Able Vladmir Weiss shrugs off the rough stuff

The 20-year-old was subjected to some brutal tackling, with both David Robertson and John Daly booked for upending the player within eight minutes midway through the first period. Weiss, though, refused to grumble about his treatment.

"It is a tough league, but whether you are in Scotland or England, if you keep playing the way I do you are going to get kicked," he said. "I'm trying not to get frustrated. Sometimes I should play the ball a bit earlier. It is all experience and I'm learning every game. I have no problems with the tackles... at least the ones that don't break my legs. Dundee United had two players yellow carded within 15 to 20 minutes and if their right back is on a yellow he has to be careful and that means I can get into better positions."

Rangers manager Walter Smith was equally keen to downplay the physical manner in which United elected to deal with Weiss. "It is part and parcel of it with a player like that. No-one is going to stand back and let him run past them every week. People will look to do something about it. There is no problem with that and I think he will handle it," said Smith, who described the winger as "the type of player we have not had" for a few seasons and one "supporters will enjoy watching".

Smith added that the win was "probably the best league performance since we started the season. We are delighted with that, especially coming off the back of a tough Champions League match."

Dundee United manager Peter Houston was upset about how his side reacted after going 2-0 down in the 70th minute. "I thought we were well in it till the second goal, and still in it after that. But I felt we retreated and accepted defeat then, and that was disappointing."