Fans’ banner headlines put focus on final
Beale warned trophies are all that matter
Michael Beale had already conceded his expectation levels of a title win were ‘ low’ before banking three points at Livingston.
But probabi l ity theories mattered not a jot to the Rangers fans who unveiled a banner as a pointed reminder to the Light Blues’ boss.
‘ Two trophies in eleven years, uphold the standards that matter’ was the message before James Tavernier’s double and a late Kemar Roofe strike earned a ninth success in a row.
The unfurling of the banner was followed by a song in tribute to Malik Tillman from a support who didn’t agree with ‘doing the right thing’ in allowing Partick Thistle to score an unopposed goal in last weekend’s Scottish Cup clash.
As all eyes now turn towards the Viaplay Cup Final against Celtic next Sunday, Beale’s about to discover the silverware statistics are the only measure for his trophy-starved followers.
Rangers never looked in any danger of losing at a venue where they are unbeaten since 2018.
Beale made four alterations to the side that beat the Jags last weekend, with Tillman nowhere to be seen after being the centre of attention against Thistle with his controversial ‘goal’.
Calf and hamstring issues explained away his absence and with the Old Firm Hampden showpiece looming, the on-loan Bayern Munich man must now be rated a serious doubt.
Fashion Sakala, Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Connor Goldson all came in for Tillman, James Sands, Ianis Hagi and Antonio Colak.
Liv ingston boss Dav id Martindale made two changes to the side hammered by Inverness in the Cup with Stephane Omeonga and Stephen Kelly in for Jason Holt and Bruce Anderson.
The hosts exerted the early pressure and Joel Nouble was prominent with a couple of surges into the final third which required interventions by Borna Barasic and Ben Davies.
But Rangers soon clicked into gear and Ayo Obileye had to make a crucial interception to prevent Barisic’s deep cross from finding Goldson and moments later Tavernier rattled a long- range effort inches over.
The Light Blues had the ball in the net in the tenth minute after Alfredo Morelos slid a low cross in for Sakala to prod home, but the Zambian was rightly flagged offside.
Rangers had adopted a slick and creative attacking approach and Todd Cantwel l opted against pulling the trigger when given space and time at the edge of the box.
But his intricate slipped pass to Morelos was intercepted by Obileye as another opportunity was passed up. Livi conceded a 21st-minute penalty when James Penrice tugged at the shirt of Morelos inside the box.
Referee David Dickinson deemed it enough to point to the spot after a VAR intervention and a check of his own on the touchline monitor.
Tavernier sent Shamal George the wrong way with his kick to bag an 11th goal of the season and his eighth from the spot.
Penrice blew a terrific chance to redeem himself after being found at the back post by a low cross but he failed to make a proper connection and held his head in frustration as he knew a quick-fire equaliser had been there for the taking.
A first booking arrived for Stephen Kelly for a crunching lunge on Glen Kamara just before the break.
The ha l f ended w i th Martindale’s men peppering the Rangers box with crosses which continued to f ind no takers.
There was also what was to prove a costly caution for Omeonga with Kamara again the victim of a crude foul.
The flow of traffic towards the Livi goal continued unabated after the restart and Sakala had a 50th-minute snapshot well beaten away by George as the Light Blues swarmed around the Lions’ box.
Then came a period of anxiety for Rangers in the 65th minute.
A Nicky Devlin cross found Stephen Kel ly alone at the back post but the Gers academy graduate volleyed wide when a more composed finish would have pulled his side level.
Roofe climbed off the bench to slam a shot wide in the 70th minute before Tavernier went into the book for a cynical foul on Holt to halt a Livingston breakaway.
Livi were then reduced to 10 men when Omeonga clipped the heels of Roofe to earn a second booking 13 minutes from time.
And it got worse for the home side from the resultant free-kick as Tavernier stepped up to curl in his second of the afternoon and put any doubt over the win to bed.
Roofe added a third in 85 minutes when he netted at the second attempt from close-range following Barisic’s free-kick.