Grisly title twist for Rangers after horror show in Highlands
GIVEN the number of nights his side have spent holed up in plush hotels preparing to play Dundee, the last thing Philippe Clement would have wanted was another lie down in a darkened room.
By his own admission, this debacle in the Highlands — the worst performance of his six-month tenure at Rangers — could not have come at a worse moment.
While not yet fatal to his side’s hopes of winning the Premiership title, it was certainly a hugely damaging blow.
The small consolation for Clement and his players is that six wins from their final six matches will still see them get over the line first. The reality is that it simply will not happen if they replicate this wretched display in any of their remaining fixtures.
Having snatched a late draw against Celtic eight days ago, then seen the Parkhead side comfortably see off St Mirren on Saturday, Rangers needed to deliver a powerhouse performance to keep the heat on.
Instead, what they produced was dismal. Slack defensively, often overrun in midfield and profligate in front of goal, the Ibrox side got exactly what they deserved.
They were fortunate to be ahead at the interval but were incapable of heeding the many warnings County had given them up to that point.
Unable to engage even third gear, a one-goal advantage quickly became a two goal-deficit as County’s reserves of belief completed an extraordinary turnaround.
James Tavernier’s late penalty conversion gave Clement a glimmer of hope, but his side lacked cohesion and craft in the closing minutes — just as they had lacked them in the opening exchanges.
This was a historic day for County. In 24 previous meetings against Rangers, the Staggies had often come close to victory without ever getting one.
At no stage previously had their need for three points been greater. This famous Dingwall triumph takes them to within one point of St Johnstone in the battle to avoid the play-off.
Still with much work to do in the battle to beat the drop, interim manager Don Cowie sensibly tried to downplay the significance of this triumph. But his side will have nothing to worry about if they can adhere to this standard in their remaining five games.
There was little sign of the drama to come as Rangers hit the front after 15 minutes. It was a goal that owed much to good fortune.
An out-swinging corner from Tavernier (below) was smartly glanced on by the head of on-loan Wolves hitman Fabio Silva.
Stationed at the back post, John Souttar did little more than apply pressure to Jack Baldwin.
The County skipper looked set to turn the ball around the post for another corner but got his angles all wrong.
By the time Staggies goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw realised he’d been called into action, it was too late.
Despite his best efforts, the ball trickled over the line — with the celebrations among the visiting players and supporters somewhat delayed. Baldwin could only look to the heavens. It was harsh on County. Cowie’s side had shown plenty of early enterprise. Had George Harmon been more alert to Michee Efete’s cross, they would have been in front inside 60 seconds. The zest of the home players unsettled Rangers. Clement was thankful for Todd Cantwell tracking back to break up a promising attack after Cyriel Dessers had cheaply conceded possession. Simon Murray ought to have done better when he curled a shot wildly over after Yan Dhanda had intelligently created space for him. Dhanda also failed to make the most of an opportunity with a header which came via Murray’s cross. The goal was just the tonic Rangers needed. With the wind now in their sails, they fashioned enough chances in a short burst to put the game to bed.
Cantwell was the first man in white to be left holding his head in his hands after Laidlaw advanced to get a vital toe on his net-bound effort.
The County keeper then denied Dessers in similar fashion, with Abdallah Sima firing the wrong side of the upright after a poor defensive clearance.
Although Clement’s side slowly began to get a grip of midfield, the Staggies still had their moments. Josh Sims forced Jack Butland into a fine save low to his right after the attacker had caught the ball cleanly on the spin.
Harmon passed up another fine chance when picked out by Eli King’s neat pass. Just as he’d done in the first minute, the defender couldn’t hold his nerve and his shot flew harmlessly over the top.
The half-time whistle found Cowie’s side behind but not without their moments of encouragement.
No-one, though, could possibly have predicted how this contest would turn as County grabbed the lead with two goals inside four minutes at the start of the second half.
Murray had been a source of menace whenever he darted in between Rangers’ central defenders.
Alert to Sims gathering the ball on the right side of the box, he found a pocket of space which allowed him to work Butland when the cut-back came his way.
The Rangers keeper did well to block the initial effort but was powerless to prevent Murray firing home the rebound.
On the balance of play and number of chances created, it was hardly ill-deserved.
With that, Rangers simply lost their shape and composure. County’s second was a brilliant counter-attacking goal. The visitors’ attempt to thwart them was feeble.
Dhanda’s long diagonal pass was picked up by the ever-willing Murray. Having danced inside, his shot was blocked by Butland but not held. Harmon was the first
man to react, slamming the ball home from close range. Third time lucky and all that.
Despite throwing on Dujon Sterling and Rabbi Matondo, Rangers’ response was nowhere near what Clement would have expected.
Baldwin did well to go to ground and ensure Dessers’ shot was deflected over the bar, but it was a fleeting moment.
Sima claimed an ‘equaliser’, only to earn himself a yellow card for deliberate handball instead. It was entirely in keeping with an error-strewn display from the visitors.
It said much that County’s third on 69 minutes came as no real surprise.
King turned Tom Lawrence inside out on the left flank and carried the ball to Sims. He was calmness personified, awaiting his moment and allowing Sterling to go to ground before tucking the ball in the corner. County were now in dreamland.
Rangers rather huffed and puffed their way to the final whistle.
Cantwell hit the crossbar with a flashing strike, while Baldwin also bravely blocked the midfielder’s shot.
Clement’s side got a lifeline in the closing minutes as Brandon Khela’s handball was punished with a penalty following VAR’s intervention.
Tavernier smashed the ball home to reduce the deficit to one. Rangers still had two minutes plus seven added on to play but, truthfully, they never looked like digging themselves out of a hole this time around.
A victory against Dundee on Wednesday — wherever that game is played — is now nonnegotiable if their title challenge isn’t to quickly fizzle out.