Ross County 3-3 Rangers: Errors cost league leaders in Dingwall draw

Matthew Wright struck the sixth goal of the game in the 96th minute

Ross County punished Rangers' sloppiness and opened the door for Celtic to cut the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser in Dingwall.

Jordan White levelled after a mistake by goalkeeper Allan McGregor and Regan Charles-Cook put County in front.

Rangers' James Tavernier then Connor Goldson netted before Wright struck.

The Ibrox side go five points clear before second-placed Celtic face Dundee United later.

And two wins in a row would take Ange Postecoglou's side top of the table, with Rangers visiting Celtic Park on Wednesday.

• Reaction & as it happened

The visitors' start was direct and rewarded. Cedric Itten's flicked pass released Joe Aribo, back from international duty with Nigeria, and he laid on a simple finish for Diallo on the right.

If the visiting crowd's celebrations were a warm welcome to Scottish football, Diallo was about to get a rude one soon after. The winger tried to evade Jake Vokins and was cynically taken out, prompting a yellow card for the full-back.

Ryan Kent and Aribo combined to set up Scott Arfield for a shot which Ashley Maynard-Brewer blocked, and Rangers soon found themselves behind.

McGregor fumbled a Joseph Hungbo cross and White was on hand to knock in from two yards.

And the home fans were cheering again when White's nodded pass was missed by Calvin Bassey's attempted clearance and Charles-Cook calmly slotted beyond McGregor to become the league's top scorer with nine.

Rangers' initial response was laboured; Glen Kamara, Tavernier and Arfield unable to properly test Maynard-Brewer and Tavernier's free-kick flying wide.

But the Ibrox side's fortunes changed early in the second period and Diallo was once again involved. The wide man cut inside and drew a save from Maynard-Brewer, with Kent hitting the rebound into the path of Tavernier to score.

Aribo's skill and strength in the penalty area set up chances for Itten and Arfield but both were repelled by desperate County defending.

Diallo flashed a deflected shot wide moments before being replaced by Fashion Sakala, with Kemar Roofe having taken over from Itten.

And Rangers' pressure told when Arfield's shot was blocked high up into the air by the feet of Maynard-Brewer and Goldson headed in the rebound.

County could and should have levelled from a corner, Vokins' replacement Keith Watson heading Hungbo's delivery wide.

Roofe rattled the post and Sakala was denied on the break by Maynard-Brewer in a continually frantic contest. The keeper required treatment on a nosebleed after coming into collision with a team-mate in the aftermath of the second chance.

That stoppage contributed to seven added minutes and it was from a corner the hosts got level. McGregor did not deal with Watson's shot in a crowded six-yard box and Wright, who had come on for White, buried his opening for a first senior goal.

Man of the match - Joe Aribo

Aribo provided the drive and creativity Rangers had missed in his absence

What they said

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst told Sky Sports: "It's very disappointing. We give two goals to Ross County. That made it really difficult for us. The reaction we had in the second half was really good.

"We had some chances to kill the game and make the fourth and decisive goal. In the end in extra-time, we were too sloppy. We give the ball away, we give a corner away. It's not something I'm used to seeing - so many goals against us in this manner."

What we learned

Ross County had netted twice in their previous two meetings with Rangers this season but conceded four in both matches.

The difference on this occasion was never falling more than a goal behind and retaining hope until late in the match.

The impact of Diallo and return of Aribo certainly gives Rangers encouragement going forward before Wednesday's derby with Celtic.

But more pertinent will be addressing the defensive frailties that ultimately cost them points.

What's next

Ross County are at home again on Tuesday evening against Aberdeen (19:45 GMT), with Rangers visiting Celtic Park the following night (19:45)