Rangers took another step towards a Champions League qualifying place with a straightforward 3-0 victory over Dundee at Den's Park.

The game was settled in the first half hour through goals from Rod Wallace, Tore Andre Flo and Jorg Albertz.

The deposed champions brought back former skipper Lorenzo Amoruso after a lengthy spell on the sidelines because of injury.

The Italian usually has an eventful game here, having gifted Juan Sara a goal and Claudio Caniggia a penalty in the two previous meetings, the second of which saw three spot-kicks missed - two by Sara and one by Rangers' Billy Dodds.

Caniggia, the player who continues to be strongly linked with a summer move to Ibrox, was absent today however, a hamstring problem having forced him out.

But the opportunity was there for another Dundee man said to be coveted by Rangers to impress as midfielder Gavin Rae also prepared for his expected Scotland debut in Poland in midweek.

A win would all but confirm Rangers' place as runners-up and the Champions League qualifying place that goes with it.

Dundee will also be in European action soon - in the Intertoto Cup against a Yugoslavian team, still to be confirmed.

There was a minute's silence before the match in honour of former Rangers and Scotland legend Jim Baxter, whose funeral was held in Glasgow Cathedral on Friday.

It took Rangers just under four minutes to take the lead through Wallace when the little striker got goalside of Steven Tweed chasing Bert Konterman's punt over the top.

Wallace's finish was an assured one, lifting the ball over the exposed James Langfield and into the back of the net.

Konterman was at fault soon after though when he hit a clearance straight at Steven Milne, but the young striker could not hit the target with a snap-shot across goal.

Dodds was on the end of Fernando Ricksen's cross to the near post but his header went wide and behind.

Giorgi Nemsadze surged past challengers to carve out an excellent equalising opportunity - straight through the middle and in the box - but with only Stefan Klos to beat he shot straight at the German and the ball bounced clear off his chest.

Javier Artero skipped past Arthur Numan and Amoruso was forced to concede the game's first corner, which Flo headed up in the air to an unmarked Tweed, who wasted a good chance by nodding tamely over.

In the 16th minute Rangers doubled their lead when Dundee were again caught at the back.

This time it was Flo who was the scorer as he took advantage of Chris Coyne's indecision to latch on to a loose ball and evade Tweed before slipping the ball deftly past Langfield.

Once again Dundee passed up a fine opportunity straight after when Milne's cross reached an unmarked Sara in the box thanks to Beto Carranza's defence-fooling dummy. But the striker fired straight at Klos.

Dundee passed up another superb opportunity after clearing a Rangers corner and attacking through Beto Garrido on the left flank.

He sent Milne through and the youngster squared the ball past the last defender for the unmarked Sara in front of goal.

But the ball got stuck under his feet and he could only stab the ball sideways to Rae, whose shot was saved by the diving Klos low to his left.

As if to add insult to injury, Albertz rifled in a long-ranger to make it 3-0 after just 27 minutes.

A Dodds cross had been headed down by Flo and when Wallace helped it into the German's path, he let fly from 25 yards.

Ricksen was penalised for sending Carranza tumbling but for once the Dutchman looked hard done by.

The home side made a change at the break, sending on Alessandro Romano in place of Artero.

Flo sent Rangers team-mate Ricksen away down the right, but Wallace headed the cross over when the Norwegian might have been better placed.

In the 53rd minute Milne was replaced by Fabian Caballero and Garrido crossed from the right where an unmarked Sara headed over.

Carranza set Rae up for a fierce shot from outside the area that Klos did well to parry up into the air and then grab.

Dundee made their third change on the hour with Walter Del Rio coming on for Coyne. Rangers also made a switch, with Fabrice Fernandes replacing Dodds.

Langfield did well to deny Ricksen after the Dutchman had got the better of two challenges in the box after Albertz had given him the ball. Ricksen was able to get in a shot but the goalkeeper was behind it.

With 20 minutes to go Tugay came on for Ferguson in midfield.

But the change failed to produce more goal for the Glasgow side and the game finished with another three points on the board in Rangers' Champions League qualifying mission.