Rangers’ title hopes rocked by stunning Ross County turnaround

Ross County delivered a body blow to Rangers’ Scottish Premiership title hopes with a stunning 3-2 victory, their first-ever win over the Ibrox side.

With six fixtures remaining, Philippe Clement’s side remain four points behind leaders Celtic with a game in hand – against Dundee at Dens Park on Wednesday night, live on Sky Sports.

When Staggies skipper Jack Baldwin scored an own goal after 15 minutes it already looked a long way back for the home side, but two goals in three minutes soon after the break from Simon Murray and George Harmon turned the game on its head before Josh Sims added a third after 69 minutes.

Gers skipper James Tavernier netted a penalty in the 89th minute following VAR intervention but the spirited home side held on for a momentous win which also boosts their bid to avoid relegation.

After 20 defeats and four draws in 24 games against Rangers, the Dingwall club had at last registered a long-awaited victory over the Govan club and its ramifications affect both ends of the table as second-bottom County moved to within a point of 10th-placed St Johnstone.

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How Rangers slipped up

County had the first attempt at goal inside the opening minute when Michee Efete’s cross from the right found Harmon at the back post but under pressure from Abdallah Sima he scoped the ball over the bar.

Rangers struggled to get into their rhythm but they were gifted the lead following Tavernier’s corner from the right. Fabio Silva flicked it on at the near post and Baldwin knocked the ball over the line as Laidlaw failed to keep it out, although it took a while before the goal registered with the travelling fans at the other end of the ground.

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Ross County’s Jack Baldwin puts the ball into his own net to give Rangers a first-half lead

The game opened up further and Ross Laidlaw saved a decent shot from Todd Cantwell before Gers keeper Jack Butland kept out a low drive from Sims with Laidlaw saving further efforts from Sima and striker Cyriel Dessers.

In the 38th minute, amid a spell of County pressure, Harmon lifted a shot high over the bar from close range as did Dessers at the other end before the break.

The game took an unexpected twist at the start of the second half when Murray levelled at the second attempt, driving in after Butland had saved well from his first shot.

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George Harmon sinks to his knees in celebration after giving Ross County a 2-1 lead against Rangers

Rangers were still coming to terms with that setback when Murray found himself with space again before unleashing a drive which Butland parried and Harmon converted the rebound.

Sima used his hand to knock the ball into the County net with the ‘goal’ ruled out before the home side scored a third. Murray broke into the box and set up Sims who showed composure before beating Butland from close range.

Cantwell struck the bar with a terrific effort six minutes later and then VAR Andrew Dallas sent referee Matthew MacDermid to the pitchside monitor for a potential penalty after the ball hit County substitute Brandon Khela’s left hand. Tavernier converted but there was to be no comeback.

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James Tavernier pulls a goal back for Rangers from the penalty spot

What’s next?

Rangers face Dundee in their rearranged match at Dens Park on Wednesday night, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 8pm.

Ross County need to wait for the Scottish Premiership post-split fixtures to be announced.

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