ROSS COUNTY

AARON McCAREY JASON NAISMITH HARRY SOUTTAR CHRISTOPHER ROUTIS KENNY VAN DER WEG MARCUS FRASER ROSS DRAPER JIM O’BRIEN MICHAEL GARDYNE DAVIS KEILLOR-DUNN CRAIG CURRAN 6 7 6 1 6 6 7 6 6 6 6 JASON CUMMINGS is adamant he was made to play on the big stages for Rangers.

The Global Energy Stadium in the rain may not have been the type of arena he was envisaging when he spoke about his dreams but he still made a pretty loud statement in Dingwall.

Five minutes off the bench and Cummings had his moment.

The 22-year-old’s first goal for his new club sparked a mini-pitch invasion that almost squashed him. More importantly, it sealed a victory that became a far bit tougher for Rangers to secure than it should have been.

Cummings’s goal added to Daniel Candeias’s first-half strike ensured the Ibrox side moved back into second spot in the Premiership.

Yet Graeme Murty rightly felt afterwards his team gave themselves unneccessary anxiety.

Rangers totally dominated the opening period and could have scored plenty yet found themselves having to hang tough near the finish.

County had a big shout for a penalty kick at 1-0 down when Ross Draper’s header appeared to hit the hand of defender David Bates.

And even after Cummings netted, debutant David Ngog’s spot-kick ensured the final seconds would be endured by Murty instead of enjoyed.

In the end it was job done and with enough satisfactory aspects to ensure a pleasant journey back to Glasgow.

Murty was right to concentrate on the positives because there are plenty.

County, on the other hand, are in serious trouble. Six years after their glorious promotion to the top flight this Highland fairytale is hurtling towards a conclusion.

Owen Coyle arrived to save the day, yet it’s now a dozen games without a win. With just 14 games to go they are eight points from automatic safety. It’s going to be a long road back.

But it was evident fairly swiftly in Dingwall the road home would be a more pleasant experience for Rangers.

First half, in particular, they strolled. If ever 45 minutes typified one team brimming with belief and another struggling for form and results this was it. Rangers were assured. Bossed it. County toiled.

Murty’s men didn’t need any help although they were happy enough to accept the gift offered by home No.1 Aaron McCarey that enabled Candeias’s goal to separate the teams at the interval.

That it was just the one by the midway point almost defied logic. It could have been a hatful.

From the moment McCarey’s nervy early kick-out in the opening seconds was also pounced on by the subsequent goalscorer to smash a first try at the target it was a near procession. Everyone wanted it. Everyone looked comfortable when they got it. Rangers, often bogged down through pressure and strain earlier in the term, played without issue or concern.

And in fairness Coyle had enough worries to do everyone. It was one thing after another.

Christopher Routis dislocated a shoulder. Just more disruption the County gaffer could have done without as his team were trying to gain a foothold. It was fingertip stuff in terms of clinging on through that arduous opening period. Candeias’s opener was always coming.

Beforehand Jason Holt had a shot diverted over the bar by a desperate last-gasp Jason Naismith clearing header and both Jamie Murphy and Alfredo Morelos came close.

Bates clipped a post before the inevitable breakthrough duly arrived.

Candeias had one instinct when he got the ball out of his feet 25 yards from goal. McCarey’s attempts to save the effort were to say the least weak. Scott Fox had gifted Morelos a goal when the teams last met in Dingwall and his replacement was also in giving mood.

Nevertheless it was a sweetly-struck fifth goal of the campaign for the winger and having obtained reward for their control Rangers set about finishing it beforing the break.

Morelos should have done better than drag well wide when clean through and McCarey did make some amends when he saved a Murphy header.

There were plenty of spaces to play and Murty’s men obliged. He now looked for his troops to finish the job as sharply as possible and Josh Windass had the chance to do so when he