The travails of a trip which developed into hell for reasons other than those expected may have made this particular triumph a sweet return to normality for many Rangers afficionados. Many, however, will surely anticipate the visits of more illustrious performers in the coming weeks with a little more gusto than they ever could muster for this virtual non-contest. Notable primarily for the emergence from a period of lengthy attitude adjustment treat-ment for Marco Negri this meat and drink triumph left the more demanding observer distinctly hungry for more full-blooded Ibrox contests to come against Galtasaray and Monaco.

Excellent strikes from Andrei Kanchelskis, Jorg Albertz and Gio van Bronckhurst secured a functional, if low gear, victory for the side now closing on a tiring Celtic outfit. Yet, how difficult it was to avoid sympathy for the worthy efforts of Mvondo Atangana, a lonely figure up front throughout this match for United. How he must now regret scarificing Sydney Olympic gold for his country in favour of satisfying his Tayside paymasters. Dundee United's cosmopolitan approach to player recruitment reached new heights even ahead of a match where they were a miserly 11/1 against to take all three points. Marcelino Galoppo, a 29-year-old midfielder capped at both under-21 and under-23 international taken on loan from an apparently undisclosed location, was thrown into a conservative 5-3-2 line up with a controlling brief alongside fellow countryman and debutant Gustavo Fuentes.

The rather bizarre sight of a Uruguayan trialist, Carlos Marcora, being given the opportunity to shine in an SPL stand-off against the champions at Ibrox further intrigued the mind. Bedecked in black armbands in tribute to legendary Tannadice scout Jock Speed, Alex Smith's men could ill afford a second bout of mourning at the most challenging of venues. It was to prove a forlorn hope. A lithe and slim looking Marco Negri, last seen in a starting Rangers XI in April 1998, emerged to replace Michael Mols alongside Ronald de Boer. Third choice keeper Mark Brown was also selected, benefitting from the ailments afflicting Stefan Klos and, more mysteriously, Lionel Charbonnier. The expectation amongst even tangerine officials was that the inexperienced Rangers goalkeeper would have a quiet evening. Not entirely the case as it transpired. United had their chances to fashion an unlikely lead. In the third minute Stephane Leoni's left foot cross from the right touchline found the lowered head of David Hannah, the former Celtic midfielder's guided effort drifting inches past.

Attempts to play the ball over the top of the Rangers defence to give reign to Movondo Atangana's pace were also problematic. The Cameroonian made admirable strides down the left in 24 minutes before cutting back for Craig Easton who overran the ball slightly in spite of forcing the save from Brown. However, the portents were less promising for United when after half an hour they found themselves weakened by the enforced removals of David McCracken and David Hannah via injury. Rangers had until then been restricted to bouts of sporadic attacking fervour. A sizzling de Boer half volley from near enough 20 yards forced Combe to parry as far as Kanchelskis, the Ukraianian pounding the speeding rebound over the bar. Yet, Kanchelskis, so often a part-time menace, performed considerably better in the 32nd minute. Shape weakened by the removal of Hannah on a strecher, United stood back as the winger blasted a low effort against the legs of Konterman in a crowded area. The rebound broke kindly at an angle for the former Everton and Manchester United man and his ferocious low shot had too much spin for Combe to prevent Rangers ekeing out a 1-0 advantage. The questions now being posed by Kanchelskis were increasingly taxing for the visitors. An identical cross-cum-shot to the opener was slotted home at the back post by poacher supreme Negri prior to an offside flag soiling the prodigal's return. Yet the inevitability of the second goal was ever present. And when it red card from referee John Rowbotham. Uniquely the dismissal completed a clean sweep of red cards in each of this weekend's six SPL clashes. It could, one suspected, only get worse for Alex Smith's side.

In fairness, United's more adroit defending after the break restricted the home side to fanciful efforts from distance. But then, as Albertz had demonstrated, such feats were well within their capabilities, even after skipper Lorenzo Amoruso departed the scene with a back injury. Marco Negri, willed on passionately by the supporters to put a top and tails to the triumph by scoring came close a moment after the restart with a shot which blazed high and wide. Tugay, restored to a more conventional midfeld berth, also demonstrated his prolific talent with a couple of long-range efforts. But it was a truly awesome and magnificent strike from van Bronckhurst in the 73rd minute which finally broke the stupor. The Dutchman was fully 30 yards out when he guided a missile of a shot beyond a bewildered Alan Combe for 3-0. Typical of United's fortune, when Hasney Aljofree struck a wonderful free-kick in injury time for his side's best effort of the match, Mark Brown dived full length to tip the bal superbly onto the post.

DUNDEE UTD: Combe; McQuillan, Hannah (Venetis), de Vos, Easton, Fuentes, Leoni, Aljofree, Atangana, Galoppo (Thompson) , McCracken (Licini) . Subs not used: Onstad, Trialist.