Rangers maintained their 100% begin to life beneath new supervisor Michael Beale with a 1-0 win away to Ross County on Friday night.
Regardless of The Staggies bringing the sport to their guests within the opening exchanges, Rangers settled right into a rhythm at Dingwall and pulled forward after half an hour following affected person play. They labored arduous to take care of the ball as soon as that they had pulled forward, limiting Ross County’s possibilities to assault all through the night and seeing out the sport for 3 factors.
Rangers began the brightest however by no means managed to fret the hosts too considerably. In actual fact, it was Ross County who got here closest to opening the scoring after 20 minutes, George Harmon’s downward header saved by Jon McLaughlin’s foot. Owura Edwards broke past Rangers’ backline moments later and poked a shot simply large of the far submit.
Michael Beale’s aspect by no means had a difficulty in retaining possession, although, dictating the circulate of the sport comfortably and shifting the ball across the pitch. Ross County seemed engineered to catch them on the counter assault, however discovered themselves 1-0 down after 35 minutes when John Lundstram used the area in entrance of him to rifle past Ross Laidlaw from the sting of the field.
The hosts tried their finest to rally after falling behind, however regardless of an effort from Yan Dhanda on the cusp of half-time, Rangers eased into the break forward.
Lundstram continued to impress as Rangers grew into the second half. He performed a line-splitting go in behind to the overlapping Adam Devine, whose low cross discovered Vogue Sakala, however the Zambian could not squeeze his effort past Laidlaw.
Alfredo Morelos nearly doubled his aspect’s lead after coming off the bench, seeing an admittedly tame left-footed effort from outdoors of the field handled. Whereas Rangers’ lead was slender, they seemed snug of their strategy.
Malky Mackay’s aspect have been having to defend their field for probably the most half and carve out possibilities on the break. The Gers appealed for a handball after 70 minutes when the ball ricocheted up onto
Rabbi Matondo was the subsequent Rangers substitute to spurn an opportunity for 2-0. Ryan Kent drove on the hosts’ defence earlier than reversing a go again out large to the Welshman, however his wrapped shot evaded the purpose and as an alternative whiskered large.
Mackay ushered within the adjustments looking for a late equaliser, however the substitutes have been unable to vary the circulate of the sport and produce Ross County onto the entrance foot. As a substitute it was Rangers substitute Matondo who had one other probability to place the sport to mattress in stoppage time when he was one on one with Laidlaw, however he did not around the goalkeeper.
However they held on for the win regardless, guaranteeing they keep second and inside six factors of league leaders Celtic forward of their conflict on 2 January.
GK: Ross Laidlaw (6); RB: Connor Randall (7), CB: George Harmon (6), CB: Alex Iacovitti (7), LB: Keith Watson (7); DM: David Canola (7), DM: Jordan Tillson (7); RW: Victor Loturi (7), AM: Yan Dhanda (6), LW: Owura Edwards (8); ST: Jordan White (7)
Subs: Kazeem Olaigbe (7), Ross Callachan (6), Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila (6), William Akio (6)
GK: Jon McLaughlin (7); RB: James Tavernier (8), CB: Connor Goldson (7), CB: Ben Davies (7), LB: Adam Devine (8); CM: John Lundstram (8), CM: Glen Kamara (7), CM: Scott Arfield (7); RW: Malik Tillman (7), ST: Vogue Sakala (7), LW: Ryan Kent (7)
Subs: Alfredo Morelos (7), Ryan Jack (7), Rabbi Matondo (6)