PAUL MCMULLAN reckons Dundee paid the penalty for a 'strange rule' that gave Jon McLaughlin a red card reprieve at Dens Park.

The Rangers keeper survived a second half scare as he picked up a booking following a last-gasp challenge that saw him wipe out McMullan in the area.

It was a decision that infuriated Dees boss James McPake and he would later receive a red card after remonstrating with referee Bobby Madden at full-time.

McLaughlin compounded Dundee's woes by making a terrific save to deny Jason Cummings from the penalty spot as Rangers went on to win 1-0 thanks to a Joe Aribo effort.

And McMullan was frustrated that the call didn't go in Dundee's favour as they took the game to Steven Gerrard's side in the second half of a competitive Premiership clash.

McMullan said: “I asked the referee and he said he tried to play the ball.

“I was just concentrating on getting the ball and I couldn’t really see what was going on. That was the decision.

“I am sure [the manager] had a better view than me. I was looking at the goal, thinking I was about to tap it in before I got wiped out.

“It is a strange rule. If you try and attempt to win the ball but realistically it is costing us a goal.

“I don’t make the rules. The referee gave me his explanation and that was that.

“Of course [Cummings] is disappointed he missed the penalty but when he came on he was brilliant. He caused them all sorts of problems and created chances.

“Nobody is holding a grudge against him for missing the penalty because he has scored so many vital goals for us in the past. I am sure if he gets another penalty he will step up and put it away.

“I thought we had enough chances to probably get something. We gave everything and on another day one of them would have gone in.

“Hopefully, in the coming weeks things will turn and turn our form around.”

Dundee remain without a win in the Premiership this term and a tally of just three points from seven fixtures leaves them bottom of the standings.

McPake's side would cause Rangers problems on Saturday but couldn't find a way through as the champions held on to secure a crucial win in the title race.

A lack of firepower has undermined Dundee's campaign so far but McMullan is confident the goals will come after an encouraging showing on home soil.

McMullan said: “I wouldn’t have said a vulnerability. They had a lot of the ball and we had a game plan. I thought we executed really well.

“It got us a few chances and opportunities. They are a good team but I feel we are a good team as well and we created opportunities.

“They squeeze up the pitch and make the pitch small. “If you can get that early pass over the top, like we got for the penalty then there is space there.

“With the players we have up top we have a lot of mobility and felt we can cause them problems.

"We got a couple of opportunities through it but it was unfortunate we didn’t get a couple of goals from it.

”I don’t feel it is a really negative thing that is hanging over the dressing room. It is frustrating. People are not avoiding shooting or taking stupid shots.

“The goalie left his trailing leg for a penalty then saves it and we had chances right at the goalkeeper. It is just one of those runs where things will change.

“The fans can see it. It is not as if we aren’t giving everything. We are trying as hard as we can.

“I actually feel we are playing pretty well and it has been one of these frustrating runs of form. We have to get out this run.”