Why Rangers have 14-year reason for Dundee United confidence ahead of SPFL opener
Rangers kickstart their 2026-27 Scottish Premiership campaign away at Dundee United on Friday night.
In what will be this season's SPFL curtain-raising fixture, Derek McInnes will lead his Rangers side into competitive action for the first time.
Given the impressive transfer window they've enjoyed so far and the installation of McInnes as manager, optimism is high around Ibrox that 2026-27 could finally be the year Gers are crowned champions once again.
Dundee United will be hoping to spring an early setback though, with Jim Goodwin's side aiming to crack the top-half of the league once again this coming campaign.
Rangers are sure to go off as favourites to get the job done over United, which would tee them up nicely going into their Europa League qualification clash with Jagiellonia Bialystock next Thursday.
There's good reason for Bears confidence too, as the Ibrox outfit have largely had the Terrors' number for many years now.
How long has it been since Dundee United beat Rangers in the league?
Ibrox News has backed McInnes to hand five Rangers debuts against Dundee United this Friday night.
Starting the new season with a win on opening day can be so vital when it comes to the momentum a team can take into the early weeks of the campaign.
The last thing Rangers want to be doing is falling behind the pace early on, but the history books suggest that's unlikely to happen against Dundee United.
As detailed via Transfermarkt, these two sides have met 113 times in the Scottish Premiership, with Rangers winning 68 of those and United claiming just 19 victories, with the other 26 ending in draws.
Indeed, Gers are currently on an 11-game unbeaten run in the league against the Tannadice outfit, dating back to December 2021.
United's last league win over Rangers came in August 2021, but either side of that, they've only beaten the Bears once since December 2012, which is just over 14 years ago.
New signing Lawrence Shankland also netted against United last season, and so he will be confident of getting off the mark in Rangers colours at Tannadice.
So, does this record mean that Rangers are nailed on to beat Dundee United on Friday, or do the Terrors have a certain advantage to lean on?
Why Dundee United's Tannadice form may be cause for Rangers concern
Certain teams seem to know how to make their home stadium a fortress better than others, and that's certainly what Dundee United did in 2025-26.
They fell to just five home defeats from 19 league games last term, winning seven and drawing seven respectively.
As such, 28 of their 45 total points were won at Tannadice, whilst they also registered a home goal difference of plus-two compared to their minus-13 on their travels.
United won just three games on the road last term, and so if they can replicate their home form once again in 2026-27, Rangers could find Goodwin's men a tough nut to crack on Friday evening.