydesdale Bank Premier League opposition since the club were denied entry to the top flight after being consigned to liquidation in the summer.
Of the 9,564 crowd inside Tannadice, 365 were recorded as visiting fans, with some Gers supporters opting to take in the match regardless – although they may have been wishing they had not bothered making the trip to Tayside in the end.
McNamara enjoyed the best possible start to his tenure when the home side surged into the lead with just 16 seconds on the clock.
A defensive error by Emilson Cribari allowed Russell to nip through on goal and dispatch a shot beyond the out-stretched hand of Neil Alexander.
Rangers had a chance to haul themselves back into the tie when Lee Wallace picked out Sandaza in front of goal and his glancing header was not too far away.
Instead, it was United who had the net bulging again after 36 minutes when Daly took advantage of poor defending to rise unmarked in the box and nod home from Willo Flood’s free-kick.
There was no way back for Rangers when Russell claimed his second – and United’s third – of the day with 10 minutes to go.
Michael Gardyne nodded down for Daly and he played into the path of Russell to sweep into the back of the net from six yards.
A miserable day was compounded for Rangers when Naismith was shown a straight red for a challenge on Willo Flood after 86 minutes, before Black picked up a second caution for a foul on John Rankin a minute later.
Premier League
Ross County 2 - Hearts 2
FA Cup – Fifth round
Dundee Utd 3 - Rangers 0
Dunfermline 0 - Hamilton 2
Falkirk 4 - Forfar 1
Kilmarnock 2 - Inverness 0
St Mirren 2 - St Johnstone 0
Playing today
Dundee-Morton - 16.00
Hibernian-Aberdeen - 16:30
Raith-Celtic - 13:45
Division One
Cowdenbeath p - Partick p
Dumbarton 3 - Livingston 4
Division Two
Ayr United p - Brechin p
Q’of the South 0 - Alloa 0
Stenhousemuir 1 - Arbroath 0
Stranraer 3 - East Fife 1
Division Three
Clyde 1 - Elgin City 1
Montrose 2 - E. Stirling 2
Peterhead 1 - Berwick 1
Queen’s Park 2 - Annan 2