Rangers narrowed the gap to Celtic to six points with a one-goal Scottish Premiership win over Ross County – a third in a row under Michael Beale.
John Lundstram’s low drive found the net 10 minutes from the break, but there were nervous moments before the midfielder eased some visiting tension.
George Harmon was denied from close range by goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin.
But County rarely threatened thereafter as Rangers ground their way to another three points under their new manager.
The visitors head back to Glasgow having, for the third match running, put the onus back on Celtic to restore their lead as their city rivals host St Johnstone on Saturday.
Rangers had been forced to do without goalkeeper Allan McGregor through illness and Scott Arfield earned a start after the midfielder’s double against Aberdeen as Beale shuffled his pack in the busy festive fixtures.
Fashion Sakala was handed the central striking role as Alfredo Morelos was dropped to the bench and the Zambian lashed wastefully wide as Rangers started the more dangerous side.
However, the defensive fragility displayed in Rangers’ first two wins under Beale surfaced again as defender Harmon rose at the back post only for his downward header to find the foot of McLaughlin from point-blank range.
Moments later, on-loan Bristol City midfielder Owura Edwards flashed a low drive across the face of goal.
Rangers’ confidence looked to have taken a shake, but they were suddenly ahead when Lundstram, handed a start in midfield after recovering from a knock, fired low past goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw from 18 yards.
Laidlaw’s legs came to the rescue as he blocked clear after Sakala slid in from 10 yards shortly after the break.
The precarious nature of the lead had Rangers hearts in mouths as Kazeem Olaigbe burst clear only for the on-loan Southampton midfielder to find the side netting, while Rabbi Matondo was denied by Laidlaw late on.
Player of the match – Devine (Rangers)
More to follow.
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Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
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Ross County
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameLaidlaw
Average rating7.17
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Squad number2Player nameRandall
Average rating7.04
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Squad number15Player nameWatson
Average rating7.30
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Squad number6Player nameIacovitti
Average rating7.14
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Squad number16Player nameHarmon
Average rating6.93
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Squad number22Player nameTillson
Average rating6.72
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Squad number14Player nameLoturi
Average rating6.68
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Squad number4Player nameCancola
Average rating6.51
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Squad number7Player nameEdwards
Average rating6.72
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Squad number26Player nameWhite
Average rating6.66
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Squad number10Player nameDhanda
Average rating6.73
Substitutes
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Squad number8Player nameCallachan
Average rating6.06
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Squad number17Player nameOlaigbe
Average rating6.29
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Squad number18Player nameAkio
Average rating5.62
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Squad number19Player nameHiwula-Mayifuila
Average rating6.54
Rangers
Starting XI
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Squad number33Player nameMcLaughlin
Average rating5.06
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Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Average rating5.18
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Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Average rating5.27
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Squad number26Player nameDavies
Average rating5.22
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Squad number44Player nameDevine
Average rating5.40
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Squad number37Player nameArfield
Average rating5.24
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Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Average rating5.70
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Squad number18Player nameKamara
Average rating5.11
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Squad number71Player nameTillman
Average rating5.21
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Squad number30Player nameSakala
Average rating5.18
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Squad number14Player nameKent
Average rating5.28
Substitutes
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Squad number8Player nameJack
Average rating4.70
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Squad number17Player nameMatondo
Average rating4.40
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Squad number20Player nameMorelos
Average rating4.42
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Laidlaw
- 2Randall
- 15WatsonBooked at 28mins
- 6Iacovitti
- 16Harmon
- 22TillsonSubstituted forAkioat 85′minutes
- 14LoturiBooked at 86mins
- 4CancolaSubstituted forOlaigbeat 62′minutes
- 7EdwardsSubstituted forCallachanat 75′minutes
- 26White
- 10DhandaSubstituted forHiwula-Mayifuilaat 86′minutes
Substitutes
- 8Callachan
- 9Samuel
- 11Sims
- 12Johnson
- 17Olaigbe
- 18Akio
- 19Hiwula-Mayifuila
- 24Paton
- 31Eastwood
Rangers
Formation 4-3-3
- 33McLaughlin
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 26Davies
- 44Devine
- 37ArfieldSubstituted forJackat 67′minutes
- 4LundstramBooked at 37mins
- 18Kamara
- 71TillmanSubstituted forMatondoat 67′minutes
- 30SakalaSubstituted forMorelosat 58′minutes
- 14Kent
Substitutes
- 8Jack
- 17Matondo
- 19Sands
- 20Morelos
- 23Wright
- 28McCrorie
- 29McCann
- 38King
- 51Lowry
- Referee:
- Don Robertson
- Attendance:
- 6,051
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Ross County 0, Rangers 1.
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Second Half ends, Ross County 0, Rangers 1.
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Attempt missed. Ross Callachan (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
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Attempt missed. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) left footed shot from very close range is high and wide to the left.
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Attempt saved. Rabbi Matondo (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ryan Jack.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Keith Watson.
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Attempt blocked. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Devine.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Victor Loturi.
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Attempt saved. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Rabbi Matondo.
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Victor Loturi (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Rabbi Matondo (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Victor Loturi (Ross County).
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Substitution, Ross County. Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila replaces Yan Dhanda.
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Substitution, Ross County. William Akio replaces Jordan Tillson.
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Attempt missed. Kazeem Olaigbe (Ross County) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Alex Iacovitti.
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Rabbi Matondo (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Connor Randall (Ross County).
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Substitution, Ross County. Ross Callachan replaces Owura Edwards.
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Hand ball by Jordan White (Ross County).
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Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
