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James Tavernier's penalty helped Rangers to a sixth straight winJames Tavernier scored twice - including a wonderful free-kick - to help Rangers earn a sixth straight Scottish Premiership win away at Livingston.
Tavernier converted a first-half penalty, and then curled in from the edge of the box after Livingston were reduced to 10 men with 12 minutes left.
In between those goals Rangers lacked fluency, before Stephane Omeonga's dismissal and Tavernier's free kick ended the contest, and Kemar Roofe tapped in a third.
That goal put gloss on the scoreline, but Rangers were made to work extremely hard for their victory as they stay nine points behind rivals Celtic, who they meet in next Sunday's Viaplay Cup final at Hampden.
Livingston will rue some lapses at the back and in the final third as they made life difficult for their visitors, and they drop from fourth to sixth behind Hibernian and St Mirren.
One of those infuriating moments for David Martindale was the concession of the penalty, as left-back James Penrice grabbed a handful of Alfredo Morelos' shirt, despite the Rangers striker being beaten to the ball by Ayo Obileye.
After a VAR check the spot kick was awarded, and Tavernier confidently sent goalkeeper Shamal George the wrong way to put Rangers in control.
But again Michael Beale's side were far from fluid in attack despite creating chances to kill the game.
Fashion Sakala had two good chances, having earlier had a goal ruled out for offside, while Ryan Kent and Kemar Roofe both missed when clean through.
And as those chances came and went Livingston grew in confidence and could have levelled when Stephen Kelly was picked out at the back post by Nicky Devlin, but the former Rangers midfielder could not convert.
Instead, Omeonga was shown a second yellow card for a trip on Roofe on the edge of the area, and Tavernier stepped up to whip in his 12th goal of the season and end Livingston's challenge in the blink of an eye.
Roofe finished from seven yards out after a stramash in the Livingston box to make the scoreline more emphatic, but Beale is still searching for a more complete performance from his team, amid some concerning injuries.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Livingston
Formation 4-3-2-1
- 1George
- 2Devlin
- 5Fitzwater
- 6Obileye
- 29PenriceSubstituted forMontañoat 70'minutes
- 33OméongaBooked at 77mins
- 24KellySubstituted forShinnieat 55'minutes
- 8Pittman
- 16BradleySubstituted forHoltat 52'minutesBooked at 84mins
- 17KellyBooked at 38minsSubstituted forGuthrieat 70'minutes
- 19Nouble
Substitutes
- 3Longridge
- 7Bahamboula
- 11Montaño
- 15Boyes
- 18Holt
- 22Shinnie
- 23De Lucas
- 28Guthrie
- 32Hamilton
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1McGregor
- 2TavernierBooked at 72mins
- 6Goldson
- 26Davies
- 31Barisic
- 43RaskinSubstituted forSandsat 88'minutes
- 18KamaraSubstituted forWrightat 88'minutes
- 30SakalaSubstituted forRoofeat 69'minutes
- 13Cantwell
- 14KentSubstituted forRiceat 88'minutes
- 20MorelosSubstituted forColakat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Colak
- 19Sands
- 23Wright
- 25Roofe
- 33McLaughlin
- 38King
- 44Devine
- 72Lovelace
- 92Rice
Referee:David Dickinson
Attendance:8,752
Live Text
Match ends, Livingston 0, Rangers 3.
Second Half ends, Livingston 0, Rangers 3.
James Sands (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kurtis Guthrie (Livingston).
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Nicky Devlin.
Substitution, Rangers. Bailey Rice replaces Ryan Kent.
Substitution, Rangers. Scott Wright replaces Glen Kamara.
Substitution, Rangers. James Sands replaces Nicolas Raskin.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Ayo Obileye.
Attempt blocked. Todd Cantwell (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Goal! Livingston 0, Rangers 3. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner following a set piece situation.
Attempt saved. Ben Davies (Rangers) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt blocked. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Borna Barisic with a cross.
Jason Holt (Livingston) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ryan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jason Holt (Livingston).
Substitution, Rangers. Antonio-Mirko Colak replaces Alfredo Morelos.
Goal! Livingston 0, Rangers 2. James Tavernier (Rangers) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
Second yellow card to Stéphane Oméonga (Livingston) for a bad foul.
Kemar Roofe (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Livingston
Squad number1Player nameGeorge
Squad number2Player nameDevlin
Squad number5Player nameFitzwater
Squad number6Player nameObileye
Squad number29Player namePenrice
Squad number33Player nameOméonga
Squad number24Player nameKelly
Squad number8Player namePittman
Squad number16Player nameBradley
Squad number17Player nameKelly
Squad number19Player nameNouble
Squad number11Player nameCristian Montaño
Squad number18Player nameHolt
Squad number22Player nameShinnie
Squad number28Player nameGuthrie
Rangers
Squad number1Player nameMcGregor
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number26Player nameDavies
Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Squad number43Player nameRaskin
Squad number18Player nameKamara
Squad number30Player nameSakala
Squad number13Player nameCantwell
Squad number14Player nameKent
Squad number20Player nameMorelos
Squad number9Player nameColak
Squad number19Player nameSands
Squad number23Player nameWright
Squad number25Player nameRoofe
Squad number92Player nameRice
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