The Tannadice Trials

 

This Saturday will play host to somewhat of a unique occasion.

 

It is not the opposition, or the setting that differs in anyway, but simply the situation. Rangers travel to Tannadice this Saturday to face a team that are four divisions above them, with virtually no away support attending the ground. For a number of reasons culminating to a crescendo, the Rangers support has decided to avoid this upcoming game, a boycott that has been officially supported by the club. Although the vast majority have adhered to this message, there will supposedly be a small presence of Rangers fans who still insist on attending the game. As Rangers approach this game in such a different light to previous fixtures, it has had me reminiscing about other fixtures against Dundee United that had that something a little different to them.

 

Although I was too young to have seen the match, I have to start with an honourable mention to the victory that sealed nine-in-a-row. Tannadice was the scene for the crowning moment of arguably the greatest achievement in Scottish football. As the ‘Gers sealed their historic 9^th consecutive title through a bulleted Brian Laudrup header, it created the scene that would go down in Rangers folklore. A defining moment in the history of the club, but it is not the only Rangers have sealed a title at this ground.

 

The 2008/09 season was one of a trio of titles that Rangers have won on the final day of the season since the turn of the millennium. This one took place at Tannadice once more, as Rangers comfortably saw off the opposition to eventually ease to the title after three seasons of agony. The day was completed by goals from Lafferty, Mendes and Boyd as it was another day out for the Bears that would not be forgotten.

 

However, trips to the Tangerine side of Dundee have not always brought such joy for Rangers. One incident that stands out took place later that year in 2009 when a Dundee United v Rangers tie was postponed at half-time due to extreme weather conditions. For the replay of the match, United declared fans tickets to be null and void, meaning the Ibrox legions would have to pay for the ticket, despite having already done so for a match they did not get to see. Most fans did not turn up for the replayed match, and many have vowed not to return to Tannadice since. This decision has been brought up in the Rangers support’s reasoning behind Saturday’s boycott.

 

There are many more moments of joy and despair that I can think of when I look back on Rangers’ clashes with Dundee United over the last few years. The fixture book-ended Walter Smith’s return to the club, and there were very few dry eyes in the house the night that Walter bade farewell to Ibrox. The fixture also played host to Kris Boyd’s 5-goal marvel as he surpassed Henrik Larsson’s SPL goal tally record. There are certainly many enjoyable and poignant memories.

 

However, in the week leading up to this fixture, there is one game that has been prominent in my thoughts.

 

The day was the 10^th of May, 2008. It is probably not a well remembered one due to the main event that followed four days later. This Rangers-Dundee United clash signalled the final home game for Rangers in one of the most historic seasons ever, and at this point, the club were still on track for an unprecedented quadruple. The Rangers support gathered that day to see the side off for one of their biggest games ever in Manchester for the UEFA Cup Final. The buzz around the place was quite extraordinary. The support knew they were part of something unique that day, and they gave the players the backing they deserved and needed. The side emerged 3-1 victors that day, and the feeling amongst the support is something I will be pushed to ever experience again. The squad knew writing their names into a very limited book of Rangers players to lift a European trophy was within touching distance, and the fans knew this as well. Although that Rangers side eventually burned out, and they were forced to settle for a Double, the experiences that the support went through that season will never be forgotten, and for me, that fixture against Dundee United takes its place on the mantle as one of those moments.

 

Although on a different scale, this Saturday past against Montrose in many ways mirrored that Dundee United fixture from 2008. From the roaring atmosphere following the quite beautiful 54^th minute’s silence, to the way the fans reacted to the unfurling of the banner in the Broomloan end, there was that buzz to see the players off ahead of their biggest fixture of the season. Ironically, it is Dundee United that is the biggest game of the season this time, not the other way around. It is a sign of changed times, but you will not see the fans complain. I see excitement and nerves wherever I look ahead of this game, and under different circumstances, tickets would be gold-dust to lay hands upon. The Rangers support is not used to going into a game as underdogs, as they expect their side to win every game they compete in.

 

This Saturday will be no different. Although the support knows that things are very different approaching this game, this is not an impossible task. This has been proven to be an incredibly average Dundee United squad who are struggling to reach the top 6 in the SPL. I also believe they have found victories at Tannadice difficult to come across this season. Rangers have shown that when they get the team and the tempo of play in the right frame, they can beat an SPL team comfortably with this squad of players. This can be the same, but the odds are stacked against them. Captain, Lee McCulloch is set to miss out, alongside the mightily impressive Lewis MacLeod as well missing the trip. There is also doubt of the fitness of ex-Tannadice man, Sandaza. The smart money is against them, and although there will unfortunately be virtually no backing from the support at the ground on Saturday; it should mean little to a group of professionals. They as a group have been through adversity in recent times that few others could imagine, and they should be able to adapt. As the official website succinctly put the other day, this squad should take inspiration from the 1992 side that travelled to Leeds United without any fans – it can be done. Teams have travelled to Ibrox this season with simply a handful of supporters and left with a result – it should not be the definition of a team. Although I feel the support will give their backing to the side, win, lose or draw this Saturday as long as they give their full effort, this should not be viewed in a negative light. This is a cup fixture, and it must be viewed as simply another obstacle on the road to Hampden.

 

In bygone seasons, a cup victory at Tannadice would simply be another brick in the wall. If this one can be pulled off, however, it could rank up there with the victories I have previously mentioned. One of the greatest of our time.

 

To quote our famous former manager, the support that will gather in Ibrox Stadium and various venues across the globe have got their “battle fever on”.

 

We can only hope the players do as well.