3 years ago
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Malik Tillman's late first-half header sent Rangers into the break with a one-goal leadMichael Beale maintained his impressive start as Rangers manager to cut the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to six points - but only after his side dug deep to overcome Ross County.
Malik Tillman nodded in late in the first half to break down a stubborn visiting defence before Jordan White's equaliser stunned Ibrox after the break.
But Rangers fortuitously regained the lead 10 minutes later when Borna Barisic's deflected free-kick left Ross Laidlaw flat-footed in the County goal.
Victory for reigning champions Celtic at St Johnstone on Sunday will restore their nine-point advantage, but it is now 12 matches in all competitions unbeaten for Beale.
Meanwhile, County, who are still searching for their first-ever victory over Rangers, remain embroiled in a relegation fight as they stay in 10th.
Despite sitting just one point above bottom side Dundee United, Malky Mackay can take pride in his players' efforts.
After making a promising start, with both George Harmon and Eamonn Brophy seeing goal-bound efforts blocked, they kept Rangers out until the dying stages of the first half.
And even after the home side regained the lead, the Rangers defence had to withstand pressure in the dying stages to earn their three points.
Beale's side delivered the best performance of his tenure so far at Hearts in midweek, but his players failed to reach those levels as a well-organised County frustrated the hosts.
It seemed it would either take something special or a slice of luck to breach the visiting backline. In the end, it was both.
A moment of class from Todd Cantwell, who skipped his way to the bye-line, provided the opener for Tillman - a first-half substitute for the injured John Lundstram - to head home.
And following White's leveller, Barisic's deflected free-kick earned a 11th win in 12 games for his manager, whose unbeaten start rolls on.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 33McLaughlin
- 2TavernierBooked at 87mins
- 6Goldson
- 26DaviesBooked at 22mins
- 31Barisic
- 8Jack
- 4LundstramSubstituted forTillmanat 11'minutes
- 30SakalaBooked at 58minsSubstituted forKamaraat 62'minutes
- 13CantwellSubstituted forRaskinat 83'minutes
- 14KentSubstituted forWrightat 83'minutes
- 20MorelosBooked at 81minsSubstituted forColakat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 1McGregor
- 7Hagi
- 9Colak
- 18Kamara
- 19Sands
- 23Wright
- 43Raskin
- 51Lowry
- 71Tillman
Ross County
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Laidlaw
- 15WatsonBooked at 90mins
- 5Baldwin
- 6IacovittiBooked at 7minsSubstituted forCancolaat 75'minutes
- 2Randall
- 14Loturi
- 42KennehSubstituted forSimsat 84'minutes
- 16Harmon
- 10DhandaSubstituted forCallachanat 66'minutes
- 27BrophySubstituted forMurrayat 45'minutes
- 26White
Substitutes
- 4Cancola
- 8Callachan
- 11Sims
- 17Murray
- 21Munro
- 22Tillson
- 25Samuel
- 30Smith
- 49Stones
Referee:Euan Anderson
Attendance:49,115
Live Text
Match ends, Rangers 2, Ross County 1.
Second Half ends, Rangers 2, Ross County 1.
Keith Watson (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Nicolas Raskin (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Keith Watson (Ross County).
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Ryan Jack.
Attempt saved. Scott Wright (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Glen Kamara.
James Tavernier (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by James Tavernier (Rangers).
Josh Sims (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Ross County. Josh Sims replaces Nohan Kenneh.
Substitution, Rangers. Nicolas Raskin replaces Todd Cantwell.
Substitution, Rangers. Antonio-Mirko Colak replaces Alfredo Morelos.
Substitution, Rangers. Scott Wright replaces Ryan Kent.
Todd Cantwell (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ross Callachan (Ross County).
Attempt missed. Connor Randall (Ross County) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by David Cancola.
Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Alfredo Morelos (Rangers).
Ross Callachan (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Rangers
Squad number33Player nameMcLaughlin
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number26Player nameDavies
Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Squad number8Player nameJack
Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Squad number30Player nameSakala
Squad number13Player nameCantwell
Squad number14Player nameKent
Squad number20Player nameMorelos
Squad number9Player nameColak
Squad number18Player nameKamara
Squad number23Player nameWright
Squad number43Player nameRaskin
Squad number71Player nameTillman
Ross County
Squad number1Player nameLaidlaw
Squad number15Player nameWatson
Squad number5Player nameBaldwin
Squad number6Player nameIacovitti
Squad number2Player nameRandall
Squad number14Player nameLoturi
Squad number42Player nameKenneh
Squad number16Player nameHarmon
Squad number10Player nameDhanda
Squad number27Player nameBrophy
Squad number26Player nameWhite
Squad number4Player nameCancola
Squad number8Player nameCallachan
Squad number11Player nameSims
Squad number17Player nameMurray
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