Rangers' 5-0 win over Dundee is marred by delays with kick-off pushed back 45 MINUTES due to visitors' late arrival... before game is stopped after chaotic pyrotechnic display triggers a fire alarm in the away end at Dens Park

Philippe Clement urged Rangers fans to time off nan pyrotechnics astatine location arsenic he lauded his players for scoring 5 times connected a nighttime of chaos astatine Dens Park.

Severe postulation congestion caused by an mishap meant nan Ibrox squad autobus didn’t get astatine nan crushed until 7.25pm, forcing nan kick-off to beryllium pushed backmost by 45 minutes to 8.30pm.

The crippled had conscionable begun, however, erstwhile a show of flares by distant supporters successful nan Bob Shankly Stand seemingly triggered a occurrence alarm. Police took power of nan situation, pinch referee Kevin Clancy yet taking players and unit backmost up nan tunnel.

After a 19-minute delay, Rangers were ascendant erstwhile play restarted — and took an early lead done Ryan Jack. Second-half goals from Danilo, Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers past followed earlier a 90th-minute punishment from skipper James Tavernier put nan seal connected an awesome distant win.

While afloat of praise for nan vocal backing his squad received from nan travelling instrumentality base, Clement hopes location will beryllium nary much pyrotechnic disruption successful nan future.

‘I dream that nan nine does not look sanctions,’ said nan Ibrox boss. ‘You travel present successful nan warm-up and nan guidelines is full, everyone is chanting and supporting nan players, giving a batch of energy.

‘Those are very important things. We consciousness besides nan move betwixt fans and players is changing and it’s because of some sides.

‘The supporters are affirmative to nan players and nan players are doing nan correct things connected nan pitch. Those things we request to proceed doing and not pyro things, because going wrong is not a bully thing.

‘We started nan crippled brightly pinch pressing from Danilo and you tin break nan hit of nan squad for illustration that.

‘It was bully nan squad started agleam again, but I deliberation everyone will understand that it’s really bully to person each this support, each these songs and each this power — I emotion it — but support nan occurrence extracurricular of nan stadium.’

A 3rd consecutive Premiership triumph for Clement kept his broadside wrong 5 points of Celtic up of this Sunday’s Viaplay Cup semi-final against Hearts.

Rangers stayed successful St Andrews pre-match but recovered themselves stuck connected nan Tay Bridge erstwhile attempting to scope Dens Park.

‘We ever time off early truthful that we are astatine nan stadium astatine slightest 1 and a half hours earlier nan game, usually 1 hr 45 minutes,’ reflected Clement.

‘That measurement we don’t return immoderate risks. Our kitman besides comes earlier america truthful they will show america if there’s problem connected nan roads. He sewage present wrong 20 minutes, while it took america much than 2 hours because of an accident. That’s life. You request to enactment calm and focused. All nan players did that. There was nary accent connected nan bus.

‘We came present and had a talk pinch nan coaches of Dundee and pinch nan referee astir erstwhile to start. Everything was really correct. The players were fresh and, aft going wrong again, it was nan same. Because you person 5 minutes successful nan dressing room, it doesn’t mean you suffer your focus.

‘They request to beryllium winners truthful immoderate circumstances, immoderate pitch, immoderate weather, we are location to triumph games. That’s nan mentality I want.’

Dundee head Tony Docherty felt nan disruption took a toll connected his broadside and admitted fearing nan crippled would beryllium abandoned owed to nan pyrotechnic problem.

‘There’s a statement connected whether there’s a spot for that but nan crippled was almost abandoned,’ said Docherty.

‘The constabulary took power and I didn’t deliberation we were going to spell backmost retired again. That affects focus. When it’s almost causing matches to beryllium abandoned, I deliberation we request to reside it.’

Admitting Dundee were good beaten connected a ‘bizarre’ night, Docherty was perplexed by nan 4th extremity Rangers scored.

Luke McCowan was accidentally impeded by referee Kevin Clancy astatine nan other extremity of nan pitch, but play continued. Rangers swept guardant and Dessers netted.

‘I don’t understand nan explanation,’ added Docherty.

‘The referee fouled Luke McCowan and I’m expecting it to beryllium brought back.

‘But it can’t beryllium unless nan referee touches nan ball.’