Rangers 1-0 Dumbarton

Rangers beat Dumbarton to seal the Scottish Championship title and promotion, meaning they will play top-flight football next season.

Despite the home side missing a host of chances, James Tavernier's goal sealed victory at Ibrox.

The result put Mark Warburton's side 17 points clear at the top of the table with four games left.

Promotion brings to an end a four-year journey from the bottom division to the Scottish Premiership.

Manager Mark Warburton, who has led the club to promotion in his first season in charge, said: "I am delighted for the fans for what they have been through. It's great for the players and the club to get back in the top tier.

"Promotion was a clear directive for the players this season but they have dealt with the weight of expectation and delivered. All credit to them."

More on this story:
'Rangers must challenge for Scottish Premiership title'
What next for Rangers after fraught road to top flight?
In pictures: Rangers' journey from the fourth tier to the Premiership
Listen: Rangers fan says 'we're coming for the Premiership title'

Rising from rock bottom

With the club mired in debt, 54-times champions Rangers entered administration and were then liquidated in 2012 under the ownership of Craig Whyte, who has since faced criminal charges owing to his stewardship at Ibrox.

Forced to re-enter the Scottish professional football pyramid in the bottom tier, Rangers - under manager Ally McCoist and controlled by a consortium led by Charles Green - won League Two by 24 points.

League One was clinched in even more emphatic style the following season. They won 33 and drew three of their 36 matches to cruise to the title with a cushion of 39 points over second-placed Dunfermline.

Rangers' route to the top flight was complicated by the relegation from the Premiership of Edinburgh rivals Hearts and Hibernian.

Hearts surged to the Championship title last season ahead of Hibs as Rangers - amid more financial concerns and with Stuart McCall in charge in place of the departed McCoist - finished third before losing the play-off final against Premiership side Motherwell.

James Tavernier grabbed his 13th goal of the season to clinch promotion

The Warburton revival

A change of ownership, with the club now in the hands of South Africa-based businessman Dave King, led to the arrival of former Brentford manager Mark Warburton in the summer of 2015 and heralded an upturn in Rangers' fortunes.

A run of 11 straight wins to start the Championship campaign laid the foundation for promotion.

Although a dip in form leading up to Christmas left the door ajar for Falkirk and Hibs to mount a challenge, only one defeat in 19 matches helped Rangers seal a place in the Premiership with almost a month to spare.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Rangers

Formation 4-3-3

25Foderingham
2Tavernier
4Kiernan
27Wilson
5Wallace
15ForresterSubstituted forShielsat 78'minutes
16Halliday
23Holt
17King
9MillerSubstituted forClarkat 86'minutes
19McKaySubstituted forO'Halloranat 62'minutes

Substitutes

1Bell
6Ball
7Law
8Zelalem
14Clark
22Shiels
29O'Halloran

Dumbarton

Formation 4-1-4-1

19Ewings
4SaundersBooked at 43mins
5Buchanan
22Wright
3Docherty
2Taggart
17RoutledgeBooked at 32mins
9FlemingSubstituted forMcCallumat 83'minutes
18LindsaySubstituted forGallagherat 61'minutes
16WatersSubstituted forCawleyat 67'minutes
27NadeBooked at 88mins

Substitutes

1Brown
7Cawley
8Gallagher
15McCallum
21Heffernan
24Heh

Referee:: Steven McLean
Attendance:: 48,568

Match Stats

Home TeamRangersAway TeamDumbarton

Possession: Home69%; Away31%

Shots: Home22; Away1

Shots on Target: Home13; Away1

Corners: Home19; Away1

Fouls: Home6; Away14

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Rangers 1, Dumbarton 0.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rangers 1, Dumbarton 0.

90'+4'
Post update
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Gregor Buchanan.
90'+3'
Post update
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Jon Routledge.
90'+3'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Dean Shiels (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
90'+2'
Post update
Attempt missed. Andy Halliday (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
90'+1'
Post update
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Gregor Buchanan.
89'
Post update
Billy King (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
89'
Post update
Foul by Steven Saunders (Dumbarton).
88'
Booking
Christian Nade (Dumbarton) is shown the yellow card.
87'
Post update
Billy King (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
87'
Post update
Foul by Jon Routledge (Dumbarton).
86'
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Nicky Clark replaces Kenny Miller.
86'
Post update
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Jamie Ewings.
85'
Post update
Attempt saved. Michael O'Halloran (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
85'
Post update
Rob Kiernan (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
85'
Post update
Foul by Grant Gallagher (Dumbarton).
84'
Post update
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Gregor Buchanan.
83'
Substitution
Substitution, Dumbarton. Donald McCallum replaces Garry Fleming.
78'
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Dean Shiels replaces Harry Forrester.

Accessibility links