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Ross County 3-2 Rangers: Hosts’ first win over Rangers delivers Scottish Premiership title blow
![Ross County's Josh Sims (left) and Simon Murray celebrate](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/EE9C/production/_133148016_21039138.jpg?ssl=1)
Ross County came from behind to secure a historic first victory over Rangers and deliver a damaging blow to the visitors’ Scottish Premiership title hopes.
Rangers’ first away defeat in eight games since losing at Celtic Park in December leaves Philippe Clement’s side four adrift at the top as the race for silverware shifts significantly the way of the reigning champions.
There were signs that County sensed history could be made despite Rangers emerging from a nervy first half ahead thanks to Jack Baldwin’s own goal.
Strikes on the rebound from Simon Murray and George Harmon turned the game on its head before Josh Sims’ close-range finish left the visitors looking lost for ideas, despite James Tavernier’s late penalty reply.
Second-bottom County held on for one of their most famous victories to narrow the gap with St Johnstone to one point in a major fillip to their hopes of avoiding a relegation play-off.
Both sides had made a host of changes, County looking to recover from two away defeats and Rangers desperate to get back to winning ways after their Old Firm derby draw.
The latter, combined with Celtic’s Saturday win over St Mirren, meant there was no room for slip-ups in the title run for Clement’s side and it looked like the pressure was beginning to weigh heavily.
Within seconds of kick-off, Michee Efete’s cross to the back post found fellow wing-back Harmon racing into the six-yard box at the back post, but the Englishman could not find the net under pressure from Abdallah Sima.
With Rangers’ defence exchanging worried glances, the visitors edged ahead out of the blue when Baldwin’s attempt to clear a corner evaded goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw at his far post.
Saves from Jack Butland and Laidlaw, plus wild finishes from Harmon and Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers, kept the scores level as the action raced from end to end before half-time.
The chances continued to flow after the break and, when Murray’s first effort was blocked by the foot of Butland, the striker found the far corner with his second attempt.
Murray then turned provider as Butland could only parry his curling drive into the path of Harmon to put the hosts ahead.
The Light Blues were left exposed as they pressed desperately for an equaliser and, on the break, Eli King found Sims to fire home.
Rangers were handed a lifeline in the last minute when the ball struck Brandon Khela’s hand. Despite Tavernier’s 50th successful Premiership penalty, the Glasgow side could not make the most of eight minutes of stoppage time to deny County a first win in 25 meetings between the sides.
Player of the match – Simon Murray (Ross County)
![Ross County's Simon Murray scores](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/2B4C/production/_133148011_21039007.jpg?ssl=1)
County make Rangers look short of title quality – analysis
County went into the game having only won once in six outings, but they remain unbeaten in their latest five home games and you could see why.
They were not daunted by the stature of the visitors and their record against them, taking the game to a side displaying a frailty that belied their status as title contenders.
Cowie’s changes to his starting line-up worked to perfection, with Harmon, Sims and Yan Dhanda, in particular, injecting a pace and sharpness that had the visiting defence looking well off the pace and goalkeeper Laidlaw inspired.
More displays like this and County are certainly capable of avoiding a relegation play-off.
More performances like this, having squandered the first of two games in hand, and Rangers’ hopes of catching a Celtic side, who manager Brendan Rodgers says come alive in the title run-in, will quickly disappear.
They looked disjointed, error strewn, all too easily penetrated at the back and lacking a killer touch up front – hardly the characteristics of a championship-winning team.
Meanwhile, Clement may now regret his decision to rotate his squad to give game time to some players who failed to live up to the big occasion and they will now likely have to win at Celtic Park in the final derby of the season if they are to keep their dream of finishing top alive.
What they said
Ross County interim manager Don Cowie: “I’m delighted for the whole football club. It was built upon a very good team performance.
“In the first half, I thought we deserved a bit more in terms of what we put in. The message at half time was to keep that going, build on it and be positive. t’s a big three points for us.”
