HARRY FORRESTER climbed off the bench to score a 92nd minute winner for Rangers.
The Ibrox substitute headed home deep into stoppage time to earn a massive three points for Mark Warburton.
Dundee looked set to hold out for a point in an exhausting defensive shift.
But they just couldn’t hold on.
Forrester made the impact he was asked to make when he replaced Kenny Miller. He just left it so late.
It was backs to the wall for Dundee pretty much from kick-off.
Paul Hartley set up his side to be difficult to break down and be defensively solid.
They put so much effort into stopping Rangers that they had very little attacking threat going forward.
But their defensive effort and desire was so impressive.
Dundee had two near things in the first half.
Tom Hateley forced a good stop from keeper Wes Foderingham on the 25 minute mark with the Ibrox No1 turning his shot around the post.
Then from the corner big striker Marcus Haber should have done better with a free header inside the six yard box.
But that was the extent of Dundee’s threat in the first 45 minutes.
Hartley urged his men to keep the ball better and he must also have been relieved that Rangers take a lead into the break.
Warburton’s side probed for the opener but just didn’t have the cutting edge required in front of goal.
Joe Garner was the man leading the line and he had opportunities.
His first chance came after nine minutes when he turned smartly on the edge of the box and got a shot away. But his poked effort went wide.
In 17 minutes Garner clipped a ball through for Kenny Miller but he just missed the ball by inches.
Dundee then had their two attempts but the pattern of the half continued.
Rangers dominated the ball without being able to break down the opposition who were sticking to their task at the back.
Garner had a shot blocked in 28 minutes before the striker was involved in an incident with Dark Blues stopper Darren O’Dea.
The former Celtic star went down holding his face after battling the hitman for a high ball.
Referee Willie Collum took no action but O’Dea was furious and refused to shake Garner’s hand as he checked on him.
It was hard to tell exactly what had happened.
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But the Rangers man had been clattered by O’Dea earlier in the game and it seemed like he’d sought retribution.
By half-time, though, the home support were more concerned by the lack of penetration from their team.
A small section of the Rangers fans jeered as the two teams left the pitch.
Things didn’t improve much for them at the start of the second half with Dundee again bedding themselves in.
They got men behind the ball and closed down space extremely well, with O’Dea outstanding.
The one man in the Rangers team who was trying desperately to make something happen was Miller.
The problem the former Scotland star had was that he’d been given a role out wide on the left.
Miller kept driving infield with and without the ball but there was a lack of movement around him.
Garner’s fighting spirit saw him applauded by the home support but as an attacking threat the striker fell out of the game.
It seemed something had to change from a Rangers’ point of view if they were to win the game.
But Warburton’s first alteration brought fury from the stands.
In 65 minutes he took the decision to take off Josh Windass and replace him with Barrie Mackay.
From the moment the sub’s board was held up the home support erupted in anger.
Dundee then had a spell in the game when they had a couple of real chances to nick a goal and take the lead.
Hateley came close to netting a free-kick for the second time of the game with keeper Foderingham again reacting brilliantly.
Seconds later Jason Holt raced back to make a sensational last ditch clearance as James Vincent looked certain to tap home a cross from Haber.
If anything the two near misses galvanised Rangers.
The crowd became louder than ever in support of their team in a big effort to inspire them to win the game.
Holt almost scored in 72 minutes after bursting forward and smashing a shot.
But Dundee keeper Scott Bain got down low to his right to make a save as good as anything Foderingham had produced.
The introduction of Forrester brought more of a threat to the Rangers side.
He climbed off the bench for the closing stages and his pace and energy caused Dundee problems.
O’Dea went into the referee’s book for a crude challenge on him as he burst forward and he could have no complaints.
When the board went up signalling four minutes of added-on time Rangers piled men forward.
It seemed like they’d left it too late.
But in the 92 minute a cross from sub Joe Dodoo was delivered into the box from the left and Forrester managed to get his head onto it.
He couldn’t have placed it any better either with Bain scrambling across his line and clawing at thin air.
It was late, late drama which was so cruel on Dundee but sensational for Rangers fans.
The Verdict
RANGERS
Wes Foderingham 8
James Tavernier 6
Rob Kiernan 6
Clint Hill 7
Lee Wallace 6
Andy Halliday 6
Jason Holt 8
Michael O’Halloran 7
Josh Windass 6
Kenny Miller 7
Joe Garner 6
Subs: Barrie Mackay 4 (Windass, 65) Joe Dodoo 3 (O’Halloran, 71) Harry Forrester 3 (Miller, 77)
DUNDEE
Scott Bain 7
Cameron Kerr 7
Kevin Gomis 8
Darren O’Dea 8
Kostadin Gadzhalov 7
Kevin Holt 6
James Vincent 6
Tom Hateley 7
Paul McGowan 7
Craig Wighton 7
Marcus Haber 6
Subs: Faissal El Bakhtaoui 3 (Wighton, 79)
MAN OF THE MATCH
Dundee defended for their lives with Darren O’Dea typifying their determination to get something from the game.
The former Celtic star had to take his knocks with Rangers striker Joe Garner putting himself about and being as physical as he could.
But O’Dea stood up to it. He organised everyone else around him too in a top display.
MEN IN THE DUGOUT
Mark Warburton pleaded for calm as the Rangers supporters showed signs of losing their patience.
The Ibrox boss did nothing to appease them when he took off Josh Windass. Paul Hartley couldn’t have asked for much more in the way of effort.
His team were set up to defend but they did it brilliantly.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Willie Collum was the referee so there probably wasn’t a single supporter who thought the referee had a good game. But he did.
The experienced whistler was on top of the game and didn’t get many decisions wrong.
He only booked three players too which was good to see.
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