Rangers vs Dundee Utd Preview | 18th October 2025

Against the backdrop of the managerial circus, Rangers welcome Dundee United to Ibrox on Saturday for the first game following the departure of Russell Martin from the football club. With rumours swirling on WhatsApp and X alike, the air of uncertainty around the club at the moment will provide no excuses for a side looking to bounce back following a pitiful performance away at newly promoted Falkirk.

The visitors arrive in Glasgow off the back of two disappointing results at Tannadice in a drab draw with Livingston and a 2-0 loss to Kilmarnock. These results, however, followed a start to the season that the Dundonians will have been delighted with. 2-0 wins in the Dundee derby and against their historic rivals Aberdeen as well as a well-earned point against Hibs in Edinburgh have guided them to 4th place in the league, while a valiant effort against Rapid Vienna in the Conference League gives the Arabs every reason to be proud of Jim Goodwin’s team.

Russell Martin would have provided Dundee United an incredible opportunity to get their first win at Ibrox since 2011. Right-sided forward Ivan Dolcek, on loan from Slovakian side Dunajska Streda, has scored 5 goals so far this season and the Tangerines have scored in all but one of their SPFL fixtures. This is a record that would undoubtedly have continued against wide-open Russell Martin defence. Jim Goodwin told the press earlier this week, “under Russell Martin, they were very consistent in the shape, the style of football and the identity. We had looked at the games and had a game-plan ready.” Thankfully for Rangers, this plan is now useless.

Goodwin also told the press, “I would imagine Ibrox will be rocking after the supporters got what they wanted; the previous manager leaving.” This will be key for a managerless Rangers team who have apparently suffered ‘anxiety’ this season, struggling under the pressure applied by the standards expected by the Rangers support. At the moment, leadership is more important than ever thus performances will be expected above all from James Tavernier in defence and Nicolas Raskin in midfield.

With a managerial appointment still outstanding, it’s hard to make confident predictions about how Rangers will line up, let alone how they will perform. Despite this, a renewed feeling of optimism at Ibrox following the dismissal of the dismal Russell Martin will provide a lift for the team and a win would give the new manager, be that Muscat, Gerrard or someone else, the ideal platform to turn the season around.