Four star Rangers keep up positivity despite relinquishing their title
RANGERS 4
Wright 13; Tavernier 29pen; Sakala 82; Diallo 90
ROSS COUNTY
White 72
1
On the night they relinquished their Premiership crown, Rangers were still able to sign off their Ibrox campaign on a positive note.
Goalsfromjamestavernier and Scott Wright put them in control against a Ross County side whose hopes of qualifyingforeuropenextseasonare now over.
Jordan White pulled a goal backforthedingwallmenbut late strikes from substitutes Fashion Sakala and Amad Diallo earned Rangers a convincingvictoryandwarmovation from their fans who are dreaming of greater glory in Seville next week.
Giovanni Van Bronckhorst fielded a strong starting lineup,10ofwhomaresolidbetsto beonthepitchforthateuropa Leaguefinalagainsteintracht Frankfurt.
The exception was Alex Lowry, although the 18-yearoldmidfielder’saccomplished performance indicated once again that he is on the verge of becoming a more regular fixture in van Bronckhorst’s side. He was prominent in a commanding and purposeful display by Rangers as they looked to maintain positive momentum ahead of the more momentous assignment them in Spain.
They were on the front foot from the start against a County side content to adopt a policy of containment. Joe Aribo sawanearlyshotdeflectedjust wide of Ross Laidlaw’s right hand post before the County goalkeeperthenmadeasmart savetodenyjohnlundstram.
Ittookjust13minutesforthe pressure to tell. Borna Barisic’s
corner from the left was headedonbyconnorgoldson and Wright stabbed home his sixth goal of the season from close range.
Rangers continued to dominate possession, moving the ball sharply and inventively with Lowry at the heart of some of their most eye-catching work. He played a key role in the move which led to them doubling their lead in the 29th minute, showing good vision in an exchange of passes with Tavernier which saw the Rangers captain brought down by Alex Iacovitti.
It was a clear penalty kick and Tavernier got up to make no mistake from the spot, despite Laidlaw guessing correctly as he dived to his left.
Lowry almost caught Laidlaw out with a clever shot ontheturnsixminutesbefore the interval but the keeper managed to gather at the second attempt.
Van Bronckhorst made a double change at the start of thesecondhalf,leonbalogun and Amad Diallo for Barisic and Aribo, and Rangers remained in the ascendancy.
Balogun almost extended their lead in the 52nd minute when he headed against Laidlaw’s left hand post from a Tavernier free-kick, then Wright passed up a great chancetogethissecondofthe night when he sent a header straight at the keeper.
Assomeoftheziptemporarily went out of Rangers’ play, County threw themselves a lifeline in pursuit of the point they needed to keep their European hopes alive.
Substitute Jordan White cut in from the left and curled a superb right foot shot high beyond Allan Mcgregor .
But Rangers reasserted themselvesintheclosingstagesandsakalagrabbedhis12th goaloftheseasonwithadiving header before Diallo tapped home a low cross from Calvin Bassey.