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: “I’m very disappointed because we didn’t play a good game. We gave away easy goals, leading 0-1, not a good first half, not enough quality on the ball then you need to chase the game suddenly. Then we were much better.
“We scored a goal, got more chances, but then you give hope to the opponent because they are leading and they throw themselves in front of the ball, then it’s more difficult. With or without the ball, it was not good enough today, so I’m very disappointed.”
What’s next?
Rangers visit Dundee on Wednesday (20:00 BST) before facing Heart of Midlothian in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park, while both they and County await the first league fixtures after the Premiership splits into two for the last five games.
Player of the match
MurraySimon Murray
Ross County
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Squad number15Player nameMurray
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Squad number18Player nameKing
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Squad number11Player nameSims
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Squad number10Player nameDhanda
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Squad number14Player nameLoturi
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Squad number42Player nameLeak
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Squad number16Player nameHarmon
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Squad number12Player nameSheaf
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Squad number19Player nameKhela
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Squad number26Player nameWhite
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Squad number4Player nameBrown
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Squad number5Player nameBaldwin
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Squad number24Player nameEfete
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Squad number1Player nameLaidlaw
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Squad number2Player nameRandall
Rangers
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Squad number1Player nameButland
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Squad number13Player nameCantwell
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Squad number19Player nameSima
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Squad number2Player nameTavernier
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Squad number5Player nameSouttar
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Squad number4Player nameLundstram
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Squad number20Player nameDowell
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Squad number9Player nameDessers
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Squad number7Player nameFábio Silva
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Squad number31Player nameBarisic
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Squad number6Player nameGoldson
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Squad number21Player nameSterling
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Squad number25Player nameRoofe
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Squad number17Player nameMatondo
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Squad number11Player nameLawrence
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Laidlaw
- 2Randall
- 5BaldwinBooked at 40mins
- 42Leak
- 16Harmon
- 24EfeteBooked at 54minsSubstituted forBrownat 79′minutes
- 10DhandaSubstituted forKhelaat 84′minutes
- 18King
- 14LoturiBooked at 82mins
- 11SimsSubstituted forWhiteat 84′minutes
- 15MurraySubstituted forSheafat 90+1′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Borthwick-Jackson
- 4Brown
- 12Sheaf
- 17Henderson
- 19Khela
- 26White
- 27Brophy
- 28Ayina
- 40Wickens
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Butland
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 5Souttar
- 31BarisicSubstituted forSterlingat 54′minutes
- 20DowellSubstituted forLawrenceat 63′minutes
- 4Lundstram
- 19SimaBooked at 68mins
- 13Cantwell
- 7Fábio SilvaSubstituted forMatondoat 54′minutes
- 9DessersSubstituted forRoofeat 73′minutes
Substitutes
- 11Lawrence
- 17Matondo
- 21Sterling
- 25Roofe
- 27Balogun
- 28McCrorie
- 38King
- 43Raskin
- 45McCausland
- Referee:
- Matthew MacDermid
- Attendance:
- 4,341
Live Text
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Match ends, Ross County 3, Rangers 2.
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Second Half ends, Ross County 3, Rangers 2.
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Foul by Jack Butland (Rangers).
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Ross Laidlaw (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Jordan White.
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Attempt blocked. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) right footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Abdallah Sima with a headed pass.
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Attempt blocked. Connor Goldson (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Connor Goldson (Rangers) header from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dujon Sterling.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Victor Loturi.
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Attempt blocked. Todd Cantwell (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt missed. Rabbi Matondo (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by James Tavernier with a cross.
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Foul by Tom Lawrence (Rangers).
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Ryan Leak (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Rabbi Matondo (Rangers).
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Victor Loturi (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Ross County. Max Sheaf replaces Simon Murray.
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Goal! Ross County 3, Rangers 2. James Tavernier (Rangers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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VAR Decision: Penalty Rangers.
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Penalty conceded by Brandon Khela (Ross County) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
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Substitution, Ross County. Brandon Khela replaces Yan Dhanda.