Kent return helps Rangers to Crack County
Lesser-spotted winger sets fire underneath champions to put four past Highlanders at Ibrox
T4 2
HE same old failings cost Rangers the opening goal. A well Kent face earned them the three points. Steven Gerrard’s side found themselves behind once again as Ross County stunned Ibrox. The Staggies were never going to clinch a shock win, though.
Victory was inspired by Ryan Kent. On his first start since the defeat to Lyon in September, he provided the spark that Rangers have been missing for several weeks.
The forward had made a real difference off the bench as Gerrard’s side came from behind to earn a point with Brondby in midweek. Here, he was given a start and wasted no time in making the most of his opportunity to impress.
His influence was evident long before he produced a moment of magic to complete another comeback as he ensured Rangers would lead at the break. The plaudits will mean less than the points, but they were just as well earned for Kent.
His afternoon ended on the hour and with a warm embrace from his manager. Gerrard was glad to have Kent back, and the man himself was pleased to be here after a frustrating spell on the sidelines.
There is no doubt that Rangers have missed his input and Gerrard will hope that his return will now be the spark that the champions need to kick-on in the Premiership.
Two lapses – one early and one late – aside, this was a comfortable afternoon for Rangers. Such recklessness defensively will cost them at some point, but County were not the ones to punish them.
A Joe Aribo header and fine effort from Juninho Bacuna either side of Kent’s first goal of the season would end this one as a contest. An own goal from Alex Iacovitti only compounded County’s misery.
Rangers remain four points clear of Celtic heading into the international break and the next fortnight gives Gerrard a chance to iron out the issues that have plagued his side in recent weeks.
The most pressing of those, of course, is the fact that the champions continue to concede first and make life harder for themselves than it needs to be. Thankfully for Gerrard, it did not cost Rangers once again.
The response in adversity last weekend was emphatic as they came from behind to produce a classy showing and put six by Motherwell. This time, just the four were scored as Malky Mackay’s side were easily overcome.
Rangers have developed a bad habit of losing soft, sloppy goals this term and the one that Joseph Hungbo netted after just five minutes certainly falls into that category.
John Lundstram was culpable as he failed to control a Ianis Hagi pass and Rangers gave up possession cheaply in the middle of the park. Within seconds, they were punished.
Regan Charles-Cook slipped the ball through to Hungbo and he showed composure to finish neatly under Allan McGregor. As County celebrated, Rangers’ protestations went unheard.
Connor Goldson was the deepest of the defensive line and led the arguments for offside. He may have had a case, but the marginal call went in County’s favour.
Ibrox moaned and groaned in the minutes that followed the opening goal, but Rangers soon found their rhythm. Once they had the equaliser, there was only going to be one outcome.
It was Aribo who got the champions back on track. James Tavernier added another assist to his tally with a teasing corner from the far side and Aribo flicked a neat header across goal and away from Ash Manyard-Brewer.
County’s lead lasted quarter-of-an-hour. And 10 minutes later, Rangers were ahead and on course for victory.
This one was all about Kent.
He collected the ball on the edge of the area and shimmied away from Charles-Cook to set up a shooting chance.
Rangers have been guilty of over-playing at times this term and not enough shots are taken from distance. When Kent did just that, he found the net in spectacular fashion.
The ball swerved and dipped in the air as Manyard-Brewer was left helpless and Ibrox was quick to congratulate Kent. So were Gerrard and his staff as the 24-year-old marked his return to the starting line-up in wonderful fashion.
The challenge now for Rangers was to get the third that would avoid any unnecessary angst. Any others on top of that would be for pleasure rather than points.
Just four minutes after the re-start, Gerrard’s side had the goal they needed and County were facing a long, difficult second half.
Aribo and Bacuna combined neatly on the edge of the area and the former Huddersfield midfielder scored for the first time at Ibrox with a cultured, clinical finish.
There was a sense of fortune about the fourth, but it had been coming amid wave after wave of Rangers attacks. Tavernier’s low cross was
heading into the six-yard box, but Iacovitti diverted it into his own net as Rangers extended their advantage.
The next cheer was reserved for one man rather than the team as Ryan Jack made his first appearance for Gerrard’s side since February. As he replaced Lundstram – alongside a switch which saw Nathan Patterson take over from Leon Balogun – Ibrox rose in appreciation and Jack’s team-mates joined in the applause.
Jack will not be able to get back the moments he missed as he was absent from Rangers’ title run-in and Scotland’s European Championship campaign. His return was welcome and warming, though, and the midfielder still has much to offer club and country.
A Jordan White strike – as he finished well with a couple of minutes remaining – ultimately mattered little. It was another source of consternation, though.
The goals conceded will frustrate and perhaps anger Gerrard. He will know, too, that this was a day where Rangers should have capitalised more on their dominance.
He now has a fortnight to pick the bones out of this fixture and a recent run that has seen Rangers impress at times but also show familiar failings at home and abroad. He does so with the champions still ahead at the top of the table.