Rangers 1-0 Dumbarton: Gers promoted to Scottish Premiership By PA Sport
Last Updated: 05/04/16 11:32pm
Rangers will be playing top-flight football next season after clinching the Championship title with a narrow 1-0 home win over Dumbarton. After re-emerging at the bottom tier of Scottish football in 2012 in the wake of their financial meltdown, Rangers' mission to the Premiership ended with a second-half goal from James Tavernier in front of a sell-out Ibrox. The Gers fans, who have stuck by the club in huge numbers throughout the lower league campaigns, deserved to cheer long and loud, despite a subdued performance from their side. Rangers will face much tougher opponents next season, although they will get a chance to gauge their level sooner than that, as they face rivals Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday week.
An organised, dense Dumbarton defence coped comfortably with a one-paced Rangers attack with 'keeper Jamie Ewings making comfortable saves from Harry Forrester's drive and Tavernier's free-kick from wide on the left, which was drifting into the top corner.
Gers striker Kenny Miller flashed a shot from outside the box over the bar in the 37th minute, by which time the home fans' restlessness was growing.
Rangers stepped up the tempo at the start of the second half and were soon rewarded.
Ewings made a fine double save, first from midfielder Billy King's powerful drive and then from another Forrester effort but in the 50th minute, as the home side kept up the pressure, he was eventually beaten when Tavernier, from close range, converted a pass from Jason Holt.
The tension-easing counter had the Gers supporters in full voice and the home side began to push with sustained menace for the first time.
Ewings saved Tavernier's header from Forrester's cross before Michael O'Halloran replaced Barrie McKay on the hour mark but in the 72nd minute, on a rare break, it was Dumbarton striker Christian Nade who tested Gers keeper Wes Foderingham with a drive.
Ewings saved with his feet from O'Halloran in the 86th minute and nerves again enveloped the ground in the final moments but a roar accompanied the final whistle, Rangers fans hailed Mark Warburton and his players but they all know the real hard work has only begun.
http://www.skysports.com/football/rangers-vs-dumbarton/report/342432
