Miller at the double as Rangers go top

Kenny Miller struck twice as Rangers returned to the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 3-0 win over Dundee United in a rearranged game at Tannadice on Tuesday.

A sublime strike from DaMarcus Beasley was enough to separate the sides at half-time before Kenny Miller scored a second-half double to send Rangers one point clear of rivals Celtic in the race for the championship.

The Old Firm side will feel justice has been served after the original fixture between the pair on November 1 was abandoned at half-time due to a water-logged pitch with Rangers leading 1-0.

After a cagey opening ten minutes the first chance of the game fell to Rangers with Nicky Weaver producing a super one-handed save to keep out Beasley’s snap shot from 25 yards.

Lee McCulloch then lashed a shot wide from 20 yards before seeing a volley bounce just inches past the post.

United felt aggrieved when Jon Daly went down in the box following a challenge from Sasa Papac but referee Mike Tumily waved away their penalty claims.

The Arabs rarely threatened and it took until the 25th minute for them to have an effort on goal with Daly heading straight at Neil Alexander from Craig Conway’s free-kick.

Two minutes later Rangers had the lead through a superb left-foot strike from Beasley.

The American collected a pass from Miller on the right wing before jinxing past Paul Dixon and unleashing an unstoppable curling shot into the top left-hand corner of the net for his first league goal since September 2007.

Kris Boyd had a penalty claim turned down after taking a tumble following a nudge from Mihael Kovacevic before the SPL top-scorer sent a fierce low shot just wide from 20 yards.

With 55 minutes on the clock Daly beat his marker to flash a header past Alexander’s post from Dixon’s corner. But it was Rangers who added to their lead in the 58th minute.

Nacho Novo danced past Sean Dillon and Danny Cadamarteri before providing an inch-perfect cross for Miller who sent his downward header through the legs of Weaver and into the net.

United had former Manchester City keeper Weaver to thank for keeping the score down as he denied Madjid Bougherra and Boyd but he was helpless to stop Miller making sure of the points in the 75th minute.

The impressive Beasley picked out the Scotland international in the box and he turned inside defender Darren Dods before striking low past Weaver to seal his side’s second consecutive 3-0 win.